fundraising & marketing

Have you got the right funding mix, and is it all working well?

Whatever the size of your organisation, and whatever stage it is at in its ‘life cycle’, our multi-disciplinary team can provide the sector-specific experience you need to understand the market, pinpoint the right opportunities, and develop a cost-effective course of action for maximum return – in the short, medium and long term.

Our fundraising consultants have all held senior fundraising positions in a diverse range of organisations across the sector, and their skills and experience have enabled us to help all types of not-for-profit organisation to develop the right fundraising strategies for their situation. With the funding environment becoming ever more challenging, we make sure our clients pursue the most fruitful mix of income streams, are compliant with the latest codes of practice, and are fully equipped with the skills and training to maximise revenue while upholding the values and ethos of the organisation.

Do you face a daunting task? Capital appeals and fundraising campaigns to raise large, specific sums of money are not part of the everyday experience of most not-for-profit organisations and so they can be daunting. We provide the level of experienced support you need, whether that is light touch mentoring and advice,  detailed planning, or management of the entire appeal.
 

Are you anxious about taking the first step?

Major donors can make a huge difference, both through their own donations and through other donors they might introduce, but knowing how to identify and approach lead prospects can be challenging. The aim is to build a relationship with each individual so they become  enthusiastically involved in the cause, so that their gift becomes much more than just a financial transaction.

Are you held back from accessing funding opportunities? The process of researching and submitting bids to lottery distributors, trusts and statutory bodies can be complex, and time consuming. We help organisations prepare and submit funding bids by relieving them of much of the time-consuming process, and applying our experience of preparing bids that are tailored to match all the funders’ criteria.

Our bid writers have all achieved significant fundraising success and know how to present any not-for-profit organisation and its projects in the best light to increase the chances of a positive response. We will research the funding opportunities available and then write the bid from scratch, or review the organisation’s own draft bid, to ensure that it has the best chance of success before being submitted.

Is your charity getting its fair share?

Individual giving is by far the largest source of voluntary income to charities and there are many ways in which to approach it. We can help to identify the most effective channels for your appeals and work with you on the objectives and messaging of your campaigns.

We work with organisations to put together individual giving strategies and implement campaigns. We also offer guidance on broaching the sensitive subject of legacies - still an underdeveloped source of not-for-profit income.

Are you lost in the crowd? The strength of a not-for-profit’s marketing strategy is crucial to its success in gaining public support. With a well researched, well targeted approach, it is possible to cut through a very crowded market place and gain the awareness and emotional buy-in required from potential ‘customers’.

We help organisations of all sizes to translate their powerful cause into a clear strategy, built on a strong brand, with well founded plans and effective campaigns. We help to define target markets, selling points and goals and develop clear messaging that speaks in the language of the organisation, not marketing jargon. We also establish metrics for tracking and measuring the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, so we can evaluate and make adjustments along the way.

Who is your typical customer?

Many not-for-profits think they know who their typical ‘customer’ is but never take the trouble to really find out. The only way to be sure about what spurs people into supporting a cause is to ask them. We have many years’ experience of conducting market research and analysis for organisations of all sizes, and can help to provide valuable insight that more than pays for itself.

‘Never assume,’ is our motto. Asking for customer feedback not only provides the all-important insight for better targeted campaigning but also builds loyalty. Our consultants provide guidance in  planning and implementing the most appropriate research methodology, analysing the results, and drawing conclusions that lead to practical action.

Do your customers know who you are?

At all stages of their journey, organisations need to ask whether their cause is high in their audience’s consciousness. A strong brand doesn’t just remind customers of an organisation’s name but of its ethos, values and personality too, reinforcing their connection and commitment to the cause.

Our brand experts help not-for-profits to assess the strength of their brand, whether they are long established or just starting out, and can take the lead in implementing a rebrand where required. We make sure any rebranding is properly thought through to reflect the realities of your organisation, project its values,and create a clear, compelling proposition. We also ensure that it is carried out as a consultative process, involving all stakeholders so that the new brand truly reflects the DNA of the organisation.

Is your message getting through?

Communication is fundamental to the success of not-for-profit organisations in changing behaviour and perceptions, ensuring people understand what they do, engaging with stakeholders, and demonstrating success. The communications landscape is constantly changing and without a sound and constantly updated communications strategy those key messages can get lost,  misdirected or misinterpreted amid the background noise.

Our consultants have extensive experience of helping not-for-profits put together and implement effective comms strategies that deliver the right message at the right time to the right audience via the right channel. That’s a lot of things to get right, so we work closely with communications teams to go carefully through each step, right through to measuring outcomes and implementing change.

Are you daunted by digital?

Organisations of all sizes have the potential to reach wider audiences, raise more funds and build stronger relationships at relatively low cost by making full use of digital media, yet many are unsure where to start or have not yet been able to develop a business case for investment. With such a bewildering array of relatively new options, it can be difficult to devise a digital strategy.

Our digital consultants and partners simplify and enhance the process of digital investment, planning and implementation. They bring a mix of professional expertise, marketing insight, and and ability to understand each organisation’s resources and challenges. With their help, many charities have been able to put together intelligent digital plans that integrate with their off-line communications to maximise their joint impact.