Funding

What you need to know

Sustainable funding involves thinking about what is the most appropriate way to fund your organisation. This is because the funding an organisation needs comes down to what it does, who its users are, and what stage it's reached in its developmental lifecycle. 

Read our first steps page and try out some introductory tools.

Learn more about Sustainable Funding.

Frequently asked questions

My organisation’s grant is going to end soon, how can we ensure we have sufficient funding to continue our work?
The Sustainable Funding Project encourages voluntary and community organisations to take a long-term view of their sustainability. The Project encourages and enables voluntary and community organisations to develop and implement a sustainable income strategy.
Read more about Sustainable Funding

I am a Trustee of an organisation that is considering applying for a loan. What are the benefits and risks?
Loan finance should be seen as a financial tool or enabler that can help organisations to develop in a number of ways. The Brief Guide to Loan Finance for Trustees  provides an introduction to accessing loans and a description of a variety of scenarios in which loans can be used. 
Read more about Loan Finance

What does Full Cost Recovery mean and how does it affect my organisation?
Calculating the full costs of a service or activity means you know the exact amount of funds required to carry it out, including both the direct costs of the project and an appropriate proportion of your organisation’s overhead costs. This provides a clear picture of how a particular project draws on the shared resources of your organisation and can help in negotiations with funders.
Read more about Full Cost Recovery  

My organisation has an idea for trading as a way to generate income but we’re not sure how to put this into practice.
The Sustainable Funding Project’s Getting Ready for Enterprise course enables participants to explore if income generation through trading may be a viable option. It takes participants through the key stages on the route to generating income from trading goods and services.
Find out more about upcoming courses

Why not apply for an Only Connect bursary? This is a visit scheme sponsored by  Triodos Bank  which enables voluntary and community organisations to explore their ideas for generating income by learning from an organisation that has already gone down this track.
Read more about Only Connect

How can I keep up-to-date with funding news, events and issues?
The Sustainable Funding Project’s free monthly electronic newsletter ‘Update’ highlights all the latest news, developments and services available from across the voluntary and community sector, with links to relevant sites and resources.
Subscribe
Read the latest newsletter online 

Where can I find examples of organisations that are financially sustainable?
The Sustainable Funding Project has collected a range of real life examples of organisations implementing a sustainable funding approach.
Explore the case studies

Where can I access support and information on negotiating and managing public service contracts?
The Public Service Delivery Network is a free network for those working in and with the voluntary and community sector with responsibility for negotiating and managing public service contracts. The Network provides a forum for peer support, sharing information through emails, developing and sharing resources, networking, events and publications. 
Read more about the network

My organisation is considering holding an event on funding, are you able to present a workshop or provide a speaker?
Sustainable Funding Project Officers are available as keynote speakers or workshop presenters on sustainable funding issues at local events.
Request a speaker

Are there any publications available to assist in my understanding of sustainable funding?
The Sustainable Funding Project has produced a variety of publications available to purchase or as free downloads. 
Explore the range of publications available

Publications

The Sustainable Funding Project offers a wide range of downloadable and hardcopy publications covering all aspects of sustainable funding. Publications list.

An introduction to sustainable funding - understanding your options 

Case Studies 

Gain ideas and inspiration from real-life tales of organisations implementing a sustainable income approach. Read the real-life tales

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