Funding and Fundraising

We recommend our training  as a good place to start and regularly run sessions covering the basics of how to develop better funding applications  and implementing different methods for fund raising.  Organisations are more sustainable if they have a variety of approaches and plan their fundraising more strategically.  Latest additions to our training programme include Developing Your Fundraising Plan and Creating and Using Your “Case for Support”.

Check out our programme and who can attend our sessions.

“Essential advice & tips on writing a compelling case for support & the watchpoints to avoid”

“Incredibly useful overview of current trends/governance issues/planning & targeted fundraising”

• Do you have funding or fund raising questions beyond the scope of a training session?
• Do you need some specific support?

An opportunity to review your organisation’s funding portfolio, with sustainability in mind. Your organisation might wish to increase its income with funding and fundraising options or receive support to develop and structure your future funding applications.

Targeted surgery support is intended for organisations that need support beyond the scope of training sessions. They are one to one discussions with our experienced fundraiser and funding officer June Burgess to identify actions to move forward and take place as 40 minute bookable appointments over Zoom or telephone.  Dates are available every fortnight.  To book a funding surgery or if you just have a question, email June  at  june.burgess@gcvs.org.uk

1. Sign up for GCVS Newsletters where we highlight opportunities relevant for Glasgow
2. Check out previous funding news
3. Check out previous GCVS newsletters
4. SCVO’s Funding Scotland website is a good place to search – it holds information on over 1,300 funding opportunities including grants, loans, prizes and other support.  It is free to use.  If you are a Member of SCVO, you may be eligible for free access to their Funding Scotland Premium service which offers even greater flexibility to save searches and receive regular updates.

In this section we use the term “Group” to mean a constituted not for profit organisation – including registered charities, unincorporated associations, charitable trusts, SCIOs, Community Interest Companies, Benefit Societies etc.

Best Practice and Regulation

Q Is there any law about raising funds that we should know about?

A Yes – lots! The Code of Fundraising Practice is the standard for all fundraising activity being carried out across the UK. You should check the appropriate section of the Code before starting any fundraising activity. It’s here: www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/code

Q We want to do a ‘bag-pack’ in our local supermarket. Do we need a licence?

A No, but you do ned the permission of the supermarket and you must make sure that any collecting boxes are sealed. www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/code/specific-fundraising-methods/collecting-money-or-other-property

Q We want to collect from house to house around our local area in Glasgow. What do we need to do?

A You’ll need a licence from Glasgow City Council (www.glasgow.gov.uk/licences/charity) – the licence will say exactly which streets and dates you can collect on, and there are additional requirements, like making sure that your collectors have badges. More information from OSCR (www.oscr.org.uk/guidance-and-forms/fundraising-guidance-for-charity-trustees/public-collections-and-exempt-promoters)

Q I am a trustee of a small charity. A friend has told me that I am legally responsible for ensuring that they charity has enough money to carry out its work. Is that true?

A Yes. In law, trustees are legally responsible – OSCR (www.oscr.org.uk/guidance-and-forms/fundraising-guidance-for-charity-trustees) offer specific guidance for trustees.

Q Can we raise funds in our local school by getting the children to grow flowers?

A Great idea! Make sure that you keep the children safe, and the money safe by following the Code of Fundraising Practice’s guidance on fundraising involving children: www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/code/working-with-others/fundraising-involving-children

Q I don’t understand all of the terms and language used in fundraising. Where can I get help?

A The Code of Fundraising Practice has a useful glossary of terms here: www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/code/glossary

Working with Businesses

Q A local business has offered to sponsor our family fun day. They are anxious about VAT implications.  Help?

A As a charity, you do not pay VAT when you buy some goods and services. However, VAT may be charged when you give or receive sponsorship.  The guidance is here:  www.gov.uk/guidance/sponsorship-and-vat-notice-70141

Using a Consultant or Freelance fundraiser to raise funds for our group

Q One of our trustees has suggested using a freelance fundraiser to raise funds for our group. What are the advantages and disadvantages?

A Hmm – this can be a tricky one! Very often your donors, supporters, funders, want to get to know the group and the people connected with it, rather than deal with someone else. However, employing a professional fundraiser can mean that you get results more quickly than if you were having to learn to do it yourselves.

Direct Marketing

Q Our group wants to write to our members and supporters to ask for money. Can we do this?

A Yes – if you either have their “Consent” to contact them, or if you can demonstrate that they have a “Legitimate Interest” in your activities. Protecting the rights of individuals to control how their personal information used has been strengthened since the introduction of the Data Protection Act 2018.

Q Can we send our supporters “thank you” letters if they have given us a donation?

A Yes – some donors love to receive your thanks, others think that it is a waste of you limited resources, so be careful not to offend your donor.

Q Can we send our volunteers Christmas cards?

A Yes – but don’t cause offence, not all your donors may celebrate that particular religious festival…

Fundraising Events

Q We want to run a raffle as part of an event. Do we need a licence?

A No. If tickets are only being sold inside the event, then you don’t need a licence.  However, if tickets are being sold outside the event eg by a volunteer taking a book of tickets home to sell, then you should have a licence from Glasgow City Council.  The licence covers you for a year and can be applied for here: www.glasgow.gov.uk/licences/gambling

Q We’re running a fundraising event for the first time – is there anywhere we can find some guidance?

A Yes – there’s lots of it about. As ever, the Code has clear guidance on what you can and can’t do (www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/code/specific-fundraising-methods/events), but there’s also some bright ideas here from the UK’s top 25 events

Gift Aid

Q What is Gift Aid?

A The Gift Aid scheme, administered by HMRC, allows charities or CASCs to reclaim the basic rate of tax which an individual tax-payer has paid on their donation. So, if an individual who is a tax-payer makes a donation to you of £100, if they give their consent and if you are registered with HMRC, your charity can reclaim £25. For more information: www.gov.uk/claim-gift-aid

Q What can my charity claim Gift Aid on?

A Gift Aid can be claimed on donations from individuals, but there are also ‘special rules’ for activities like sponsored events, auctions, membership subscriptions, donations of goods to charity shops (www.gov.uk/claim-gift-aid/what-you-can-claim-it-on) – and there’s the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme too (www.gov.uk/claim-gift-aid/small-donations-scheme)

Grant-making Trusts and Foundations

Q What are grant-making trusts and what do they do?

A Grant-making trusts are registered charities which give grants to other groups to meet their charitable purpose. Some are well known, like BBC Children in Need or the National Lottery Community Fund, others less so like The Worshipful Company of Feltmakers.  If your cause meets their criteria, you can apply to them for funding.

Q How can I find potential funders for my group?

A The best, and free, website is Funding Scotland. Sign up here: https://fundingscotland.com.  Also check out GCVS funding and fundraising page for suggestions, eg we often include details of funding opportunities in our weekly newsletter.

Q How do I improve my chances of my application being successful?

A Check the funder’s website to see if they offer any specific guidance for applicants; have a look at GCVS’s What’s On Page to see if there is any training available, eg we regularly run a Making Better Applications session.

Q The funder is asking me how I will be able to “Demonstrate impact”. Help?

A GCVS offers training and support to help you to set achievable outcomes and measure the impact of your work – the difference that your group makes in the local community. Have a look at our Quality and Impact page for training and resources.

Payroll Giving

Q I have heard that there is a way of donating to charity direct from my pay. Is this true?

A Yes – under the Payroll Giving Scheme, employers register with a Payroll Giving Agency, which administers the scheme. Employees can then give direct to their favourite causes and receive the tax benefit themselves.  For a basic rate tax-payer to give a donation of £10.00 a month, only £8.00 is deducted from their salary. Information for groups here: www.gov.uk/payroll-giving

Volunteers

Q Where do I find out what volunteers can and can’t do when they’re fundraising for us?

A Have a look at the Code of Fundraising Practice’s section on working with volunteers here: www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/code/working-with-others/volunteers

Q A volunteer wants to organise a fundraising event for us?

A That’s brilliant news! If they are planning an event which you agree to and are supporting, then the volunteer is acting “on behalf of” your organisation.

Q How can I find volunteers to help us to raise funds?

A Contact our TSI partner, Volunteer Glasgow, they can help you to find, recruit, induct and manage your volunteers www.volunteerglasgow.org

If you can’t find the answer to your question here, try Glasgow Makes Connections Resources or email our funding expert June Burgess at june.burgess@gcvs.org.uk

End March 2021

GCVS Applying for Grants transcript.docx

GCVS Developing Fundraising Plan transcript