Funding & Business Planning Support - Frequently Asked Questions
Funding & Business Planning Support Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions about ACVOs Funding & Business Planning service.
Q. Can you tell me where we can get money?
A. Where you can get money from will depend on your case for funding. If you can be clear about that we can help you. Download the Making the Case Funding Briefing as a first step. If you need help in making the case, contact ACVO's Funding Officer. ACVO and the Reference Library and ACC External Funding can help you access directories of charitable trusts and some other sources. Get in touch for more information. However this will not cover all the sources of support that may be available to your organisation (local companies, statutory bodies, individuals, community organisations etc). Visit the other Funding Briefings on the ACVO website for guidance and contact ACVO's Funding Officer for help in developing your particular organisation's Fundraising Strategy. Also look out for Funding Briefing days - workshops on a range of fundraising issues.
Q. Why do we need a Business Plan if we are not planning to be a business?
A. Don't be put off by the word business, there are many ways in which a voluntary organisation should be business-like; voluntary organisations can make profits, we just do not distribute them to shareholders, and every organisation needs a plan if it is to be able to manage and raise funds for its future. Download the Introduction to Business Planning Funding Briefing, look out for Funding Briefing Days on this subject, visit www.businessknowhownortheast.org and contact ACVO's Funding Officer for support.
Q. Can you write our Business Plan for us?
A. A business plan is most usefully more than a document produced to submit with a specific funding application. We believe it is the planning process which is most valuable and that the finished document needs to be owned and used by the whole organisation. We cannot work one-to-one to write the business plan for every client organisation but we can support and facilitate your organisation in the planning process and help you to find additional support. We do not recommend consultants but you may find it helpful, in this and many other respects, to visit www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk
Q. We have less than 9 months money left, can you help?
