Whether your fundraising is carried out by a fully staffed department or a one-man/woman band, using outsourcing to meet some of your needs can be a good solution. However, some charities may be hesitant about bringing in outside help. I understand this hesitation and wanted to devote some space to talking more about working with an adviser or freelancer on projects or strategic challenges:
Projects and short-term work
- Maybe you’re not ready to hire new staff, but find yourself faced with a resource shortfall on a piece of work. It could be a grant opportunity you don’t want to miss or a need for an expert critique of your existing proposals. Whether it’s for a few days or a few months, a self-employed fundraiser can help you fill this gap.
Guidance for new directions
- Some charities have found themselves adrift in an unfamiliar fundraising world as long-standing government grants are withdrawn and new income sources must be found. Trust and foundation fundraising can yield a particularly good return on investment. A consultant with trusts expertise can help you get started with this income stream.
- If you rely heavily on volunteers to handle fundraising, you may have found that your volunteers could use some extra support from time to time, perhaps with specific projects or with skills development.
Minimising risk and cost
- Outsourcing allows you to complete a piece of work without the costs of creating a new staff post or recruiting for an existing role.
- Hiring a member of staff is not just costly; it also carries an element of risk and a lack of flexibility. If either your charity or the new starter decides that the fit isn’t right, you’ll need to re-start the recruitment process. You also have obligations to that member of staff under employment law. (Don’t get me wrong – it’s key to the integrity and the success of the third sector that we maintain a well-trained, well-supported workforce employed on fair terms. When a charity wouldn’t be best served by a staff post, though, other options should be considered.)
An outside view
- Perhaps you need expertise that can’t be found within your organisation, and more guidance than a casual survey of your professional networks can provide. Whatever your starting point, I can work with you to provide the expert support you need.
- If you have staff who are new to trust fundraising or to this field in general, a consultant can meet your employees where they are, providing a plan of action specific to their needs and to your fundraising objectives. I can work one-on-one with your staff or provide group training.