Shifting Sands The Funding Landscape for the VCSE

Shifting Sands – The Funding Landscape for the VCSE Sector Mark Mower, Head of Knowledge and Partnerships

Outline of the session • The national funding landscape • Some headlines around donated funds • The general road ahead for the VCSE sector • Policy change around fundraising • The funding landscape locally • Some tips for negotiating the funding landscape • Group discussions

The funding landscape – at a glance • Total amount given to charity in 2018 was £ 10. 1 billion - broadly similar to the figure for the previous year • The ‘public’ and ‘government’ remain the largest income sources • Volunteering rates are stable, but diversity remains an issue • The reach and impact of voluntary organisations is wide-ranging, with 1 in 10 households accessing the services provided by the sector at some point • The top causes donated to were ‘children/young people’ and ‘animal welfare’ • Trust remains an issue – only 48% believed charities to be trustworthy

The funding landscape - headlines around donated funds • Online giving is on the rise • Encourage legacy gifting • Adapt to digital • Grow corporate giving

NCVO analysis – The Road Ahead • Getting over the political impasse • A gloomy economic outlook • Charities taking the lead in addressing society’s major challenges • Charities as more than bystanders in the ‘fourth industrial revolution’ • Increased scrutiny is here to stay

Policy change around fundraising • The Fundraising Regulator’s revised Code of Fundraising Practice came into force on 1 October 2019 • The new Code – split into three sections – aims to be more accessible and easier to navigate: – Part one covers the standards that apply to all fundraising – Part two includes the standards when working with others (including professional fundraisers, corporate partners and volunteers) – Part three includes the standards that apply to specific fundraising methods (such as events, lotteries and digital fundraising)

The funding landscape locally – NCVO Almanac data 2017/18 • Charities registered in Norfolk attracted the following amounts of income: – – – – Norwich - £ 143 m South Norfolk - £ 60. 7 m Breckland - £ 47. 8 m Norfolk - £ 43. 6 m Broadland - £ 38. 6 m King’s Lynn & West Norfolk - £ 28. 2 m Great Yarmouth - £ 11. 5 m • The East of England has 2. 7 charitable organisations for every thousand residents • Charities in the east employ nearly 71, 000 people • Of all the charities in the east, 86% are defined as ‘small’ (income less than £ 100 k per annum) or ‘micro’ (income less than £ 10 k)

The funding landscape locally – the value of ‘small’ charities They have a distinctive service offer – addressing social welfare issues by: • Being the ‘first responder’ to newly-emerging needs at a neighbourhood level • Creating spaces where people feel safe and respected • Promoting inclusion and belonging by connecting new and established communities They have a distinctive position – occupying a space all of their own based on: • The extent and nature of their local networks and relationships, which facilitate reach • Their stabilising role, where they are often the 'glue' that holds communities together • Their advocacy work, helping individuals to navigate their way through a crisis

The funding landscape locally – our research in Thetford

The funding landscape locally – our research in Thetford

Negotiating the funding landscape – a beach analogy • Select your beach (know the service delivery area you’re in) • Paddle in the water (play an active role in the sector) • Catch a wave or two (spot new opportunities and innovations) • Create your own waves (be different, be provocative, be remarkable) • Dive beneath the waves (examine the issues, provide some depth and insight) • Share the picnic (exchange knowledge and information) • Scan for new worlds & new horizons (potential new markets and funders)

Some questions for your table groups (a) What are you doing differently to raise funds and generate income – what else could you do? (a) How are your sources of funding changing – how can you better position yourselves to appeal to your funders and supporters? (a) How can you better demonstrate the value of what you do to attract more (or more stable) funding?