Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations - SCVO. Supporting the Growth of Community Action in Sandwell.

Fundraising should be a core activity for the management committee of all voluntary and community sector organisations.  Without money and resources, the good work performed by staff and volunteers cannot be realised.  

Getting the Message Right 

The greatest myth surrounding fundraising is that you need to be an expert to do it successfully.  While there may be particular skills associated with fundraising, they are skills that most people can learn.  The most important skill is the ability to communicate, clearly and passionately, the charitable cause of the organisation to a potential funder.  At SCVO, we can support you with developing an attractive proposal to present to a wide range of funders, so that you can raise the funds you need to support your work.

Identifying the Right Funder

SCVO provides information on a wide range of funding opportunities available to the voluntary and community sector in Sandwell.  Our dedicated officer can provide support with identifying relevant funding sources, selecting appropriate fundraising methods and preparing or reviewing funding applications to grant providers. 

Plan for Success

Fundraising is all the more effective if it is well planned. Knowing when and how you are going to fundraise long before you need the money will help to avoid last-minute crises and the pressure of trying to raise funds quickly before a funding stream expires.  SCVO can support you with developing a realistic fundraising plan based on your planned activity over a period of time and help you to monitor your progress and achievement. If good records are kept of your fundraising activity then valuable lessons can be learnt to inform your management committee, staff and volunteers about how to fundraise in the future.

How we can help

SCVO currently provides most of its support through one-to-one meetings with staff and volunteers and the dissemination of information through a monthly Funding Digest.  SCVO is also keen to facilitate opportunities for developing fundraising skills and knowledge through training, seminars and networking events.

SCVO’s approach to fundraising is based closely on resources and codes of practice developed by the Institute of Fundraising.

To access support with fundraising or for more information about our service or, please contact our Core Services Team on 0121 558 7434.