Crowdfunding - Essential Advice

Are you thinking about crowdfunding as a means to raise some resources for your organisation?

Here's come excellent advice if you are thinking about it:

http://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2014/sep/17/crowdfunding-charities-essential-advice-fundraising

(Source: Guardian Voluntary Sector Network)

Planning a fundraiser?

Are you planning a fundraiser?  Here's ten top tips to help you on your way:

http://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2015/may/22/running-charity-event-10-top-tips-fundraise

(Source: Guardian Voluntary Sector Network)

E-ON ENERGY ACTION FUND

The Energy Action Fund is provided by the energy supplier E-ON as part of its commitment to helping communities across the UK better manage their energy consumption.

The funding is intended to support a range of energy related improvements and activities, from appliances and insulation to educational events.

Priority will be given to projects focused on encouraging the use of renewable energy and reducing other forms of energy use.

Grants between £50 and £2,000 are available. The level of funding will be determined by the size of the project and the impact it will have on the wider community.

Registered charities and recognised not-for-profit organisations operating in England, Scotland and Wales may apply. This includes community amateur sports clubs (CASCS) and schools.

To be eligible, applicants must:

o Have a constitution;
o Have a set of annual accounts;
o Be able to show how projects can help educate others;
o Show that the project can be completed within reasonable timescales; and
o Provide a realistic project budget together with evidence showing that the project can be completed within the budget.

Joint applications with Local Authorities will also be considered, although a charity or not-for-profit organisation must be leading the project.

To be eligible, projects must:

o Result in the creation of renewable energy and/or a reduction in the amount of energy used;
o Be directly related to energy and have a positive impact on the local community;
o Involve and/or have consent from the local community; and
o Be sustainable beyond support from the E-ON Energy Action Fund.

Examples of the types of projects E-ON will consider funding include (but are not limited to):

o Renewable energy.
o Energy saving training.
o Draught exclusion.
o Energy efficiency events.
o Sustainable energy education workshops.
o Energy compliance.

The deadline for applications is Friday 8 April 2016.

Projects must be completed by December 2016.

Guidelines and an online application form can be found on the E-ON website.

Contact details for the E-ON Energy Action Fund are:

The Trust Partnership
E-ON UK Registered Office & Headquarters
Westwood Way
Westwood Business Park
Coventry CV4 8LG
Tel: 01285 841916
Email: eon@thetrustpartnership.com

(Source: GRIN)

Planning and Writing Successful Funding Bids

Hilden Charitable Fund (UK)

The Hilden Charitable Fund is open for applications. Within the UK, the Hilden Charitable Fund makes grants to projects that address disadvantage, notably by supporting causes which are less popular. In particular, the Fund wants to support projects that:

• Address homelessness
• Supports asylum seekers and refugees
• Support community based initiatives for disadvantaged young people 16 – 25
• Penal affairs.

The average grant awarded is £5,000 and preference is given to supporting small community organisations with an income of less than £500,000 per year. The Trust will consider funding project as well as core running costs of organisations.

Next deadline is the 29^th Aril 2016.

http://www.hildencharitablefund.org.uk/

(Source: Rotary Club Funding Bulletin)

Funding to Tackle Fuel Poverty (UK)

The Scottish Power Energy People Trust has announced that its grants programme is open for applications.

The Trust provides grants to registered charities for projects that address fuel poverty. Registered charities can apply for grants of up to £50,000 for projects that:

• Provide energy efficiency advice
• Improve home energy efficiency through draught proofing, insulating and or other practical measures
• Carry out benefits advice to households missing out on financial help that they are entitled to through welfare benefits and tax credits and provide assistance to reduce or cancel debts for household electricity or gas supply.

Applications are particularly welcome from charities who work with children, young people and families.

Previous projects supported include:

Telford & The Wrekin CAB which received a grant of £49,887 to employ a part time energy efficiency/income maximisation adviser. The adviser would provide one-to-one advice and support for individuals and families referred by any of the agencies within the network.

The deadline for applications is the 17th May 2016.

http://www.energypeopletrust.com/content/default.asp?page=s4

(Source: Rotary Club Funding Bulletin)

Football Foundation's Grow the Game Fund (England & Wales)

The Football Foundation has announced that its "Grow the Game" grant scheme re-opened for applications on the 1st February 2016 and will close on the 10th March 2016.

Applications are welcome from not for profit organisations that are planning to set up two new football teams over the next two years. To be eligible for funding organisations must have a signed constitution (with a dissolution clause), child protection policy, equal opportunities policy, bank statement and income/expenditure records.

The type of activities that can be funded include (but are not limited to):

• Facility hire
• Hire of FA qualified coaches
• Referees fees
• CRB checks
• Affiliation fees
• Promotion and publicity; etc.

Organisations are able to receive a grant of £1,500 per new team created over two or three years with financial support being reduced in the second or third year of the project.

http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/funding-schemes/grow-the-game/

(Source: Rotary Club Funding Bulletin)