I had an interesting experience in late December. After years of sitting on this side of the fence I crossed over, just for a day, to be a member of UnLtd India’s investee selection panel. UnLtd India (http://www.unltdindia.org) were offering seed financing and incubation support to help develop leaders and launch new social ventures in Bombay and we, as a panel of four, were to decide if they were in need, worthy and indeed, ready, for the support being offered.

Being a grant-maker for a day meant asking all the right questions and asking them in such a way that encouraged the best from the applicants. I found myself asking those questions that I had always tried to cover when writing proposals and also discovering how damn difficult it is not to choose to see the best in every worthy cause and potentially brilliant leader.

It was interesting and, I wouldn’t say no to having a peak over the fence again. But, I did learn that contrary to my long held belief that we, as fundraisers, have a difficult job and its the grant-makers who have the easy task of dolling out cash and support, that things are definitely not that cut and dry. Which ever side you stand on, things are certainly not a breeze!

So pleased to see this piece of news on the BBC today, “Chancellor George Osborne has dropped plans to limit tax relief on charitable giving announced in March’s Budget following protests from charities.”

See here for more info http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18278253

This article on the e-coaching service was featured on www.fundraising.co.uk today!

http://www.fundraising.co.uk/news/2012/04/23/trust-fundraisers-offered-distance-coaching

To mark the beginning of a new and for many, austere, financial year trust-fundraising.co.uk has launched the e-coaching service for trust, foundation and statutory fundraisers.

The objectives of the service, which has been developed over a six-month pilot, are to cultivate and improve in-house talent. E-coaching aims not only to develop new successful grant-seekers, but also to bring fresh ideas to more experienced fundraisers.

Rather than simply reviewing and correcting applications, the email-based service run by Director, Sue Crow, encourages the fundraiser to consider for themselves why certain elements of their application may not be successful with the grant-maker.

Sue assists the fundraiser to approach the application with a fresh mind, questioning each section of the document, considering the thought processes of the grant-maker and answering their questions before they arise. This new innovative service will improve charities’ in-house skills set whilst also increasing their chances of fundraising success.

Sport4Life was one of the first charities to sign up to the e-coaching pilot. With support from trust-fundraising.co.uk the charity developed a successful application to The Big Lottery, securing a grant of £289,768.

Sport4Life Manager James Forrest said: “The e-coaching from Sue has been exceptionally beneficial to our small charity. It has helped to raise the skill set and knowledge of those responsible for fundraising, and in turn enabled us to achieve excellent successes with recent grant and trust bids.”

Congratulations to Sport4Life for their successful grant application to The Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Community’s Programme, developed with e-coaching support from Sue Crow. The grant of £289,768 will be used to fund ‘Be Positive’, a project that aims to improve the lives of 450 disadvantaged young males in inner city Birmingham.

James Forrest, Manager at Sport4Life said, “The e-coaching from Sue has been exceptionally beneficial to our small charity. It has helped to raise the skill set and knowledge of those responsible for fundraising, and in turn enabled us to achieve this excellent success. Sue’s services are reliable and professional, and provide a far more cost effective solution than other consultants.”