SSE Fellows Webinar Oct 09

FUNDING, DECISIONS, PARTNERS

FUNDING

Funding: Sustainability

1) Time lag: takes time to filter through to frontline

2) Public sector: 20% cuts across the board?

3) Trusts & foundations: mixed messages

4) Corporates: varied picture

5) Earned income: ever more valuable

6) Pro-bono + in-kind: in plentiful supply

Fundraising: recession

1. research: criteria, the grants / investments previously given, the size of organisations they were given to

2. relationships: get time with individuals at a funding organisation; seek ways in; never submit a blind application without talking to someone

3. realism: about what you will get; about what you can deliver (the old "underpromise, overdeliver" rule);

4. transparency: be honest and open in your dealings with people; about promises; and about success (or lack of);

5. don't take it personally: not always about your bid

6. be "always on”: and don't put it all on one person

Fundraising: do the same

1. value: communicating the added value / measuring your social impact becomes more + more important; what will make you stand out / make you credible?

2. flexible + adaptable: sustainability may depend on ability to adapt: be open + creative in your thinking

3. partner: to access funding you couldn’t alone; to mitigate the risk; to build working relationships

4. get stuff for free / cheaper: negotiate current deals; utilise unused spaces; use pro-bono support etc etc.

Fundraising: do more

DECISIONS

• Distinguishes social entrepreneurs in absence of purely financial motive

• Crucial first step for planning / evaluating

• Communication to people (internal / external)

• Aid decision-making / avoid drift

Why does mission matter?

• Distinguishes social entrepreneurs in absence of purely financial motive

• Crucial first step for planning / evaluating

• Communication to people (internal / external)

• Aid decision-making / avoid drift

Why does mission matter?

Mission-Money Matrix

majority activity

stay out! proceed with caution

prime target

on mission

off mission

more moneyless money

Recession Matrix?

minority activity?

stay out (where possible)

proceed with (less) caution

dreamland

on mission

off mission

more moneyless money

PARTNERS

Partnership: key questions

• What is the purpose?

• What form should it take?

• Are the shared aims realistic?

• Who should be involved?

• How formal should it be?

• (Consortia? Sub-contracts?)

Partnership continuum

cooperation coordination mergercollaboration

Ty

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s o

f a

ctiv

ity

more less complexity and intensity

Sharing info for mutual benefit

Referrals

Informal support

Separate goals, resources, structures

Partnership continuum

cooperation coordination mergercollaboration

Ty

pe

s o

f a

ctiv

ity

more less complexity and intensity

Sharing info for mutual benefit

Referrals

Informal support

Separate goals, resources, structures

Event / short-term project

Some planning/division of roles

Some shared resources, risks & reward

Individual identities maintained

Partnership continuum

cooperation coordination mergercollaboration

Ty

pe

s o

f a

ctiv

ity

more less complexity and intensity

Sharing info for mutual benefit

Referrals

Informal support

Separate goals, resources, structures

Event / short-term project

Some planning/division of roles

Some shared resources, risks & reward

Individual identities maintained

New structure with common goals

All partners contribute resources + gain rewards

Longer commitment + durable partnerships

Partnership continuum

cooperation coordination mergercollaboration

Ty

pe

s o

f a

ctiv

ity

more less complexity and intensity

Sharing info for mutual benefit

Referrals

Informal support

Separate goals, resources, structures

Event / short-term project

Some planning/division of roles

Some shared resources, risks & reward

Individual identities maintained

New structure with common goals

All partners contribute resources + gain rewards

Longer commitment + durable partnerships

Most complex

Complete integration

Most difficult to achieve

Least common

Multiple variables

www.sse.org.ukhttp://del.icio.us/SSE

nick.temple@sse.org.uk+44 (0)20 8981 0300