The benefits of cross-charity collaboration

Charities across the UK do a fantastic job providing vital support and services to those in need. But times are tough. A combination of the cost-of-living crisis and increased demand for services has put a strain on many.

We’d argue that it’s never been more important for charities to consider collaborating to achieve their mission, reduce costs, and multiply the impact they have across the sector.

Read on to find out why.

How can charities collaborate?

There are loads of ways charities can work together. For example:

• Sharing knowledge, skills, and information can help you solve problems and increase impact.

• Sharing office space, facilities, and/or equipment can reduce costs.

• Running joint fundraising events can help you reach a wider pool of donors.

• Establishing new programmes/services can help you better serve beneficiaries.

• Joint training sessions can help you establish best practice and explore better ways of working in your niche.

• Teaming up to campaign for change will enable you to speak with greater authority.

Case Studies

Now we’ve identified some of the ways charities can cross collaborate, let’s see how organisations have put it into action.

One Cancer Voice

When it comes to campaigning, there’s strength in numbers. Take One Cancer Voice. In 2021, over 50 cancer charities including Breast Cancer Now, Cancer Research UK and Teenage Cancer Trust formed a coalition to campaign for the NHS and UK government to tackle the backlog of cancer cases as a result of the COVID pandemic.

As a collective, they released a statement setting out a plan of action, and urged ‘our 4 nation governments and the NHS to make it a reality’.

The lobbying resulted in a commitment from the government to provide ‘hundreds of millions of pounds in additional funding over the SR21 period to ensure a bigger and better trained NHS workforce”.

British Red Cross & FareShare

Back in 2020, the British Red Cross and UK food charity, FareShare, came together in a bid to keep the country fed during the pandemic. Combining FareShare’s food redistribution network with resources and volunteers from the Red Cross, the partnership enabled the delivery of 2 million meals a week to those at risk of hunger, (up from 1m million before lockdown).

Brainathlon 

In 2021, Brain Research UK, Brain Tumour Research and Epilepsy Research UK launched a collaborative fundraising campaign in a bid to make up for the income shortfall caused by the pandemic.

The charities asked their supporters to take part in Brainathlon - a virtual fundraising challenge that required participants to run 15 miles, walk 10 miles and climb 1.2 miles (or 2, 500 stairs) whilst raising money for three neuro research charities.

The campaign raised a much needed £61,000, which was distributed equally between the three causes.

Wrapping up

If these examples have convinced you of the power of collaboration, there’s lots of advice and guidance on NCVO’s website.

Don’t forget, if you’re a fundraiser looking for a new role, or a charity on the hunt for a fundraising professional to join your team, we can help. Give us a call on 020 3750 3111 today!

Extrovert v Introvert: Which personality type makes the best fundraiser?

From recruiting volunteers and cold-calling donors to pitching businesses for corporate support and networking, fundraising is all about creating connections and building relationships. For some, it comes naturally. For others, it can be excruciating.

And it all comes down to whether you’re an introvert or extrovert.

The two terms were developed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung in the 1920s and refer to the way in which a person focuses their energy. Put simply, Jung suggests that introverts draw energy from being alone, while extroverts are fulfilled by interaction with others.

Let’s break it down a little further.

Extroverts

People with high levels of extroversion tend to feel comfortable in social situations. They’re usually outgoing, talkative, and happy to be the centre of attention. They enjoy meeting new people and tend to have a wide social network.  

Introverts

People with low levels of extroversion (introverts) tend to be quieter, more cerebral, and reflective than extroverts. They feel more comfortable socialising in small groups.

Instead of seeking stimulation by socialising, introverts receive it from within, and are content with their own company.

Note: This is a simplified version of the theory. You can read about the theory in detail here.

Introvert vs Extrovert: characteristics

The chart below by MindJournal outlines some of the common characteristics of introverts and extroverts. But bear in mind, it’s not as clear-cut as it looks. In reality, most of us exhibit qualities of both personality types and fall somewhere between the two.

Instead of thinking of introversion and extroversion as two separate extremes, think of them in terms of a range or spectrum.

 Curious to know where you fall on the scale? This Myers Briggs test will provide you with some useful feedback.

Introvert v extrovert fundraisers

Now you have an idea of some of the differences between extroverts and introverts, let’s go back to the original question: which personality type makes a better fundraiser?

There’s a common assumption that fundraising is an extrovert’s game. After all, extroverts enjoy being sociable and find it easy to strike up conversations with people they don’t know.

That’s what fundraising is all about right?

Not quite. As you well know, there’s a lot more to fundraising than chatting up a storm. And there are some fundraising roles in which introverts have the edge over extroverts.

Here are just a few ways introverts and extroverts can thrive in a fundraising environment.

Extroverts

• Extroverts are comfortable and confident in social situations. Happy to strike up conversations with anyone and everyone, put them on the front line of a fundraising event and they’ll be the life and soul of the party.

• Need someone to cold call lapsed donors? Give the job to an extrovert. They thrive on verbal communication, enjoy chatting to new people, and their assertive and fearless nature means they won’t shy away from asking for what they want.

• Extroverts are great at motivating and getting the best out of people - in terms of conversation, energy, and confidence. These traits make them ideal mentors - for junior fundraisers/members of your team. They can also excel at recruiting and managing volunteers.

Introverts

• Introverts like to connect with people on a one-on-one basis. Sensitive and observant, they spend less time talking and more time listening. These tendencies are more aligned with building long-term relationships, making them excellent major donor or legacy fundraisers.

• A 2018 study found that introverts tend to make more accurate observations about human behaviour than extroverts. In other words, they may be able to "read" people and understand them better. This is because they spend more time observing than interacting, which can make them very insightful.

• If you’re planning a fundraising event, your introverted fundraisers may not want to be on the frontline, but they can be valuable assets behind the scenes, as they’re detail oriented. For this reason, they often excel at administrative tasks like database management.

Final Word

In answer to the original question, neither introverts nor extroverts make better fundraisers. Both personality types possess qualities that enable them to excel. The secret to success is knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your personality profile and how they affect your interactions with donors and colleagues.

The strongest fundraising teams comprise of introverts and extroverts. If you want some help building yours, give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk

Is a 4-day working week set to become the new norm?

We all love a 3-day weekend. Bank holidays are always a cause for excitement. But what if you scrapped the traditional 5-day week and made this the norm?

If the results of the world’s largest ever four-day working week trial are anything to go by, this may be the way things are heading.

Organised by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with thinktank Autonomy, the study saw researchers examine the impact of reduced working hours over a six-month period. 

61 companies across a variety of sectors, (including seven charities), took part, cutting their working hours by 20%, with no reduction in pay, from June to December 2022.

The findings were significant:

• 56 of the 61 organisations that took part said they plan to continue with the four-day working week, while 18 confirmed the policy has become a permanent change.

• 39% of employees said they were less stressed compared with the start of the trial, and the number of sick days taken during the trial dropped by around two-thirds

• 71% had reduced levels of burnout at the end of the trial.

• 60% of employees found an increased ability to combine paid work with care responsibilities

• The number of staff leaving participating companies dropped by 57% over the trial period.

• The results even found that company revenue increased slightly by 1.4% on average over the trial period, and by a much higher 35% compared to the same six-month period in 2021.

Winning the war for talent

The trial has shown that (among other things) a shorter working week has the potential to improve employee wellbeing, improve productivity, and boost revenue.

But there’s another major benefit. In the current candidate driven recruitment market, flexible working is high on jobseekers wish lists. In fact, a study by Remote found that 77% of 10,000 individuals surveyed valued flexible working hours over any other perk.

However, employers are well aware of this, with two thirds now offering it as standard. To win the war on fundraising talent, you need to take flexible working a step further.

A four-day working week could be just the thing to give you the edge over your competitors.

Opinion

It remains to be seen whether a four-day week is the solution to the changing 21st century workplace. It’s a concept that many organisations may struggle with, at least initially, as it requires a break to working culture norms and a complete shift in mindset.

But, if employee attraction, retention and wellbeing are high on your priority list, a four-day workweek could be the answer. 

Final Word

Whether you offer a 4-day work week or not, we have a bank of talented fundraisers looking to get their teeth into their next role. Give us a call on 020 3750 3111 to get the conversation started.

How to harness the power of storytelling for fundraising

Ever since the days of cave drawings, human beings have been telling stories to connect, entertain, and pass on information. We’re hardwired to respond to stories as they activate emotional centres in our brains, evoking strong, visceral reactions such as that all-important facet of emotional connection: empathy, which enables us to identify with the plight of others.

When emotions are triggered, it inspires us to take action (i.e., make a donation), which makes story telling an incredibly powerful tool for fundraisers.

With this in mind, here are five tips to help you tell your fundraising stories more effectively.

1.     Make it personal

 You don’t need to be Jane Austen to write a great story. As much as excessive details, melodrama, and exaggeration may be entertaining to read, it won’t make for a compelling appeal.

Instead, write it as if you’re telling it to a friend over a cup of coffee.

Some pointers:

• Make it conversational and informal

• Keep the words simple, sentences short and break up long paragraphs

• Write in the first person (‘you, they, us’)

• Avoid jargon and industry slang

• Don’t ramble, include subplots, or go off on tangents (no one wants to read a story that’s difficult to understand or follow!)

• Use details only where they add to the emotion i.e., a child’s toy left behind. The family member who didn’t make it …

2.     Write about one person

The most effective fundraising stories focus on one person. Why? It’s far easier for our brains to put us in the shoes of ONE person and empathise with their story than with a group of people.

When there’s a group of people involved, it creates a barrier to emotional connection that’s critical for giving.

Want to make it more impactful? Include quotes from the people you’ve helped explaining how your support has transformed their lives.

The Firefighter’s charity does this to great effect on their website:

3.     Focus on stories not stats

As much as we like to believe we make decisions based on logic, stats, and reason – this isn’t the case. As we’ve established, people act on emotion.

That’s not to say there’s no place for facts and figures in your story. They’re important to highlight the scale of the problem you’re trying to solve, but it’s the story that will drive donations.

Take, for example these two videos by charity: water

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=137&v=BCHhwxvQqxg&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=charitywater

The charity tried to entice people to donate by presenting them with facts and figures. Granted it received 2+ million views, but there was a poor response in terms of donations.

So, the creative team went back to the drawing board and came up with a new video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=U7viqHIZPnY&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=charitywater

This one hit the mark, as the video appealed to emotion rather than logic. As a result, donations exploded.

4.     Make the donor the hero 

If you focus on the impact your organisation is making without explicitly acknowledging the donor’s part, you run the risk of alienating them: “the charity’s making a substantial impact without my help, so I’ll find one to support that really needs my money.”

However, when you make the donor the hero of the story, their support becomes essential.

Here’s a great example from Children in Need. They tell Riley’s story and point out that his health has improved “thanks to your [the public’s] donations.”

This simple line acknowledges the significant part donors have played in improving Riley’s life. 

 5.     Supercharge your story with images

You’ve heard it a “million times: “a picture is worth 1,000 words.” But in reality, it’s worth 60,000 words, as the human brain responds to images and videos 60,000 times faster than plain text.

Many images stand alone as iconic representations of powerful movements or events, like the photo of the starving child, Amal Hussain, who brought the humanitarian crisis in Yemen into sharp focus. 

That’s why visuals are such a crucial element for telling an engaging story. Without them, your audience is confronted with a wall of text that doesn’t humanize your need. 

In conclusion

Follow these five simple steps, and you can create powerful, emotive fundraising stories that drive forward your campaigns, demonstrate your impact, and, crucially, raise funds.

Happy storytelling!

Are you a natural-born storyteller looking to use your talents for good? Or perhaps you’re looking to recruit a talented story-weaver to help you show the world why your work matters.

Either way, we can help. Call us on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to find out how.

Want to get ahead in the charity sector? Take a fundraising course!

In a recent blog post, we talked about the ongoing recruitment crisis in the fundraising sector - how fundraisers are leaving the sector in droves and charities are struggling to fill vacancies. We went on to say that the situation presents charities with a golden opportunity to bring in fresh talent from outside the sector.

What’s our point?

If you’ve had enough of the corporate grind and want to establish a new career in fundraising, there’s never been a better time to do it.

But how do you land that all-important first role?

If you’re thinking, ‘I want to get into fundraising, but I don’t have any experience, or the right skillset,’ fear not. There are two things you can do …

1.   Volunteer

Charities are crying out for volunteers, so why not give back whilst gaining some practical fundraising experience? There are loads of opportunities on Volunteer’s website. 

Want another reason to volunteer? According to research by Deloitte, 82% of hiring managers are more likely to choose a candidate with volunteering experience, and 85% of those are willing to overlook other CV flaws when a candidate includes volunteer work.

It’s a no brainer.

2.   Do a fundraising course

If you’re concerned about a lack of fundraising knowledge and skills, why not book onto a fundraising course? You don’t need a degree. Even a basic understanding of the sector will help you get ahead.

Here are a few options (sorted by cost) to get you started:

Fundraising Essentials Certification

Cost: Free

Time commitment: 2 hours

NotProfitReady.org offers a variety of free courses for budding fundraisers. They cover everything from ‘creating a fundraising plan’ to ‘virtual fundraising events.’

However, a good starting point is their ‘Fundraising Essentials Certification’ course.

This three-part course provides an overview of non-profit fundraising focusing on the importance of major donors and examines the four stages of the fundraising development cycle.

What will you learn?

• You’ll be introduced to common fundraising areas, roles, and trends charities use to raise money for their programmes

• The cycle of fundraising development, including how charities identify major donors and the process of cultivation.

• How to conduct a solicitation meeting, overcome resistance, determine the amount to ask for, and turn prospects into donors 

On passing the exam, you’ll receive a certificate and 1.5 CFRE credits.

Fundraising From Scratch: A Complete Guide to Growing Income

Cost: £15.99

Time Commitment: 4 hours

Developed by Simon Scriver (professional fundraising consultant), this course will teach you the principles of fundraising and provide you with all the information you need to develop an effective fundraising strategy.

What will you learn?

• The principles of fundraising: what works and what doesn't

• Understanding of the different methods of fundraising

• How to maximise fundraising and crowdfunding from individuals and companies

• Tips and tricks for online fundraising, including Kickstarter and GoFundMe

• How to gather stories and convey them in a manner that motivates donors to give

• Knowledge of the practicalities of fundraising, including donation processing and database management

• How to manage your time

• Develop fundraising strategies, plot supporter journeys and be confident of what to do next

How to Fundraise: A Guide to Fundraising for Non-Fundraisers

Cost: £44

Duration: 3 weeks (4 hours of study a week)

The University of Kent’s ‘How to Fundraise’ course is facilitated through FutureLearn.

A practical guide to fundraising, you’ll be given tips on everything from preparing a fundraising story to processing donations.

What will you learn?

•  Why and how people give to charity

• How emotional and socially sensitive fundraising facilitates effective giving

• Preparing your organisation to fundraise effectively

• Creating and communicating a fundraising story

• Receiving donations and looking after your donors

• Developing a sustainable, long-term fundraising plan

You’ll receive a digital certificate on completion.

Introduction to Fundraising

Cost: £75

Duration: N/A. Access to the content will be available for 12 months, starting from your booking date.

If you’re new to the sector and want the gravitas of a name like the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (the professional membership body for UK fundraising) on your CV, this could be the course for you.

What will you learn?

•  Fundraising’s place within the wider non-profit environment

• How to develop a compelling case for support

• How to ensure your fundraising in legal and ethical

• The fundraising planning process and how to identify income sources

• How to create appropriate supporter communications

You’ll receive a certificate on completion.

Final Word

 Whether you choose to volunteer, or do a fundraising course, it’ll do wonders for your job prospects. Not only will it look great on your CV; it’ll put you in a strong position when recruiters shortlist candidates, and give you plenty to talk about at the interview.

 When you’re ready to apply for your first fundraising role, we’ll be on hand to help. Give us a call on 020 3750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk