fitforfunding.uk - A CASC Project

Fit For Funding

Helping community projects become ready for funding

Our online toolkit is designed to help you analyse each aspect of your organisation and understand where you might need to develop.

To get started, take our quick self-check to see what areas you may need to work on to ensure that potential funders can see your true potential.

After you've analysed where you need to improve, use the guidance below to learn about what funders look for in an organisation and how you may be able to develop your organisation.

Governance

There are a number of different ways to create your community group. Some are simple but offer fewer legal protections, some are more complex but provide more security for those involved and expand your range of options for funding.

Business Planning

Voluntary organisations and charities are required to be more publicly accountable and business-like than ever before.

Impact & Evaluation

Community groups carry out impact evaluation to assess the effectiveness of their programs and demonstrate their value to funders and stakeholders.

Fundraising and Finance

It is very important to keep good accounts of the money received and spent by an organisation. Your organisation must be able to show its members what happens to its money and, if it receives grants from funders, it must be able to show that it has spent such money properly.

Safeguarding

Community groups consider safeguarding to protect individuals, especially children and vulnerable adults, from abuse, harm, and neglect. It ensures a safe environment for all participants and fulfills legal responsibilities to promote well-being and safety.

Staffing and Volunteers

Many different organisations use volunteers ranging from large national charities to small community organisations run solely by volunteers. Your organisation has a responsibility towards those volunteers to ensure that they are safe and supported in their roles.