HELP!!!!!!

Might be worth getting a definate answer from the charity trustees. Will they plan to be open past Sept or will they plan to close.
If they plan to remain open, thats something to concentrate on. Should you choose to remain with them of course.

[quote]How do I proceed with my role when our future is up in the air?? Surely I can’t continue to ask for funding??

If the charity will go is Sept will a Fundraiser have a role in a dying charity??

If I go am I the most horrible person in the world??
[/quote]
A few thoughts: first, you're quite right that it's hard to know how to proceed as a fundraiser. As any longer-term funds are likely to need to be returned if the charity folds, then you need to pay your way with short-term funding, and that's a tough one to achieve, particularly as you're probably going to have to tell any prospects that the future's uncertain. Given the history you've outlined before, I suspect that as and when management decide that nothing can be done, you'll be told and let go within the space of about 5 minutes.

As to whether you should go: obligations go both ways, and the charity don't seem to have been keeping up their end of the bargain. Do start looking for jobs, but if you want to keep working for the charity for as long as you can, that would be a generous gesture. Quite probably futile, but wild-eyed optimism is a good attribute for fundraisers to have...

James

Thanks again for all the advice guys!!

Have been here for 2 and a bit months and well…..We got some news that it is likely our main partner will pull the plug. This will be in Sept 07.

Information the office has now is minimal (we haven’t been treated too well) and I need help PLEASE!!!

What do I do???
How to I proceed with my role when our future is up in the air?? Surely I can’t continue to ask for funding??

If the charity will go is Sept will a Fundraiser have a role in a dying charity??

If I go am I the most horrible person in the world??

I know this is bare bones but a lot of the info is confidential.

Please help

Em

xxxxx

(QUOTE):I have seen the audited accounts only - i have asked to see full accounts but the CEO is clearly not keen.

"Not good enough". You need to have a clear understanding of what you're fundraising for - as funders WILL ask for i's dotted and t's crossed. We do - and we're at the fairly 'trusting' end in terms of believing that the organisation is best placed to know what it needs and only query costs we really don't understand or that seem very high. And you can't do a clear budget if you don't have a full view of the costs involved. Recommend having a look at ACEVO's full cost recovery stuff with regard to budgeting (www.fullcostrecovery.org.uk) which will be good prep for your course in January :)

Since we're talking shameless plugs ;-) - if you're in London, then add Prospectus to your agency list (www.prospect-us.co.uk) :) (Disclaimer: I work in their offices - for a trust that the CEO chairs - but am not involved with recruitment duties)

You sound more positive :) - giving it a 'fair go' for three months sounds like a good solution - good luck.

Dear James, Rachel, Martin, Sandre & Howard

Thank you all so much for your help. Martin - i willl definately be in contact!

I had a meeting with CEO - didn't overload him with ALL my upsets but pushed for training and am now booked on a two day DSC course in Jan tailored to new fundraisers. i am very pleased as it is only just over a month till I go! does anyone how about this course, i hope its good?? (i did some homework and it seems the best)

I am also going to (today!) push about a contract and stated that i will be bringing it up at the next trustee meeting unless i do not recieve one.

I have seen the audited accounts only - i have asked to see full accounts but the CEO is clearly not keen. I am really worried, the charity has not had a fundraiser for over 6 months! I am feeling the pressure but I think the CEO is 'head in the sand type.' i feel i need time to learn the trade but in reality i don't think there is any! i need a lottery win!

Gift Aid is up to date, but will definately apporach past donors!

Have decided to give it at least 3 months at the job. it is a steep learning curve and the charity is a really good cause which i feel strongly about. BUT am going to keep one eye on the jobs pages so if you hear of anything.............. (shameless plug i know!!!)

Seriously though, thanks so much!

Hi Emma

Hope the above helpful contributions have shown that you're not the first person, sadly, to have been in this position. On top of that, anyone who starts their fundraising career as a sole fundraiser is going to find it hard, even with very good support from within the organisation.

Most importantly, it won't harm your prospects if you do choose to cut your losses since you can clearly explain your reasons.

In fundraising terms, I'd try a few quick wins to see if you can boost your own confidence and then use those wins to ask firmly for more support.

As Sandre suggested, check past Gift Aid claims. If they're not up to date or comprehensive (going back six years), put in a Gift Aid claim to HMRC and you'll find the money arrives quickly these days. (If no-one can help you with this, call HMRC for advice: they really are helpful).

Approach past funders e.g. trusts, as they have already indicated their interest and support. Also some trusts meet regularly and any application you put in could produce a fairly quick result.

Meanwhile, keep an eye on the fundraising vacancies in your local paper/website and on the various fundraising recruitment websites/email lists. You owe your current employer some good effort, but as others have suggested, your skills and enthusiasm might have more impact in another organisation.

Right, first up: don't panic. Take a deep breath. You're obviously enthusiastic about the cause, but as others have said, you CANNOT work without support of trustees and management. How often do you get to speak or meet with your CEO?

You have the right idea with checking records - learning from past events.

"Make" the charity give you some help. Certainly you should have copies of audited accounts, if applicable, which may list major donors (trusts, etc.) individually. Are there any Gift Aid records for individual donors? Ask to see cash book/day-to-day accounts for funds received - or for a meeting with whoever runs the day-to-day accounts. Ask if it would be possible to speak to the previous fundraiser.

If none of this is forthcoming, I think you need to decide whether you want a frustrating job or a rewarding one. If you decide that your enthusiasm will reap more results elsewhere, then *one* 'bad' career move shouldn't go against you - especially given that it's your first job in the sector. Plus you have explained the issues very clearly and objectively (well done). Most reasonable organisations would only worry if you had a history of being somewhere for a short time and then moving on and no good reason(s) for that.

Re: contract - I like this website for really clear, concise explanations of employment stuff :) - [url]http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?r.l2=1073859176&r.l1=1073858805&r.s=tl&topicId=1073971494[/url] . You might want to pass this on to your CEO :)

Hi Emma.
Like you, I started with no experience. Though the charity I'm working for has given a lot of support and agreed to let me get on with the job rather than setting immediate targets.
Took me almost 2 months after starting before I put in even my first application for funding, and took a further 2 months before any money started to come in.
I was suprised that the 3 largest applications I made all paid something out. Made me want to play the horses at the bookies, the way my luck seems to be running.

And it is largely about luck. Even the best written application, with the best stats and management support isn't guaranteed to bring in a penny.

I've been able to chat to our local church links people (who help amongst other things with being a sounding board for my crazier ideas), some suggestions and advice on here, the trustfunding website and the local ex-CVS organisation.
I've found "Writing better fundraising applications, a practical guide" to be a good book - I think I got it for about £11 from Amazon.co.uk. And my employer paid for me to go on a one-day training course after a few months (with a bit of trustee wrangling it appears).

Fundraising, to me, seems to be something that many charities don't understand. Fundraisers don't work in a vacuum, we require info and support from others.

One thing I've found has worked on my later applications is to use statistics and results rather than promises, ideas and anecdotes alone. Even something as simple as Neighbourhood Statistics.
[url]http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk[/url]

My charity is a homeless day centre one, in a deprived area.

Feel free to email me on [email]mart2306@hotmail.com[/email] or call me at work on 01922 625687 from 9.30-1.30.

Hi Emma,

You sound like you're in a bit of a nightmarish situation, I hope it doesn't colour your view of working in the sector as it can be very rewarding. I have never worked for a charity that didn't fully support the need for me to have a training and development plan, and I think that taking on someone with no experience and leaving them to work it out for themselves says a lot about the organisationand their attitude to their staff.

I recruit people all the time, and I think if you are open and honest in any interview then you can't go wrong. Simply explain what has happened in a concise fashion - just as you have done here, and use it as a learning experience. If you can be positive and use it as an opportunity to define your goals (career, training etc) then you should be fine.

Good luck.

Rachel Thomas

thanks James

I just feel like I'm sinking, and that i'm getting nothing that i was promised. the CEO works from home alot so is not in the office - i wasnt told this and as a result communication is so hard.

Money is very tight and some trustees are looking at me but i feel this is totally unfair as i have only been here a month and a half.

i dont know whether to try and stick at it or cut my losses. i'm also worried though IF i do go, what are other people going to think of me only being at a job for a couple of months!

the charity is a good thing but i don't know if i can cope with the way it is run!

Help!