'Fundraiser' in a housing association - HELP!

"Amen" to the comments by Martin and Sandre, and a quick thought : are you a member of the Institute of Fundraising? I don't know what the Midlands group is like, but here in the North East we do quite a bit of the mutual support thing at our bi-monthly meetings.

What you face is not as unusual as it should be - too many organisations expect the fundraiser to drag money in, almost independent of the organisation's aims and activities, and without an organisation-wide strategy.

Cheers

Gerry

[quote]There are no real targets or projects set from the top - I almost feel we have done it the wrong way around i.e. my opinion is we should have employed a true community development worker who would then identify projects that require funding instead of me in the role trying to get ideas from people, often to fit in with a pot of money. [/quote]
Ouch. From the limited information that it's possible to post here, I think your instincts are right. As discussed on this thread a major 'grab' factor in applications to independent funders is a sense of the organisation's passion for the project. Designing projects to fit funding available is never good. At worst, it can lead to the organisation losing focus on vision/mission and over-extending itself, resulting in loss of morale all round.

[quote]I do know all the theory behind good applications but sometimes its difficult within our current structure to identify projects that could withstand all the competition.[/quote]
Fundraising strategy needs to be based on the organisation's mission and objectives - as already noted, finding out "where you are now" is a good thing. If it is difficult to identify projects, then this needs to be addressed at Board/senior management level. As a fundraiser, your job is to "do the dirty work". It's their job to give you the direction so you know what you're looking for, i.e. looking for funding for a project, rather than finding funding and looking for a project to fit.

Don't know if this will help.

One of the first things I did was sit down with the treasurer and my boss and work out what we already had some or all funding for, and what was only covered by general funds.
The general funds stuff is what I've mostly gone for - wages, running costs, food. Then specific items usually given me to get money for by the manager - computers, tables, chairs, pool tables, freezers and so on. Usually when the old stuff packs up, so timing comes into the issue too.

Mifght be worth sitting down with your manager and organisation treasurer (who usually knows more than manager about whats being paid for) and see if areas can be identified that don't currently get full specific funding. Or might generate ideas of what the organisation needs to buy this year.

Thank you for your support - given me a glimmer of hope! :-) I will use the forum more as a sounding board (kind of sat on the sidelines for a bit) & will take your advice and any offers of help.

The problem is I do work with some decent people, but my role sits on its own &, as we call it, 'alternative funding', (ie. not Supporting People money or Care Fees, rents etc) is the first thing to fall off people's agendas when busy.

There are no real targets or projects set from the top - I almost feel we have done it the wrong way around i.e. my opinion is we should have employed a true community development worker who would then identify projects that require funding instead of me in the role trying to get ideas from people, often to fit in with a pot of money. I do know all the theory behind good applications but sometimes its difficult within our current structure to identify projects that could withstand all the competition.

Hi Karen.
The organisation itself plays a big role in what funding you can get.

Sounds like your role is challenging. Are you supported by staff and management, getting information and realistic targets?

There are some good people on here, and quite a number of fundraisers around the brummie area.
Its good to have support or at least a sounding board of others to bounce ideas off.
Local CVS can be OK, the Birmingham one I've not had problems with. The Walsall one is a bit more hit and miss. But do a nice calender. :)

Martin
The Glebe Centre
Walsall
[email]mart2306@hotmail.com[/email]

Hi Karen,

I've been in a pretty similar boat to you before, I may be able to offer assistance, if you want to drop me a line (jasons at touchstone-leeds dot co dot uk) and tell me a bit more, I may have some ideas :o)

Jason

I think if you've been led to expect big wins, then someone may have been being a bit optimistic. I'd expect fundraising for a housing association to require a lot of work for not a lot of reward, unless you've got a particularly dazzling project and a long track record of cultivating donors, stretching back a lot further than two years.

I (and plenty of other people here, I expect) would be happy to have my brains picked, or provide a second opinion on applications/letters: I've been kicking around the fundraising world for a little over ten years now. Don't be too worried about prospective employers, though: if I was interviewing, I'd probably be more interested in a candidate who'd had moderate success in a challenging role than one who'd raised lots of money for a charismatic "cancer of the puppy" organisation...

James