Fundraising
The Parish Resources Officer advises and supports parishes and related groups in the development of sustainable projects.
Fundraising is an essential part of any development plan whether it's updating the church hall to make it a comfortable and safe place for many different groups to meet, or resourcing a worker to support asylum seekers.
The Diocese of Manchester has taken out a subscription to GRANTnet, enabling parishes and other local organisations to search a huge range of funding sources free of charge. Click here for GRANTnet.
However, perhaps more importantly than fundraising skills (there's a lot of information about how to do this) is that we try to create sustainable projects. This often means working slowly, thoroughly identifying needs, and helping congregations and local people to gain a range of skills and knowledge to help them achieve this. It's not unusual to take two or three years to move from a ‘bright idea’ to the beginnings of a good, locally rooted project.
Basic help is available from the diocese on:
1. planning a good project
2. finding the right contacts
3. getting training to manage a successful project
4. finding the right kind of funding for you.
If you want to talk through some ideas or think you that you may need some help please contact Dian Leppington or Sue Heil.
More detailed guidance and application forms for Diocesan Grant Schemes are available in the Grants Handbook (1Mbyte). (The handbook also contain information on Clergy Grants.)
Download Frequently Asked Questions on grants and fundraising.
Training
All groups, whether they be PCCs, parish volunteers and employees, project management committees, volunteers or staff, benefit from good investment in training.
Fundraising training workshops are regularly available through the diocese in areas such as:
1. Planning a successful project
2. Accessing the GRANTnet online database of funders
3. Making an application for funding
4. Effective evaluation and monitoring.
Visit the Events page.
Other areas not directly related to fundraising and business planning can be essential to a successful project for instance:
1. Just Employment
2. Developing working partnerships
3. Governance
4. Buildings issues
For more information contact Mike France on 0161 828 1475.
