Why trust fundraisers need to be involved in project design - right now!
In today’s highly competitive fundraising environment, even the strongest applications can struggle to stand out. Simply being a worthy cause or showing that your beneficiaries need support isn’t enough anymore. With funders receiving more applications than ever, their decision-making has become more complex, especially against a backdrop of political and economic uncertainty, making it harder to secure those vital grants.
Why Trust Fundraisers Must Be Involved in Project Design
So, why is it important that Trust Fundraisers are involved in the design of your organisation’s projects? Here’s the thing: while we don’t usually carry out the project ourselves, we do play a key role in securing the funding that supports the beneficiaries who rely on your charity’s services – we are the bridge builders!
The Role of Trust Fundraisers in Translating Project Impact
We act as the go-between for the funders’ priorities and the expertise of your project or service delivery teams. We speak a different language from the people working on the ground, using terms and frameworks that resonate directly with funders. Project teams, although brilliant at what they do, may not always see—or even know how to highlight—the bigger picture that funders are looking for. Their focus is on delivery, while our expertise lies in translating that work into a compelling, fundable proposal.
Crafting Measurable and Fundable Proposals
When we’re crafting these proposals, our goal is to make the project not only compelling but measurable. We need to present it in a way that aligns with the funders' priorities, clearly showing the outputs and outcomes to prove the project’s impact and value. If your colleagues can’t frame their work in these terms, it’s often down to fundraisers to step in and help shape that narrative.
The Importance of Collaboration Between Fundraising and Delivery Teams
This is why collaboration between fundraising and delivery teams is more important than ever. We need to work hand in hand to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to what funders want to hear—and ultimately, what they’re willing to support.
Planning for Challenges in Project Design
Strong project design is also about having the foresight to plan for potential challenges. Being able to understand the building blocks of a solid proposal can help you mitigate risks, address unforeseen issues, and keep projects on track—especially when under pressure (which, let’s face it, usually happens when there’s a tight deadline!).
Why a Strong Proposal Is More Crucial Than Ever
As any Trust Fundraiser knows, competition is fierce right now. A fantastic cause and a well-written proposal are just the starting points. Funders need to be confident that your project is the right fit, that it’s being delivered effectively, and that it will have long-lasting value. And it’s no longer enough to carry on delivering a service simply because it’s something your organisation has always done. It must have a clear, ongoing purpose, and at the heart of it all must be addressing the real, tangible needs of your beneficiaries.
Learn How to Strengthen Your Project Design
If you want to dive deeper into this process and learn how to make your project designs more compelling, we’ve got just the thing for you! Our on-demand webinar will walk you through a step-by-step guide to project design specifically for Trust Fundraisers. You’ll get tips and strategies to transform your projects and give your proposals the best chance of success.
It’s available now for just £25 plus VAT, and you can sign up here.
Let’s make sure your next project gets the funding it deserves.