Data protection – news and updates
Fundraisers and other charity staff alike need to know that GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is coming, and despite leaving the EU, it will still apply to charities. Are you ready? It’s worth checking out the ICO’s pages on the subject, which has blogs and guidance and notes on preparing for it. You should also read Elizabeth’s informative blog or the Knowhow Nonprofit page on data protection and fundraising. NCVO is also providing training – Data protection reform: An introduction to the GDPR for the voluntary sector takes place in May and July, with other dates likely. The Institute of Fundraising is also providing specific GDPR preparation courses for fundraisers around the country in June and July.
Do your charity accounts demonstrate impact?
Charity accounts are an important tool in every fundraiser’s armoury. The Charity Commission has reported recently that charities are missing a ‘vital opportunity’ to show how they benefit the public, citing research findings that over half of charity accounts still do not meet requirements to tell the public how the charity is meeting its objectives.
Fundraising opportunities for the new (and old) £1 coin
There are likely to be fundraising opportunities for charities both around the launch of the new £1 coin and across the transition period. Michael Birtwistle’s piece looks into them, and UK Fundraising reports on 12 ways charities are fundraising #PoundForPound with the new £1 coin.
The fundraising blogs
- Goodbye Dorothy Donor (charity giving is changing) – Sarah Fitzgerald
- The five Rs of supporter-focused fundraising communications – Matthew Sherrington
- Wisdom from my mum to supercharge your fundraising – Claire Axelrad
Other fundraising and sustainability news
Round two of the Community Business Bright Ideas Fund is open
The Bright Ideas Fund, a £1.85m two-year programme, aims to give community groups the support and tools they need to set up a community business. If a combination of tailored community business development support and early stage finance of up to £20,000 could help you, you have until 31 May to apply.
Comic Relief’s #iwill fund is open for applications
With a deadline of 12 May, the fund is for projects encouraging young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in and lead youth social action.
New website to help charities access social investment launches
Good Finance, a website to help charities and social enterprises understand social investment, launched last month.
Training
Go to the training and events section of our website to see all our upcoming events. Highlights include:
- Certificate in Sustainable Funding Strategies (accredited by the Open College Network) – next course starts in July
- Writing successful bids – 5 May
- Charity finance for non-financial managers – 9 June
- Enterprisingly Charitable – 16 June
- Charity Risk Management – 30 June
- Charity Leaderships in the 2020s – 18-20 June and 21 November
Or you can always contact us about training or consultancy support.
If you have anything you think we should include in next month’s round-up, please do drop me a line.
Richard Sved is an NCVO sustainable funding consultant. He has worked and volunteered in the charity sector for 25 years. He has led the fundraising function (in-house and as an interim) for six national charities, including National Literacy Trust, Leap Confronting Conflict and Girlguiding. 
