As churches continue to experience a loss of income from the Covid-19 pandemic, parishes are looking at ways to fill their funding gap. With digital fundraising being considered by many, I hope the information below will be useful.
Digital fundraising is simply fundraising using digital technology, which usually means fundraising online. It allows us to connect with a much wider audience – especially if the links from a digital campaign can be rolled out and shared by people to inform others and collect donations.
Although it might seem scary, it is relatively easy to start a digital fundraising campaign. Many of us already use digital technology (internet shopping, Zoom meetings etc). As long as you have access to the internet, preferably by a laptop or desktop computer, (tablets and smart phones can work just as well but may take a bit more time to set up), you’re good to go.
Information about the different types digital fundraising is easy to find on-line:
*(National Council for Voluntary Organisations)
However, the one thing that you will need is TIME!
Like all successful fundraising, digital fundraising is relational. It’s about helping people give to a cause that they are passionate about. So whether it’s the church building that needs repair or you are after some much-needed financial support for the parish run food bank or winter night shelter, people respond best when inspired to do so.
The immediacy of digital means that any content provided can be accessed quickly and at any time. To keep people interested and coming back for more, a digital site should be updated on a very regular basis. The good news is that this doesn’t have to be done by one person –ask for volunteers to share the load, write copy and even manage one of your digital channels. You may be surprised by the offers of help you receive.
A couple of things to remember:
The only question now is: “Why wait?”. You have nothing to lose by having a go!
All of our previous webinars, along with the relevant PowerPoint presentations and speakers notes can be accessed at https://www.london.anglican.org/support/fundraising/fundraising-training-resources/. You can also find recent blogs by the fundraising team and other contributors here.
Any parishes thinking of (or) applying to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, may be interested in signing up to these 3 virtual workshops:
“Tales from the Crypt: (FREE) Legacy Workshops” (applying to the National Lottery Heritage Fund) will take place in September, October and November 2020.
Don’t be confused by the ‘Legacy Workshops’ title. These workshops will be of interest to all congregations (thinking of applying to the National Lottery Heritage Fund) that want to know more about how to develop exciting and worthwhile community engagement activities. They are based on the experience of Holy Trinity, Cloudesley Square which successfully obtained a NLHF grant.
While each workshop will focus on a different aspect, each will cover the key topics of community engagement, project visioning, working with volunteers and funding opportunities.
Hosted on Zoom, each workshop will start at 9.30am (access to meeting will be from 9.25am) and will end at 1.30pm with a 30-minute break in the middle. Opportunities to ask questions and participate in discussion will be included in each session. Sign up via Eventbrite using the links below:
September 8 2020: Workshop 1: Exploring Built Heritage: understanding your building, its significance, and how to utilise archives
October 6 2020: Workshop 2: Art and Heritage: incorporating creativity and the arts in your heritage project
November 3 2020: Workshop 3: Interpreting Heritage: how to interpret, exhibit and communicate heritage
Email Becky Payne (Tales from the Crypt Team) for additional information.
Allchurches Trust has launched a new grants programme: Hope Beyond to help churches, Christian charities and communities adapt to the challenges and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to build resilience and encourage hope.
National Churches Trust have grant funding available for essential maintenance work (such as repairs to rainwater goods, drainage repairs, small repointing and stone repairs, and/or small roof repairs). through their Foundation grant programme. Final deadline for to apply for this funding for this year is 30 October 2020.
Follow the link for the full guidance and access to the online application form.
And finally, a reminder of the link to the Church Grants: London.churchgrants.co.uk – a free to use searchable grant funding database for all parishes in the Diocese of London
To carry out a free search enter the unique 4-digit parish reference number (the one used to identify the parish for the finance team) – 1234 – and then click the church/parish name from the drop-down menu. You can use this search engine as many times as you want to identify prospective grant funders for your projects.
If you are unfamiliar with applying for funding and would like support with how to complete your application, you can contact Sarah Reilly, Fundraising Manager (maternity cover) by email for advice.
*The Church Grants Team are Andrew Clark MinstF (Cert) and Matthew Lagden MinstF, two expert fundraisers with many years’ experience of raising funds for churches. They work in partnership with the Diocese of London to provide the Church Grants searchable database (free access to all parishes in the Diocese of London via London.churchgrants.co.uk) and training resources.
The Church of the Annunciation Marble Arch has received a grant of £90,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The Jewel in the Strand invites people to sponsor flowers on its famous ceiling as part of a fundraising drive to raise money for its ongoing restoration.
A much-loved Edmonton church has received a £20,000 National Churches Trust Grant
Applications are now open for our digital giving project
Alice Yates tells us about the first workshop for 'the Camden 4' - a group of churches whose buildings are on the Heritage at Risk Register.
