When, who and how to ask for charity resilience funding

Resilience funding allows charities to step back from day-to-day delivery, take a holistic look at their strengths and weaknesses and then strengthen strategic and operational practices to improve long-term sustainability.

Charities are increasingly aware of the need to invest in central functions and strategic work to build their organisational resilience and be prepared for future challenges. However, finding funds for resilience work is much harder than securing funds for direct work with the people and groups they support. Funders can be reluctant to move away from supporting direct delivery to investing in core and long-term operations where outcomes may be harder to track and it can take longer to demonstrate impact.

Opportunities, however, do exist. So how can you best approach creating these opportunities for your charity?

When to ask for resilience funding 

1. Do your own research 

To get started, clarify your understanding of the issues your organisation faces. Where are the gaps in your knowledge? Have you identified the solutions you wish to implement to resolve them? 

This is where you show funders that you have clearly scoped the issue, are serious about addressing it and understand the resources necessary. Clarify if you are asking for funding for staff time or external expertise, or both. Show how the support you need fits into your strategy. 

It is possible that you are not yet able to fully identify the solutions and that is part of what the funding could help with. You could ask for flexible funding to both help identify the solution and then implement it. Also provide evidence of what is not working, such as data showing time lost on inefficient processes or referrals you cannot take on.

2. Seek diverse perspectives 

Speak to your employees, volunteers and trustees to clearly map the challenges and gather a range of perspectives. This stage might require bringing in an outsider’s perspective to ensure your business case is robust. 

If you are seeking investment in your charity rather than a traditional grant, you may need to present a more in-depth rationale and preparation than for other grants. 

It is also important to keep your trustees involved. When they have a clear understanding of your strategic plans, they are more likely to support decision-making and resource allocation.

Who to ask for resilience funding? 

1. Grant funders 

Some grant funders are willing to pay for core or development costs and you can research which ones might be worth approaching through the Charity Excellence Framework or the The Directory of Social Change's Funding Search. 

2. Your existing donors 

If an organisation or individual has already been funding you, they are strong candidates to approach, as they already value and trust your charity. Start by mapping your charity’s current supporters. They may not typically provide this kind of funding but if you present a strong case and show how it could improve outcomes, you increase your chances of convincing them.

3. Major donors 

If your charity has major donors, consider approaching them. Unlike institutional funders, they have complete discretion over how they donate, so if you make a good case, you are likely to be successful.

How to ask for resilience funding? 

1. Be specific about your funding needs 

When you are clear about your ask, supported by data and a thoughtful plan, you help funders understand how this supports the long-term sustainability of your charity. Reflect on how this funding will benefit your cause, consistently  highlight this connection in your conversation and keep returning to the impact.

2. Show confidence in your impact 

Communicate clearly the internal challenges you face in continuing to make that difference. If your funders care about the cause you work on, they should be interested to hear about your needs to ensure long-term, efficient and effective impact. You’re providing options to support a cause they care about, so approach it positively. It simply might not have occurred to funders that something other than programme costs would be useful. They won’t know unless you ask and if you present a well thought out request, the worst case is they say no.

3. Incorporate resilience projects into larger bids

Consider how to integrate resilience work into bigger bids or proposals. By framing your resilience work as an integral part of a larger vision, you can demonstrate how strengthening your organisational resilience will enhance your impact.

4. Demonstrate consideration of alternatives 

When asking for specific funding, you need to show you have considered other options and explain why your chosen approach is the right one. For example, if you are asking for funds to set-up an online portal, explain the unique efficiencies it will bring and why other methods fall short. 

5. Set realistic expectations 

Organisational change takes time. Instead of promising quick fixes, share a realistic timeline for transformation. This honesty will set the stage for your organisation to achieve sustainable progress rather than surface-level solutions.

Conclusion

• Do not be afraid to ask for support and to communicate and educate your funders and donors on the benefits of building organisational resilience. The long-term sustainability of your organisation is crucial for the people and groups you support. Not least in reducing risk, being more efficient and effective, saving time and money and being able to focus on the future rather than deal with immediate crises. 
  
• Always keep an eye open for opportunities for resilience funding. Many charities mistakenly believe that funders will only want to give to programme costs, so they only ask for them. 
  
• Look for ways to creatively and strategically present bespoke resilience projects to traditional funders, as part of a larger project or proposal.