Fundraising Fellowship Scheme 2023
Fundraising Fellowship Scheme - 2022
The Fundraising Fellowship Scheme is back for 2023 and we are very happy to announce that we have a new cohort of six community organisations and projects to support over the next year.
The scheme was developed in late 2021, by our Fundraising Manager Yvonne, as new initiative to support fundraising for communities involved in arts and culture activities in the region and help boost fundraising capacity in the Black Country.
For those groups and organisations chosen they will receive training, mentor support and real-life experience to develop fundraising skills.
The aims are to:
support emerging fundraisers or those whose role may need these skills e.g. community group lead, coordinator or producer
support the community groups, organisations, festivals who may only need someone for a few days, or on a project basis, who can’t afford to pay a fundraiser.
create a fundraising resource that could be shared across the region
raise the profile of fundraising as a career choice (a role always in demand!!)
For 2023 we had far more expressions of interest than we are able to support - however we have also introduced a supportive peer networking group for around 9 community groups who are looking to take the next step in their fundraising goals.
The Fellowship Scheme for 2023
The organisations that we are able to support this year are:
BearHeART - a CIC that want to develop community creative projects including creative writing across the Black Country
Total Perception CIC - a community theatre group based in Dudley
Tibby Tenants and Residents Association - a resident's association in Sandwell who want to develop more creative activities and opportunities
Little Big Arts - a new creative group aiming to develop sensory and inclusive activities for children across the Black Country
S&K Create Artz Kidz CIC - A community enterprise supporting children and young people aged 5-12 years In Wolverhampton to use creativity to build confidence, self esteem, social ties and mental health
The Abrahamic Foundation - A Muslim organisation that serves the community of Sandwell through educational, social and religious provisions who want to develop creative activities
Our fundraising mentors will be assigned a group to work with and hope to support them to identify and achieve their fundraising goals in the coming months. This can include supporting them with writing bids, identifying suitable funders and getting them funding ready.
The 2023 scheme follows some great news from last year’s pilot scheme which recently saw Bearwood Community Hub secure significant funding from The National Lottery Community Fund which will mean that they can fund 2 years' worth of rent, staff and freelancers to make more great things happen in Bearwood.
““We submitted a much stronger application to National Lottery Community Fund than we would have otherwise prepared.” Commented Director/Founder Bearwood Community Hub, Sally who had support from the scheme in 2022. “We were delighted to receive news recently that we have been successful and we can now move forward in a much more stable financial position over the next two years. That means we have more capacity to develop strategy and further fundraising, and at least one more full time member of staff to make sure we are responding well to the needs of our community.”
Fundraising manager Yvonne said:
“It’s fantastic news that Bearwood Community Hub have succeeded with this well-deserved funding! This hopefully demonstrates that focusing fundraising support through the scheme can reap rewards”
Fore more information and tips on funding please see the following page.