Researching possible donors and funders

01 May 2023

Successful fundraising and grant applications begin with research into possible donors and funders

Useful tips when researching possible donors and funders

There are a number of factors to consider when looking for funders, so we have developed some simple tips to help you organise your research

Think about the type of potential funder that you want to approach. There are several types of potential funders including trusts, foundations, corporate funders, statutory bodies and philanthropic individuals who may be able to support your activities.
Understand the potential funder’s areas of interest, the fit with your church and the projects/activities which need funding. The funder may be interested in the restoration of church buildings, promoting Christianity or reaching marginalised community groups.
Funders have different application procedures, so it is important to note any key elements in their process including deadlines. Some may require an application form to be completed while others have an online quiz to assess your suitability for their grants.
Think about the target amount that you will be seeking from this donor, taking their areas of interest and track record into consideration.

Fundraising support for your church

Resources to help you meet your day-to-day funding needs.

Visit the fundraising hub

Useful Links

Top tips for fundraising Researching funders Grant application checklist

Case for support Outputs and Outcomes List of grant funders

Fundraising support for your church

Resources to help you meet your day-to-day funding needs.

Visit the fundraising hub

Useful Links

Top tips for fundraising Researching funders Grant application checklist

Case for support Outputs and Outcomes List of grant funders

More about fundraising for your church

List of grant funders for churches

A collated list of the top funders that support churches and are currently offering grants.

Church Fundraising during the cost-of-living crisis

Fundraising during a cost-of-living crisis can feel rather daunting: with pressure from higher levels of inflation, rising energy costs and rapidly increasing mortgage rates. Ecclesiastical asked fundraising experts, Philanthropy Company, for their top tips to help your church to move forward with its fundraising plan during these challenging times.

Top tips for fundraising by churches

Key steps and suggestions for you and your church to take for successful fundraising.

Checklist for grant applications

After researching possible funders and grants for your church, use this checklist to identify some key points to consider before making an application.

Fundraising

Case for support guidance for churches

Regardless of which funder or donor you approach, you will need to have a clear and compelling case for support. This will act as a foundation for all your fundraising and is key to achieving successful applications.

Outputs and outcomes guidance

These words (outputs and outcomes) appear frequently in the world of fundraising and are key to writing clear funding applications.

Researching possible donors and funders

Successful fundraising and grant applications begin with research into possible donors and funders

This guidance is provided for information purposes and is general and educational in nature. Nothing constitutes legal advice. You are free to choose whether or not to use it and it should not be considered a substitute for seeking professional legal help in specific circumstances. Where links are provided to third-party sites and resources, these links are provided for your information only. Ecclesiastical is not responsible for the contents of those sites or resources.

Content developed in collaboration with
Philanthropycompany
www.philanthropycompany.com

Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public is also available from the Charities Regulator here