You are not alone

Often in funding applications and assessment interviews you will be asked questions about the other organisations you work with and especially those doing similar work to you. This is not a test to see if you know who else is out there. Nor is it a way a funder gets their research done – even though gathering local knowledge is always useful. It is a way of assessing how connected you are to others around you – Do you have good referral pathways in place? Are you sure you are not duplicating another’s services?

Sadly with the dual pressures of increased demand and diminishing resources, some charities have become inward looking. There is less ‘slack’ to attend events, training and meetings as everyone is head down and delivering. However, this is exactly the time when fresh thinking is needed and having the time to look outwards and meet with others is more crucial than ever.

A lack of external view causes several problems:

1. You miss opportunities for collaborations and partnerships;
2. You miss out on funding opportunities that can arise from more people hearing what you do;
3. You miss seeing alternative ways of doing what you do from visiting other charities or getting wider stimulation. As Daniel Neel of the Fundraising Resource Group puts it in his recent blog (see link) “Sometimes the best ideas come from outside of the non-profit world altogether”.
4. You risk duplicating effort such as conducting research that you didn’t realise had already been done.

Not referencing other organisations can also come across badly in funding applications. What would you think of a charity that says they are unique when you know they are not; makes no reference to other trial projects that have been carried out and evaluated already; does not work with a nearby charity despite sharing clients?

Despite all the internal demands, charity workers do need to keep facing outwards and connecting with others. This can be positive and reenergising at a time when work is hard. And at the very least you will feel better sharing your woes with other charity workers who understand.

http://www.thefundraisingresource.com/wp/fundraising-2/fundraising-and-deck-chairs-what-are-you-doing-with-yours/

Emma Beeston Consultancy advises funders and philanthropists on giving strategies and processes; selecting causes and charities; and impact monitoring. Services for charities include external perception reviews; bid reviews; training for fundraisers and non-fundraisers involved in bids. 

https://twitter.com/emmabeeston01