The Client
Surrey-based charity Eikon has been inspirational in supporting young people across Surrey for over two decades. The charity works with children and young people who face a whole range of challenges; such as family breakdown, substance abuse, mental health problems and low aspirations.
Eikon was looking for a fundraising audit and some expert support to help them develop a fundraising strategy. There were also two vacancies which Eikon was struggling fill: Director of Development and Trust Fundraising Manager.
Why Us?
Eikon selected Fundraising Consultants Ltd because of our past track record with the charity – we had worked with Eikon ten years previously when the organisation was in its infancy. Back then, the support involved an audit and coaching for their newly-appointed Trust and Corporate Fundraiser. Ten years later, the charity’s CEO called us to ask us to provide some strategic support to help Eikon strengthen its fundraising.
Fundraising Strategy and Hands-on Fundraising Support
Over a twelve-month period, we supported Eikon in four ways:
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- Fundraising Audit and Strategy: We undertook a detailed review of the charity’s fundraising performance, across all income streams. The report and recommendations were presented to the Senior Leadership Team and Trustees. We then worked with the inhouse team to develop a robust three-year fundraising strategy.
- Interim Director of Fundraising: We provided interim support on a three day per week basis to implement the detailed recommendations from the fundraising audit and strategy. Over a six month period this included recruiting a new team; overhauling the website, brand and messaging; and working with the newly formed team to develop the ‘back end’ fundraising systems. This involved implementing Donorfy CRM, developing internal systems and processes to improve efficiency, and forging strong mutually beneficial relationships with donors, funders, commissioners, staff, trustees and volunteers.
- Interim Trust Fundraising Manager: Sarah interim managed Eikon’s trust fundraising over a six-month period on a two day per week basis. The work involved recruiting and managing several fundraising volunteers, writing funding applications and reports, speaking with and meeting funders and prospective trust supporters, and working with delivery staff to improve the charity’s system for measuring impact. There were a number of key successes, including major grants from BBC Children in Need, Community Foundation for Surrey and Heathrow Community Trust.
- Trust and Statutory Fundraising: Charmaine supported Eikon through the commissioning process with Surrey County Council; including project planning, networking within the charity sector and preparing the £800,000 tender application for 8 boroughs under Surrey’s new Early Help contract. The team also provided support with charitable trust grant-writing.
- Fundraising Audit and Strategy: We undertook a detailed review of the charity’s fundraising performance, across all income streams. The report and recommendations were presented to the Senior Leadership Team and Trustees. We then worked with the inhouse team to develop a robust three-year fundraising strategy.
What difference did we make?
The work was very successful; so much so that one of our consultancy team has now moved client-side to become Eikon’s Director of Development!
“I greatly valued the contribution to Eikon’s mission and work. Charmaine and the team draw on their extensive project management and front line operational experience when preparing a case for support. They present practical, effective solutions to resolve the needs of the client in a planned, strategic and professional way, coupled with passion for the cause, whilst ensuring that the donor’s criteria are fully met through a meticulous approach to budgeting, data analysis and outcome reporting.”
– Jenny Griffiths, Chair of Trustees, The Eikon Charity.