Network Funding

Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy works to empower cultural professionals from across the sector by supporting them to develop their practice and to find creative, entrepreneurial new approaches to fundraising. We believe that collaboration is powerful and that sharing ideas, building knowledge and developing new skills is key to the long-term resilience of our sector.

Our Networks Funding aims to support these beliefs. At various points throughout the year we offer financial support to groups or networks across England to help them grow and thrive. This has been through helping them to build robust partnerships, strengthen fundraising skills, or bringing together a group with the aim of developing a new discussion.

Applications are now open for Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy’s next round of Networks Funding. We invite applications from groups or networks across England to support the development of a fundraising training event, conference, seminar or introductory meeting.

Organisations and groups can apply for the following levels of support towards the costs for organising an event or activity to take place before 20th March 2021.

Up to a maximum of £1,000 for any single event, or group of events, benefitting a minimum of ten people, who are either freelancers or staff from at least three different arts, culture or heritage organisations;
Up to a maximum of £2,000 for any single event, or group of events, benefitting a minimum of twenty people, who are either freelancers or staff from at least five different arts, culture or heritage organisations.
Up to a maximum of £500 for entirely virtual activity, to cover the cost of software, administration or external training support. Virtual networks must benefit a minimum of ten people from across at least three different arts, culture or heritage organisations. Where appropriate we will also support successful applications in this area by assigning an Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy trainer to support them shaping their thinking, facilitating an event or to provide advice and critical friend support to the group. The cost of this will be covered by Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy and does not need to be included as part of the budget requested.

We are looking to support a diverse range of Network events tackling key issues within the current fundraising environment, especially around the recovery from Covid-19. As such we have identified the following priority areas that we would like to target:

New ways of working, for example:

Encouraging new approaches to encourage fundraisers into the sector
Exploring how to adapt fundraising events or services into a virtual environment
New methods for engaging donors in an on and offline world

Approaches to collaboration, for example:

Developing approaches to effective fundraising in partnership
Exploring new fundraising structures and methods based on collaboration and sharing resources

Embedding equality, diversity and inclusion in the fundraising profession, for example:

Exploring ways to reach out to new donors or new communities

Encouraging new approaches to hiring diverse talent into fundraising

However, we also welcome applications for projects working in other areas where you are able to demonstrate how it will support sector recovery, or where there is other urgent need or added value for your community and the wider sector. We are particularly interested in receiving applications for networks and groups that offer support to individuals facing any of the social, economic and institutional barriers that can prevent people from creating, participating or enjoying art and culture.

To apply, please email your four-page proposal to David Johnson before 2nd November 2020. For full details on the application process and what we are looking for in your proposal, please download the press release.