Futurekraft

22/10/2026

We’ve worked alongside Stride UK for over 10 years, so this one feels like a particularly special case study to share.

When Diane first approached us in 2015, Stride needed to strengthen its fundraising capacity. What started as ad hoc support has grown into a long-term partnership, with Futurekraft becoming part of the team through growth, challenge and change.

Over the years, we’ve supported Stride with funding strategy, bid writing and tenders, budgeting, impact measurement, consultation and strategic advice.

The aim has always been the same: understand what Stride needs, find the right opportunities and help them put themselves in the strongest possible position for sustainable growth.

And together, we’ve helped secure more than £1.5 million in grant funding, supporting Stride to continue and develop its work with around 800 young people across Greater Manchester.

We’ve shared the full story, including how the partnership has evolved and what we’ve supported Stride with along the way, over on our website.

Read our full Stride UK case study → https://futurekraft.org/stride-uk/

Get in touch to find out how we can make your life easier. Give our team a call on 01274 680588, or drop us an email on [email protected], and we can have a chat about how we can help.

20/10/2026

What if your organisation doesn't actually have a funding problem?

It might have a planning problem.

A capacity problem.

A sustainability problem.

When resources are tight, it's understandable to focus on finding the next grant. But funding alone won't solve every organisational challenge.

Before starting another application, it can be useful to step back and ask whether you have a clear plan for what you're trying to achieve, whether your current model is sustainable and whether your organisation has the capacity to deliver what you're asking funders to support.

Good fundraising starts with a strong understanding of the organisation behind the application.

At Futurekraft, we look at the bigger picture, connecting the dots to help organisations understand what they need to become stronger and more sustainable.

If you're wondering what your organisation needs next, get in touch with our team at [email protected] or call 01274 680588.

15/10/2026

Your organisation might be doing important work in your community. You might have a brilliant idea, a committed team and a real desire to make a difference.

But that doesn't always mean you have the time, resources or expertise to make everything happen.

That's where Futurekraft comes in.

We support charities, churches, CICs and social enterprises to become stronger, more sustainable organisations. That can include fundraising and bid writing, but it can also mean looking at governance, business planning, project design, financial management and organisational development.

Because sustainable organisations need more than funding. They need a clear purpose, good foundations and the confidence to make decisions about what comes next.

Over the coming months, we'll be sharing more about our work, the organisations we support and some of the challenges we help them tackle.

If your organisation is at a point where you need some support to move forward, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch at [email protected] or call 01274 680588.

Find out more about us over on our website - https://futurekraft.org/

13/10/2026

This time of the year is always a busy time for us at Futurekraft and as we move into October, that doesn't really slow down.

It’s a time when lots of organisations are looking ahead, planning what’s next and thinking about how they can turn their ideas into action.

For youth organisations, this time of the year can bring a fresh start as young people head back to school and new projects get underway. Churches are beginning to look ahead to Christmas projects and community activity. Many of our clients are starting to think about their Christmas campaigns and what they need to secure funding for.

And then there are the funders. Some have deadlines coming up in September/October, while others are opening opportunities for later in the year. It can be a lot to keep track of, particularly when you’re already busy delivering your day-to-day work.

That’s where having a clear funding plan can make a real difference.

If you’re looking to kickstart a funding project, have a project you need to find funding for, or simply want to understand what opportunities might be out there, get in touch with us at [email protected] or 01274 680588.

Find out more about Futurekraft - https://futurekraft.org/

10/09/2026

Murphy our Barketing Manager is in the office today - everyone behave!

08/09/2026

Is your organisation ready for autumn?

Summer is behind us and the autumn funding push is here. New grant rounds are opening, planning cycles are starting, and it's a great time to step back and ask "how is my organisation actually doing?"

Our free Organisational Health Check takes five minutes and covers the four things that are critical for an organisation to survive and thrive: Governance, Identity, Operations and Finance. There's no cost and you get an instant report on your strengths and areas for development.

Over 200 organisations have used it as a starting point or check-in. Why not make it yours?

https://futurekraft.org/healthcheck/

Our FREE Organisational Health Check will give you an instant report on the health of your church, charity or social enterprise.

01/09/2026

The reality of fundraising: advice from both sides of the table

Shelley is one of our Directors and is highly experienced in fundraising and charity development. She also works on both sides of the funding table because alongside her consultancy work, she serves as Grants Manager at The Macaulay Moat Foundation, assessing applications and managing the grant-making process. When she talks about the reality of fundraising, she knows it from both ends.

Shelley's advice: if you have ever submitted funding applications, you will have experienced disappointment. We've all been there! No matter how good your application is, there are always things outside of your control that affect the funder's decision. Don't take it to heart as it is often not a reflection on the quality of your work, but a reflection on the wider funding landscape. The important thing is to keep going!

If you have a bid writer in your team, remember to give them plenty of encouragement. Fundraising is a team task, but often it's the bid writer who feels the full weight of it. It can be a lonely place.

If your bid writer needs some external support, we're here to help. Futurekraft offers light-touch coaching support for your in-house fundraisers, including training, critiquing bids, finding funders and advising on bid strategies.

Get in touch at [email protected] or call 01274 680588.

25/08/2026

*Does your organisation have a reserves policy and do you actually have any reserves?*

Many small organisations have a policy that sits in a folder and ticks a box on funding applications, but having a policy is not the same as having reserves, and funders are often interested in what your unrestricted reserves level is. Having at least some unrestricted reserves can mean the difference between survival and closure when things get tough.

The reality is that running on empty is incredibly common when resources are tight, funding is scarce, and building a financial cushion can feel impossible. But even small steps are important, and a realistic reserves policy simply needs to name a goal, be honest about where you are, and set out how you plan to get there.

If financial resilience is something your organisation is working on, we'd love to help. Get in touch at [email protected] or call 01274 680588.



📷Towfiqu barbhuiya

18/08/2026

From surviving to thriving — a Batley success story

Batley Central Methodist Church sits at the heart of a diverse community in one of the most deprived areas of West Yorkshire. Alongside worship, the church provides vital community support, but recognised it needed to move from reactive activity to a clear, sustainable mission.

Over the last three years, Futurekraft worked alongside the church to deliver community consultation, develop a strong identity and strategy, and secure seven grants totalling £88,000 — including funding for a Community Development Worker and £10,000 towards transforming their building into a welcoming community hub.

"Futurekraft helped us listen to our community, clarify who we are and turn that into a clear, fundable plan. We now have the confidence, direction and resources to better serve our local community."

If your organisation is ready to move from surviving to thriving, we'd love to talk.

📧 [email protected] | 📞 01274 680588

12/08/2026

Funders don't just assess your project — they assess your organisation.

Autumn is often when the pressure builds. New funding rounds open, deadlines appear, and suddenly everyone is busy pulling together applications.

But here is a question worth asking before you start writing: how confident are you that your organisation is genuinely ready to submit significant applications? Not just financially - but across governance, identity and operations too?

Funders don't just assess your project: they assess your organisation. And the gaps that let applications down are often not in the budget or the brilliant ideas which make a real difference - they are in the foundations of who you are and how you operate.

Our free, no obligation, Organisational Health Check covers the four key pillars that funders look for in five minutes. It won't write your next funding application, but it will tell you where to focus your energy in building the organisation.

https://futurekraft.org/healthcheck/