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Heaward Solutions, 24 The Avenue Blythe Bridge, Longton (2026)

08/06/2026

MAKING YOUR IMPACT VISIBLE

Not-for-profit organisations are rich in stories. Every beneficiary supported, every volunteer engaged, and every life changed creates a powerful narrative. But frequently, these stories and the data behind them are presented separately.

The most effective organisations bring them together.

Funders, donors and stakeholders increasingly expect evidence of impact. They want to know not only what happened, but why it mattered and what difference their support made. Data provides credibility, while storytelling creates connection. Together, they make your impact visible.

For example, reporting that "500 people attended our community programme" tells us something about scale. Explaining that "500 people attended our programme, and 78% reported feeling less isolated after three months" tells much more about the difference you make. Adding the story of one individual whose life was transformed to this makes your impact even more tangible and memorable.

Good impact storytelling is not about overwhelming audiences with statistics. It is about selecting meaningful measures and presenting them in a way that supports the human story. The goal is to demonstrate impact, not simply activity.

When developing impact reports, marketing collateral, funding applications or fundraising campaigns, consider:

• What change are we trying to demonstrate?
• What data best evidences that change?
• What beneficiary stories bring those numbers to life?
• How can we present both in a clear and accessible way?

Organisations that combine robust data with compelling stories are often better positioned to secure funding, engage supporters and build long-term trust.

In an increasingly competitive environment, showing impact is no longer enough. You must help people understand, feel and remember it.

If your organisation would like support in strengthening impact measurement, reporting or fundraising communications, contact Heaward Solutions. Through a combination of affordable mentoring and consultancy, we can help you turn data into meaningful stories that demonstrate your impact and inspire action.

05/06/2026

THE SCOTT BADER COMMONWEALTH LIMITED - GLOBAL STRATEGY FUND GRANTS

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to UK registered charities for educational and environmental projects that help impoverished, young and/or disadvantaged/marginalised people in communities worldwide where Scott Bader Commonwealth Limited has a presence.

Scott Bader Commonwealth Limited’s Global Strategy Fund provides grants of up to £10,000 to UK registered charities for projects in different parts of the world, particularly where Scott Bader Group facilities are based.

Eligible locations include:
* United Kingdom.
* Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
* Australia.
* Canada.
* China.
* Croatia.
* Czechia
* Dubai.
* France.
* Germany.
* India.
* Italy.
* Japan.
* South Africa.
* Spain.
* Turkey, and
* United States of America.

The Charity is particularly keen to support charities whose projects focus on educational, environmental and disadvantaged groups, as well as UK charities working with and for BAME and LGBTQ+ communities.

The Global Strategy Fund can provide grants of between £250 and £10,000 to support the work of charities known to Scott Bader companies or situated close to where they are located that are providing projects in the following fields:
* Education.
* Environment, and
* The relief of poverty.

Please note that Scott Bader Limited recommends that first-time applicants should apply for a grant of between £2,000 and £4,000.

During the year ended 31st December 2024, the Charity awarded grants totalling £336,000 (2023: £321,000).

Details of all grants made during the year are provided on pages 41-47 of Scott Bader's annual accounts.

Funding is not available for:
* Animal welfare.
* Art projects.
* General purposes.
* Individuals.
* Medical research and equipment.
* Sports clubs.
8 The construction, renovation or maintenance of buildings in the UK, or
* Travel and adventure schemes.

The next deadline for applications is Tuesday 30th June 2026. Dates of two further application windows during 2026 are provided on the Scott Bader website.
Further information, guidance and an online application form is available on the Scott Bader website.

Contact details for Scott Bader are:

The Local Strategy Fund
Scott Bader Commonwealth Limited
Wollaston Hall
Wollaston
Wellingborough
Northants
NN29 7RL
Email: [email protected]

For professional help finding and securing grant funding, contact Solutions.

Thank you to SW LLP, who shared this opportunity in their daily bulletin.

04/06/2026

BUILDING REALISTIC FUNDRAISING TARGETS

One of the most important responsibilities of any not-for-profit leader is setting fundraising targets that are both ambitious and achievable. Done well, targets provide focus, drive growth, and support organisational impact. Done poorly, they can create pressure, damage morale, and undermine confidence.

A common mistake is setting fundraising targets based on a gap in the budget rather than a realistic assessment of fundraising potential. Whilst every organisation needs to balance its finances, simply identifying a £100,000 shortfall does not automatically mean fundraising can generate an additional £100,000.

Similarly, targets should not be driven solely by aspiration. Wanting to double fundraising income is understandable, but without the necessary evidence, investment, and capacity, such goals can quickly become unrealistic.

This is why fundraisers must be actively involved in the target-setting process from the outset. Too often, fundraising targets are agreed by senior leadership teams or trustees and then handed to fundraising teams to deliver. The people responsible for generating income are usually best placed to assess donor behaviour, campaign performance, pipeline opportunities, market conditions, and organisational capacity.

Fundraisers can provide valuable insight into what is realistically achievable, where growth opportunities exist, and what investment may be required to reach higher income levels. Their expertise should help shape targets rather than simply be measured against them.

Effective fundraising targets should be built on a realistic assessment of:

* Historical fundraising performance

* Donor retention and acquisition trends

* Average gift values and response rates

* Existing funding commitments and pipeline opportunities

* Available fundraising resources and capacity

* Market and economic conditions

Many organisations also benefit from developing multiple income scenarios, including minimum, expected, and stretch targets. This allows leaders to plan responsibly whilst still encouraging growth.

Ultimately, fundraising targets should be evidence based forecasts, not figures derived from budget deficits or optimistic hopes. Ambition remains important, but ambition should be supported by strategy, capacity, and data.

When leaders and fundraisers work together to set realistic targets, organisations are far more likely to achieve sustainable income growth and deliver greater impact for the communities they serve.

If your organisation would like support developing realistic fundraising strategies, income forecasts, or growth plans, contact Heaward Solutions. We help not-for-profit leaders build sustainable fundraising approaches through a combination of affordable mentoring and consultancy.

03/06/2026

WHAT A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT CAN GIVE YOU THAT AI CAN’T

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way not-for-profits work. It can draft content, analyse data, generate ideas and save valuable time. Used well, it is a powerful tool, but it's still only a tool.

What it cannot replace is the value of experience, judgement and human understanding that comes from working alongside organisations, teams and communities in the real world.

A professional consultant brings vital context. They understand that no two organisations are the same. The challenges facing a local community charity are very different from those facing a national organisation, and success often depends on understanding an organisation's culture, relationships, funding pressures, governance realities, and stakeholder expectations, all of which are extremely difficult to capture in an AI prompt.

Whilst AI can provide information, a consultant helps you decide what matters most.

AI can generate a strategy, but a skilled consultant helps you build one that is realistic, achievable and aligned to your organisation’s values, resources and ambitions.

AI can produce fundraising ideas. A consultant can help you understand donor behaviour, interpret the risks, challenge assumptions and identify the opportunities that are genuinely worth pursuing for an organisation with your specific needs and circumstances.

Most importantly, AI cannot build trust.

Not-for-profit leadership often involves difficult decisions, competing priorities and uncertainty. Having an experienced external voice who can challenge constructively, mentor leaders, facilitate discussions and support implementation, something technology alone cannot provide.

At Heaward Solutions, we believe the future is not about choosing between AI and professional consultancy. The organisations that thrive will be those that combine the efficiency of technology with the insight, experience and practical support of trusted advisers.

AI may help you move faster, but working with the right consultant ensures you are moving in the right direction.

If you would like to explore how Heaward Solutions can support your organisation through affordable mentoring and consultancy, we would be delighted to have a conversation.

02/06/2026

RESPONSE RATES FROM DIRECT RESPONSE FUNDRAISING

So you have a database of existing or potential supporters, what next?

The most common approach is direct response fundraising, a form of fundraising designed to generate an immediate and measurable action from supporters. This can include making a donation, signing up for regular giving, responding to an appeal, registering for an event or requesting more information. This is commonly delivered through channels such as direct mail, email, telephone, SMS, digital advertising and social media campaigns.

One of the most common questions about this approach is: “What response rate should we expect?” Whilst the answer depends heavily on the audience, proposition, timing and channel. There are realistic benchmarks that UK not-for-profits can use to set expectations, monitor performance and make informed investment decisions.

For direct mail campaigns to existing supporters, response rates of 5–15% are often achievable where there is a strong relationship with donors and a compelling case for support. Warm audiences who already trust your organisation will nearly always outperform cold prospects.

Cold direct mail acquisition campaigns, by contrast, may deliver response rates closer to 0.5–3%. Whilst these figures can appear modest, success should be measured over the longer term through donor lifetime value, retention and upgrade potential rather than immediate return alone.

Email fundraising campaigns can vary significantly. Appeals to engaged supporters may generate click-through rates of 2–5% and donation conversion rates of 1–3%. Segmentation and personalisation are increasingly critical. Generic mass emails rarely perform as well as targeted communications linked to a clear story, urgency or impact.

Digital advertising campaigns can produce high visibility but lower direct conversion rates. Social media fundraising ads may convert at below 1%, although they can still be highly valuable for awareness, lead generation and supporter acquisition when integrated into a broader supporter journey.

Telephone fundraising often achieves stronger engagement levels, particularly for donor stewardship, regular giving upgrades and reactivation campaigns. However, outcomes depend heavily on data quality, scripting and supporter experience.

The key lesson is that there is no universal “good” response rate. Strong campaigns are built around realistic objectives, clear audience insight and continuous testing. Small improvements in targeting, messaging and supporter journeys can often produce substantial gains over time.

Importantly, organisations should avoid judging campaign success solely on immediate income. Some of the most effective fundraising programmes are those that build long-term supporter relationships, strengthen trust and increase future giving potential.

At Heaward Solutions, we work with not-for-profit organisations to develop practical, affordable fundraising strategies that improve campaign performance and supporter engagement. If you would like to discuss how we can support your fundraising journey through mentoring and consultancy, please get in touch.

01/06/2026

WHEN SHOULD A SOCIAL PROJECT BECOME A NOT-FOR-PROFIT?

Increasingly, at Heaward Solutions, we are being approached by established UK businesses that have developed projects that deliver genuine social value alongside commercial activity. In many cases, these great initiatives have grown to a point where leaders begin asking an important question:

“Would this project work better and achieve more through a dedicated not-for-profit structure?”

This can often be true, and for some, the answer may be establishing a Community Interest Company (CIC). For others, creating a registered charity may provide stronger access to grants, donations and public trust. However, the transition is rarely straightforward, and there is lots to consider!

One of the biggest challenges is striking the right balance between independence and ongoing connection to the founding business.

Too much control retained by the original company can raise concerns around conflicts of interest, governance and credibility with funders. Yet complete separation may risk losing valuable expertise, infrastructure and financial support that helped the project succeed in the first place.

The strongest models are usually those that create:

* Clear governance and accountability
* Transparent decision-making
* Proper management of conflicts of interest
* Genuine public benefit
* Sustainable operational arrangements
* Appropriate independence whilst retaining strategic collaboration

Potentially, there are also important practical considerations to address, including:

* Legal structure and regulatory requirements
* Intellectual property and branding
* Staffing and TUPE implications
* Data protection responsibilities
* Funding eligibility
* Board composition and trustee independence
* Long-term sustainability and reputation management

Funders, partners and communities increasingly expect transparency around how social organisations are governed and who ultimately benefits from their activities.

Done well, transitioning a social project into a not-for-profit structure can unlock significant opportunities for growth, impact and funding. Done poorly, it can create confusion, reputational risk and governance challenges.

Careful planning at the outset is essential.

If your organisation is exploring whether a CIC, charity or wider social enterprise structure may be appropriate, contact Heaward Solutions to discuss how we can support the journey through a combination of affordable mentoring and consultancy. Get in touch if you would like to talk about this or, in the first instance, get a free copy of our guide to this complex area.

29/05/2026

THE HERITAGE REVIVAL FUND GRANTS

Grants are available to help communities across England rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings, focusing on regenerating historic buildings in town centre locations.

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) exists to help communities find enterprising ways to revitalise the old buildings they love. The Charity helps with advice, grants and loans. Its support is designed to act as a catalyst for putting sustainable heritage at the heart of vibrant local economies.

The programme focuses on regenerating historic buildings by supporting community organisations to take ownership of, adapt and reuse the local heritage assets that matter to them, transforming them into thriving spaces that meet their needs.

The programme aims to:
* Build capacity within local community groups, social enterprises, and charities.
* Maximise the positive social and economic impacts of restoring historic buildings.
* Maximise the regeneration benefits of community ownership and control of heritage assets, assisting in making communities fit for the future.
* Pilot innovative, alternative uses, ownership structures and investment models to facilitate long term regeneration, and
* Protect, enhance and safeguard historic buildings across England, offering viable new uses for disused and underutilised properties.

The following grants are currently open to applications:
1. Project Viability Grants up to £20,000
2. Project Development Grants up to £100,000 for up to 12 months for project costs and overheads (the average grant is likely to be £70,000 - £80,000).
3. Capital Works Grants up to £500,000

Funding is not available for:
o Churches or other places of worship, used as an active place of religious worship.
* For-profit companies, unless in a partnership led by a not-for-profit organisation.
* Limited liability partnerships.
* Local authorities/public sector bodies other than Parish and Town Councils (unless applying on behalf of an organisation still in formation).
* Ongoing maintenance costs.
* Organisations with fewer than three Trustees or Directors. None of which should be spouses or otherwise related to one another.
* Private individuals.
* Repair costs that are not part of a scheme to find a new sustainable use.
* Unincorporated organisations not intending to incorporate.
* Universities, colleges and other mainstream educational institutions, including independent schools,
* Work started before a decision to award a grant.

A two-stage application process applies to all programmes.

An Expression of Interest Form is available on the Funds website.

Contact details:
The Heritage Revival Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund
3 Spital Yard
Spitalfields
London
E1 6AQ
Tel: 020 7925 0199
Email: [email protected]

For professional help finding and securing grant funding, contact Solutions.

Thank you to SW LLP, who shared this opportunity in their daily bulletin.

28/05/2026

COMMON FUNDRAISING PITFALLS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

Every not-for-profit needs to maximise income, strengthen supporter relationships and deliver greater impact. This can, however, be challenging to achieve, and many fundraising problems are due to avoidable mistakes in strategy and ex*****on.

1) Trying to fundraise without a clear case for support.
Too often, organisations focus heavily on what they do, rather than why it matters and what difference donations will make. Supporters need to connect emotionally with impact, not simply activities.

2) Relying too heavily on a single income source.
Whether grant funding, events or individual giving, overdependence creates vulnerability. Sustainable organisations usually build a balanced fundraising mix that spreads risk and creates long-term resilience.

3) Underestimating the importance of stewardship.
Securing a donation is only the start of the relationship. Supporters who feel valued, informed and connected are far more likely to give again, advocate for your cause and become long-term champions of your organisation.

4) Not investing enough time in planning and preparation.
Successful fundraising rarely happens by chance. Strong prospect research, realistic income forecasting, compelling communications and clear delivery plans all make a significant difference.

5) Overlooking digital engagement.
In an increasingly cashless and online world, organisations that fail to make giving simple and accessible risk losing potential support. Small improvements to donation journeys can often deliver meaningful results.

6) Focusing solely on financial targets without measuring wider outcomes such as supporter engagement, retention and community reach. Understanding these indicators helps charities build stronger and more sustainable fundraising programmes over time.

Avoiding these pitfalls does not require huge budgets, but it does require clarity, consistency and a willingness to adapt.

If your organisation would benefit from support in strengthening its fundraising approach, contact Heaward Solutions to discuss how we can help through a combination of affordable mentoring and consultancy.

27/05/2026

TURNING IMPACT STORIES INTO FUNDRAISING ACTION

Every not-for-profit I encounter has powerful stories; however, the challenge is not usually finding them; it is turning them into meaningful fundraising action.

Too often, impact stories are treated as “nice content” for newsletters or social media. In reality, they are among the most effective tools organisations have for building trust, demonstrating value and inspiring giving.

The key is to move beyond storytelling alone and focus on story-driven action.

Strong fundraising stories do three things well:

1) They make the challenge real
Data matters, but stories create emotional connection. A statistic may explain the scale of a problem, but a personal story helps supporters understand the human impact behind it.

2) They clearly demonstrate change
The best stories show a journey, where someone started, what support was provided and what changed as a result. This is where funders and donors begin to see the value of your work in practical terms.

3) They give supporters a role in the outcome
A story without a clear call to action is a missed opportunity. Whether the ask is a donation, volunteer support, corporate partnership or regular giving, supporters need to understand how they can help create more outcomes like the one they have just read about.

Importantly, not every story needs to be dramatic. Consistent, authentic examples of impact are often more powerful than occasional “headline” cases. Funders increasingly want evidence of sustained value, community benefit and measurable outcomes, and stories can help bring this evidence to life.

The organisations that do this well tend to build a structured approach:
* Collecting stories regularly
* Linking stories to outcomes and evidence
* Matching stories to different audiences
* Training staff and volunteers to identify impactful moments
* Using stories consistently across campaigns, bids and donor communications

In today's competitive funding environment, stories are no longer simply communications assets. They are strategic fundraising tools.

If your organisation would like support in strengthening how it captures, structures and uses impact stories to drive fundraising and engagement, contact Heaward Solutions. We can help through a combination of affordable mentoring and consultancy tailored to your organisation’s needs.

26/05/2026

METRICS FUNDERS CARE ABOUT

Lots of not-for-profit leaders assume funders are primarily interested in passion, vision and good intentions. Whilst these matter funding decisions are increasingly being shaped by evidence, accountability and measurable impact.

This is because funders need confidence that their investment will deliver meaningful outcomes, represent good value and create sustainable change.

So, what metrics do funders really care about?

1. OUTCOMES, NOT JUST OUTPUTS
Funders are looking beyond activity numbers.
It is no longer enough to report how many sessions were delivered or how many people attended. They want to understand what changed as a result.

* Did confidence improve?
* Did employment rates increase?
* Did wellbeing or health outcomes improve?
* Did participants sustain positive changes over time?

Clear outcome measurement demonstrates real impact.

2. REACH AND ACCESSIBILITY
Funders want to know who you are reaching, particularly whether you are engaging underserved or marginalised communities.
Data around demographics, deprivation, inclusion and barriers to participation can be extremely important.

Strong organisations do not simply prove activity; they prove relevance.

3. VALUE FOR MONEY
In an undoubtedly competitive funding environment, demonstrating efficiency matters. Funders increasingly assess cost per beneficiary, return on investment and how effectively resources are being utilised.

This is not about being the cheapest. It is about showing that resources are being used strategically and responsibly.

4. SUSTAINABILITY
Funders are often cautious about supporting projects that disappear once the grant ends. They want evidence of long-term thinking, partnership development, diversified income and realistic sustainability planning.

5. LEARNING AND ADAPTABILITY
No programme is perfect. Funders respect organisations that can honestly assess challenges, learn from delivery and adapt accordingly. Strong evaluation frameworks and reflective practice build credibility.

Ultimately, organisations that can combine compelling stories with robust evidence place themselves in a far stronger position when seeking support.

Good data should not simply sit in spreadsheets. It should be actively used to shape strategy, strengthen delivery and build funder confidence.

If your organisation would like support to strengthen impact measurement, evaluation or funding readiness, contact Heaward Solutions. We provide affordable mentoring and consultancy to help not-for-profits build stronger evidence, stronger strategies and stronger outcomes.

Heaward Solutions

08/06/2026

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