Helping you prosper
“If you want it, here it is, come and get it, but you better hurry cos it may not last.” Or, “Listen; Do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell?”
Yes, that’s a double Beatles opening for this blog (Paul McCartney wrote ‘If You Want It’ for Badfinger, though it appears on Anthology 3).
These classic Beatles lyrics perfectly sum up a major dilemma in the charity world today. I’d be genuinely surprised if there was a charity currently in the position of not needing additional funding or where an offer of additional funding would be turned down. I’d be equally unsurprised if, right now, someone wanted to make a donation to a charity that would create a real lasting legacy and make a difference, but was unsure where to start.
The answer, simply put, is some sort of mechanism of joining the two parties together If only one existed. Here is where it gets really interesting: such a platform does exist! And it is probably one you have not thought of looking into before. Welcome to the world of UK Community Foundations.
What are UK Community Foundations?
UK Community Foundations (UKCF) are not new. Their website proudly states they have existed in some form for over 100 years now. They are set up specifically to enable grassroots projects and initiatives across the UK. As a membership organisation, they connect people - people like you, wanting to make a difference, set something up to give back to the community, give advice and ensure empowerment.
The positive for a charity or community project is clear: chances are, there is a partner that your project sits well with, enabling the benefits of access to potential funding and other support to help you on your way. The wealth of collective experience has also got to be a huge advantage as well; sometimes you don’t know where to start, I’d bet UKCF can help!
The benefits for donors and legacy trusts
Something that happens a lot in the charity world is well-meaning donors genuinely wanting to make an impact but not being able to set up in a way that really makes a difference. A common example is a legacy trust or foundation set up on the death of a loved one. Often, these have great momentum on setup. However, through lack of resource to run, manage, or being unable to reach potential beneficiaries, they often either lay dormant for years or simply wind up, unable to make an impact.
Where does UKCF come in?
UKCF understand exactly the situation above. They are able to quickly recover dormant funds and match them with beneficiaries. This might be something as simple as a lifelong sports fan wanting to have sports equipment donated to a local community. It could also be something a lot more specific, for example a fund to allow teenagers with a love of music to benefit from musical instruments they otherwise couldn’t afford. In short, they match people in need with people who can help.
I often reflect that the most successful charities currently are those that collaborate and actively seek to form meaningful partnerships. I stand by this reflection. The stronger the partnerships that you are forming, the greater the collective impact you create. In my view, UKCF is a platform that can create such partnerships and impact.
The next step
So, to refer back to the Beatles, this is the “secret” I have to tell you, and please do tell! If you are seeking a platform to reach beneficiaries or to access support and funding for a local project, “here it is, come and get it, hopefully it will always last.”
As ever, if you want to know more about UKCF, please do contact myself or you usual UHY charity adviser. You can also read more on the UKCF’s website here.
