Manchester Passion on Radio 4 - The Passion Trust

Manchester Passion on Radio 4

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Manchester Passion on Radio 4

PT Webmaster

April 3, 2017

2017, Passion Plays

A black spiral notebook with Manchester Passion imagery on the front.

Hear Passion Trust Trustee Alex Stewart Clark discuss the Manchester Passion on Radio 4 in the build-up to their Passion Play next weekend.

Is fundraising like online dating?

Just like online dating, trying to find the right match among so many different trusts and funding charities is the key!

Once you find trusts and funders who are of a similar mindset and value the things you value, you are well on the way to a perfect match.

How do we find those funders?

The Charity Commission’s Register of Charities allows you to search for free by using filters to narrow your search. (Remember, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate registers.)

Funding Central is another register that is free to access.

For a more expensive option, you can try the Directory of Social Change’s Funds Online website which is regularly updated.

Since Passion Plays bring many churches of all denominations together, your diocese can be a good source of information and signposting. For example, see the Diocese of Bristol and their list of funders here. www.bristol.anglican.org/documents/diocesan-funding-guide/

The Christian Funders’ Forum is also a useful source.

How do we let funders know our project is a good match for them?

Now is the time to do some research and really think about compatibility with the funders you are researching.

You can research their online content, websites, and also Further information will be inread through their annual reports published on the Charity Commissions website (click ‘Documents’ tab). These annual reports will give useful imformation about projects they have previously funded.

A quick phone call can also be helpful in establishing contact and goodwill as you will be able to find out more about them and let them know what you do.

Remember here that one of the key elements is timing! Some funders have a set application process that requires you to apply before a deadline. Other funders have trustees’ meetings at set times during the year and those times are good to work with.

The timing of your project also matters. Some funders like to fund projects in the early stage of development, while others like to give funding when they see other funders have already contributed.

There is a lot to think about with fundraising! But Passion Plays are such unique projects that it can also be an enjoyable process. Many funders like to hear about large community arts events that tell the Easter story in fresh and inspiring ways. Not only do Passion Plays have large outdoor audiences across the UK each Easter, they are also unique spaces of community, skill-sharing, mentoring and investing in the lives of volunteers across all sections of society. They are more than a one-off performance and the impact spreads across the whole community for many months.

If you want more help with fundraising, we have plenty more tips and advice on our website here.

You can also find lots of helpful tips and advice at The Benefact Trust here or click on the image below.