The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership organisation for Scotland's charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Charity registered in Scotland SC003558. Registered office Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BB.
4. Stay in touch
You have been successful in securing funding! After saying a huge well done to everyone involved, it is important to say thank you to your funders can help to develop a long-term relationship with them.
Read any conditions of grant and find out how the funders wishes to be acknowledged and recognised. Some might prefer to remain anonymous so check before publishing their name anywhere.
A few ways to say thank you are to:
- Send a thank you letter or email
- Issue a press release about their support
- Include it in a news item or blog on your website
- Share the news on social media
- Feature the funder in your newsletter or e-bulletin
- Include the funder name on a plaque or sign
- List funders in your annual report and on your website
How can you keep up a relationship with a funder?
- Maintain good communication
- Keep records of press coverage that you can share
- Complete good monitoring and evaluation and submit by any deadlines set
- Demonstrate that you have learnt from your experience
Contact with funders in uncertain times
Staying in touch with your funders is always important, but especially when things are unpredictable and costs may change during the life of your grant. Whether you need to move things around in the budget or are struggling to deliver what you set out to do, you should be open and talk to your funders about the challenges you are facing. As we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, funders are willing to be flexible and they may even be able to offer additional top up funding.