New funding sources: An introduction for trustees

In light of continual financial pressures, many charities are seeking to diversify their income. Two popular options in recent years have been social investment and crowdfunding. Yet many trustees still lack the level of understanding needed to make informed decisions about adopting these methods.

NPC and the Clothworkers’ Company held a seminar for trustees on 29 July 2015 to discuss the topic of alternative finance. We heard from experts in crowdfunding and social investment, and from charities who have used these alternative funding sources. This briefing outlines the key points highlighted during the event, including:

• what social investment and crowdfunding are;
• what role they can play in increasing a charity’s income; and
• how to adopt these methods within an organisation.