my local charity is dying and i don't know where to turn for help?

Question

i am a committee member for my local community based charity and it is staring death in the face.

we are facing financial ruin and i want to fight it. no matter the outcome, it's worth it.

the charity owns a large community centre, where groups can hire halls etc. we've experienced a few rough years followed by a dreadfull summer and we're screwed. we can't pay our service contractors (including the cleaner), the insurance is due and our rent income is being eaten by our overdraft.

i/we desperately need someone to talk to and chew over our options, but who and where to go? it isn't the job of the charity commission, the nvco cannot help directly. and i dont know who else to try.

we desperately need free but experienced advice.

can any one point us in the right direction?

We have a little money we can call on to keep some of the creditors at bay, namely the service contractors, but not enough to renew the insurance or continue operation.

But the building we own is over 100 years old and worth some decent money, if we sell, it will go against our charity objectives and forge the dissolution of the charity anyway.

We could do with releasing the equity or something similar, but don’t know if this is possible or viable.

This, again, is where we really need some sound advice and for free.


i really dont know where or how to start dealing with this situation. how to tell the users of the centre or supporters (none of which could offer us the cash injection we desperately need).

i feel like i'm already grieving.

we are based in rainham, kent. just in case anyone see's this question and want's to help in anyway possible.

sorry to add yet more details, but with the exception of two. all our committee also work full time and dedicate what little spare time they have.

we lost many of our "experienced" committee members at once when they all reached "old age" in the space of 4 years, so the remainder and new members have been on a very steep learning curve and are still learning.

Answer 1

Sad but I did not win that one - the Euro lotto - tonight sorry

Answer 2

If you are a charity you can start by doing the cleaning yourself, that should save some money, contact your senators and house rep. Maybe they could get you some grant money. If you have a community center then you have got to become sales person, if you know of meetings comeing up then get out and get some business. From weddings to having Survivors over for a speech like kentucky joe or maybe a wildcat basketball player. Sounds like you better be doing it quick though. Good luck. Also God rewards prayer so you might start off each day with a group Prayer, if anybody is a Christian. Do you have an area where people could walk, thats big around here. Have a Prayer walk to raise money.

Answer 3

First, ask the bank to consider uping the overdraft limit then maybe setup a charity speed dating event or something similar, depending on how much space you could consider indoor growing and selling to a lcal florist example, i saw that tulips can grow in 6 weeks under lights and can be sold for £1 per stem and they can be grown about 3 inches apart so a room say 30ft x 15 could produce loadsa flowers look at hydroponics i am scrapping this idea but it seems profitable to me.

Some licensed premisses are able to stay open longer for charity events and a landlord may wish help why not run an event at a few pubs meet fresh people and get your fingers in some pies.

How much do you need each month? there are many ways too get cash but a figure would be helpfull.

Answer 4

have a couple of boot sales or bingo nights for the over fifties jumble sales help have a saturday morning where the kids can play safely while mum goes shopping ask people to donate toys and open a toy library like my church has and rents the toys for a pound a week sell tea and biscuits to the parents while children pick the toys have a fun run or a bring and buy sale these are all easy to arrange hire a bouncy castle for saturdays and school holiday you can charge £1:50 for 15 mins for that same as trampolines i have a sponsered haircut and raised £600 for my church and £654 for the local hospice theres lots you can do sponers pram push round local lake or park sponsered walk good luck i hope you can save it get a petition going and hand that in pray and ask god for help

Answer 5

its probably somewhere you have already tried but have you tried the C.A.B in your area?

failing that, have you tried appealing to buisnesses? saying what good you do, and why you need help.

Sorry I cant give you more advice but its what I'd try if I had no options left. Try the local buisnesses as they can then become mentors, or see and reep the benefits, and also try multi national groups which may want to help as part of some wierd karma/carbon foot print cycle, its always worth a try, just make sure every application is written and directed to a person as oppose to the vague administrator who it will get to, (try human resources if you cant get hold of the owner or director of the company) try making sure each letter is individual, the last thing you want is for someone to say they will help as they felt touched by the letter, only to find when he speaks to another company director, the same letter is in his office, it may change the amount of support you are able to get.

What could be helpful is sponsorship, mentoring and one off donations and maybe you could also google these and see if it takes you anywhere.

Also, is your charity based in a specific area such as that it may help children or mentally handicaped people or youth/adolecence, have you tried contacting bigger charities who deal with these groups? such as the nspcc, childline, government run organisations...etc...

good luck anyway.

Answer 6

I am not trying to be mean but there is an overabundance of charitable organizations in the U.S. I support local charities. I am on the board of one local charity and volunteer for two others but there are too many different organizations and budgets are being stretched too thin.

Since your favorite charity isn't doing well financially, can you locate another group nearby that provides a similar or complimentary service that you might be able to merger with?

Is there a large, local company in your area that might bail you out? If so, contact their Public Relations Department.

Otherwise, I think it is best if you close your doors. Charities are depended on donors and you won't get donations if the groups hasn't been well-run in the past. There are too many other charities that need contributions.

Answer 7

could you do fundraisers or something to raise a bit of money to tie you over. Explain the situation and the community might be willing to help. If you can make known the situation people might fundraise on your behalf or give donations. Theres a service here in Ireland called MABS- its a money advisory board for people who may not be able to expensive financial advise, there might be a service like that you could approach.

Answer 8

I do not know how you have survived for so long because you have no idea there are good people out there to help you free of charge to at least give yourselves business acumen which YOU NEED FIRST OF ALL. Or, its not bad idea, sell the property, or release some of its probably surprising equity and bob's your uncle. Just get on with it, have faith, work hard, be determined to get funding and at the VERY LEAST to go your local C.A.B. they are there for ALL OF US FOC. Your heart is not in it yet, but when you get off your butts you will begin slowly to slow the rot. Good luck xxxxxx

Answer 9

Try your local churches , failing that try asking the local council for help and advice , but if it was a charity that was close to my heart and i had no where to go , ide pitch a tent in my back garden and raise the funds ect from there .

Answer 10

go to the community. Local businesses,the wealthy in your town,ect. Usually, they're willing to donate as long as you give them a donation slip to claim on their taxes. Anyways give it a try and let me know how it works out.

Answer 11

You should contact Medway Council for Voluntary Service - they are funded to help in situations like yours.
If I was nearer, it would be great to get my teeth into a situation like yours!