Our Services
We provide consultancy services for not-for-profits that work in the UK and internationally.
Led by Esther Hamilton, Social Innovation Solutions also works with experienced associates with specialisms in different areas, so that we can provide bespoke support for the needs of your organisation, including:
Organisational strategy
Do you know where your organisation is going and how you are going to achieve what you want to do?
We can help you with your organisational strategy – which is where you identify the change your organisation wants to bring about in society and outlines what you want to do to make this happen. We can help you bring to life your vision for your organisation over the next 2-5 years and the way your work will be a catalyst for change. Your strategy will guide your work and provide a vision for the change you want to bring about in a way that is clear and measurable. We believe that strategy should be ambitious but it should also be attainable. Using Participatory Appraisal techniques, we can help you to create a strategy that is driven by the views of the people you serve, particularly underserved groups to ensure they drive the change within their communities, alongside your board and broader team.
Do you want to translate that strategy into an achievable plan?
We can support you to develop a business plan that provides a clear overview of the actions that need to be taken over the next year to ensure that you are on track to achieve your organisational strategy. This includes actions you need to take for your programmes, your fundraising and communications, including the cost and the numbers.
If you need help with a theory of change, we can help you develop a clear theory of change to communicate to others what change you want to achieve and what activities, outputs, outcomes and impact you will have, in a one-page document that can be used as a visual aid and feed into your fundraising proposals.
Fundraising strategy
Are you confident that your fundraising is on track to help you raise the money you need to achieve your charity’s goals? Does your current pipeline have a good range of relevant donors that will enable you to deliver on your work? If you need support with this, we can help you put in place a clear, measurable and achievable fundraising strategy that helps you to:
Secure the funding you need to deliver the outcomes in your organisational plan
Shows donors you have a clear, well-thought-out plan for delivery
Identifies a diverse range of donors to reduce organisational risk and ensure you have sustainable sources of funding.
A good fundraising strategy supports you to deliver on your organisational strategy. We can carry out an audit of where you are with your fundraising, what you need to achieve through your programmes and develop a clear and actionable fundraising strategy.
We can also help you to forecast income using a data analytics approach based on donors that are in your funding pipeline and likelihood of funding, so that you are making decisions based on solid information.
Whether you are a start-up or a large, established charity, we can help you to develop your fundraising strategy and put the things you need in place to make it achievable.
Income generation
We have worked with non-profits of all sizes and at all stages of development, from start-up CICs and CIOs to multi-million-pound charities and everything in between. In the current context, fundraising is more challenging for a lot of charities.
Do you need support raising funds and finding new donors? Building upon our multi-million-pound fundraising successes, we can help you raise sustainable income from donors who are as passionate about your cause and the people you serve as you are.
Some of our achievements include:
Raising £950k for one charity in a 4-month period.
Developing robust pipelines for charities who did not know who to approach next
Carrying out organisational reviews that allowed charities who were struggling to get above a certain income limit to identify some of the things that were blocking their progress to move forward. This could include anything from issues around governance, reserves or improving their approach to inclusion so that they could demonstrate how they were meeting the needs of those who were in greatest need.
Building on years of fundraising experience for causes that include gender, social justice, inclusion, international development, health, including mental health, education, disability,
We can help you with the following:
Undertaking prospect research – identify new and relevant donors with a good mix between large and small donors or ones that fund core or project costs so that you can make sustainable multi-year plans based on solid fundraising projections
Building a funding pipeline or improve and consolidate an existing one
Creating an actionable calendar for your fundraising proposals to ensure you don’t miss another deadline or funding window
Making a plan on how best to contact potential funders
Writing outstanding bids that encompass both your organisational needs and respond to funders’ interests
Inclusive Programme Development including gender and disability mainstreaming
Programmes and projects in the charity sector are all about bringing about real social change for the people you serve, in a context that you do not have control over. Wherever you are in the project cycle – whether you have an idea and want to develop it into a project or you have run a project and want to use the learning to inform the next stage, we can help you.
We use a Project Cycle Management approach which is based on having a robust needs assessment, including the people you wish to serve and where the learning from each project informs how the project develops at each stage.
The programme development /project management support we provide includes:
Helping you to identify robust projects that will feed into your organisational objectives and help you achieve your objectives.
Project cycle management – how to develop and implement projects that make a real difference to those you serve.
Conducting inclusive needs assessments that involve the people you are serving
Identifying ways of ensuring your organisation can be more inclusive. This can include ensuring you have clear ways that you will engage with the groups most likely to slip through the net and the ways to make sure your organisation is proactively reaching out to and breaking down barriers for those with disabilities, those from areas of socio-economic disadvantage, those from the LGBTQIA community.
Research – including into barriers to participation. Who are you serving, who are you not reaching and how to reach them, using highly inclusive models such as Participatory Rural Appraisal.
Helping you to look at your work from a gender and disability inclusion lens.
Supporting you to develop participatory approaches so that the people you are serving are driving your work at all levels of the organisation.
If you need support designing and implementing projects and ensuring they appeal to those you serve and are attractive to donors to, do get in touch on hello@socialinnovationsolutions.co.uk
Mentoring
Navigating the challenges of leading a charity or driving fundraising efforts can be daunting, especially in today’s ever-changing landscape. My mentoring services are designed specifically for CEOs and fundraisers in the charitable sector, offering tailored guidance and support to help you thrive and feel supported in your role.
I have been a charity CEO, a charity fundraiser and a programme manager. I understand the challenges you can face in your role and can give you tools to help you reflect on how to overcome them.
How could mentoring benefit you?
Leadership in the charitable sector requires a unique blend of vision, strategy and resilience. Whether you're a CEO looking to develop and have someone to bounce ideas off, or a fundraiser who wants to learn how to navigate the current climate, having the time and space to step back from the day-to-day and reflect on things with a mentor can help you to unlock your creativity and find solutions. I can offer you a time to reflect where you can:
Gain perspective: Benefit from having a neutral space to discuss the challenges you are facing and perspective on the complexities of managing a charity, enabling you to gain clarity on how you want to tackle them.
Build Confidence and Resilience: Navigate challenges with confidence, from managing teams to responding to external pressures.
Enhance Your Fundraising Skills: Explore how you can navigate the current climate, stay motivated and find ways of generating income in a way that is true to your organisation’s work.
What to Expect
Bespoke support
Sessions are tailored to your specific needs, whether you're facing a current challenge or planning for long-term success.
Practical Advice
Receive actionable guidance based on real-world experience in the charitable sector.
A confidential and Non-Judgemental Environment
A safe space where you can discuss your concerns, explore ideas, and receive honest feedback.
Who Can Benefit?
CEOs: Those leading charities, whether new to the role or seasoned professionals, looking to enhance their leadership and strategic abilities.
Fundraisers: Professionals responsible for securing vital funds, aiming to elevate their skills, innovate their approach, and achieve greater impact.
Programme leaders and change-makers: