A visit is one of the best ways to build a lasting relationship with your funder. They see your work first-hand, meet your team and the people you work with, and come away understanding what their funding made possible. To invite them, send your funder a message from Messages in the left-hand menu.
How to invite your funder
- In the left-hand menu, click Messages, then New message.
- Under Add recipient, select your funder.
- Suggest a few dates, and say what they’d see: a session, an event, your premises or the finished project.
- Click Send.
Five tips for a great visit
- Be responsive. Answer emails, messages and calls as quickly as you can, so the visit actually happens.
- Ask questions. Find out why the funder runs a community fund and what else they’d like to do with you. Lucy Green from Beyond The Wave CIC talked to her funder about the team days they run. The result: “South West Water booking a Team Nurture Day with us.”
- Show your passion. It comes across best face to face. Share why you do what you do and what it means for your community.
- Don’t dress it up. Funders want to see your real work, not a polished show. Chat over a cup of tea, give a tour, bring them along to your usual activities, or invite them to an upcoming event.
- Ask. If the funder might want to do more with you, ask them. Visits sometimes lead to more: goods in kind, volunteer hours, pro bono work or further funding.
After the visit
Post an update about it, with a photo if your visitors are happy to be in one. It’s a great way to thank your funder, and it shows other funders that you build real relationships. Posting a project update
Questions?
Our team is around Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
- Email: hello@actionfunder.org
- Phone: 020 3805 2835