Applying to Trusts & Foundations on behalf of an organisation as an independent.

This thread has been really useful for me...I have started doing voluntary fundraising work for three other organisations on top of the work I do already for a university and wondered what the best way to go about applying to trusts and foundations was when you work independantly of the organisation.

Do you think replies should defintely go to someone in the organisation or should they come to me?

I would just back up the previous points - I tend to say 'on behalf' or that I am 'working with' or that 'I have been approached by a local group'. I wouldn't worry about how much time I was spending on the group as you spend as much is needed. I as Gerry said would always get the committee members involved and all letters would be signed by a group rep. This I feel ensures that you keep the group you are working 'on behalf' of invloved and ensures that they can understand the steps to go through to approach funders. I think it is important that you encourage groups to take a proper lead on projects to ensure their development. (even if you are the one pulling the strings together)

Like Peter, I always took the view that, for the hours I'm working for the Arachnid Rehabilitation Trust, then it was no distortion to say that I was calling on their behalf, working with or for them. Letters were always signed by the Chair/Chief Exec or whoever - never in my name, and the replies always went to the named person in the charity. This is not pretending that I'm not there - I frequently turned up at assessment meetings and spoke directly to Trusts - but it does make the relationship clear.

When I was speaking to funders to whom several clients were applying, I would always use the formulation "...working with..."

Cheers

Gerry

Once again, it all depends.

If you are being simply (and in my view correctly) remunerated by the hour/day/application/project then you are contracted, by the charity, to do that fundraising work on their behalf. You can quite honestly say that you are working on behalf of, or for, or really anything that doesn't say you are a paid member of staff. In my experience trusts (unless there're quite small - in which case they often don't think anyone should be paid to fundraiser) don't really differentiate between employed or self-employed. The exception is the one to be avoided - being paid on commission or only on success. Nobody likes that.

A useful device is that that point of contact remains the chief executive (or whoever is commissioning you within the charity). They can then refer enquiries to you and equally you can follow-up and chase, on their behalf.