Fundraising is becoming harder for charities and nonprofit groups such as Helping Families Nelson, at a time when the need for them is increasing, says its founder Kristy Rowe.
She says those funding organisations do not have as much money as in the past, nor the public, and it is becoming more and more of an issue across the nonprofit sector.
“There’s less money to go around and more people needing it. In the past you might have applied for $40,000 and got it. Now, if you can get $5,000 to $10,000, you’re doing really well.”
Kristy says the charity is not Government funded and can “run pretty tight” if it has to, which it has done for the past few weeks. But it just becomes harder.
As times get tougher for charities and nonprofit groups, Kristy says those groups need to work together more and there is a local group working on how that might work.
“I think charities or non-profits need to talk to each other more. There’re people who have great ideas but there might be something else similar going on in their centre where they could work together, instead of reinventing the wheel.”
She would like to see a go-to centre for groups to seek help with governance, writing grants, legal work and simply support.
“Filling in grant applications can take days and then to be turned down is really disheartening.”
Like many charities and nonprofit groups, she says Helping Families Nelson is having to work harder to find ways to bring in money as funding decreases.
She is the only paid employee to run the charity which takes donated clothing and essentials and distributes it to those needing a helping hand, while a team of volunteers work alongside her. Donated goods that have to be carted away as rubbish is also a considerable cost and she says there are more goods coming in than in the past, but often poorer condition. Plus, there is the occasional person who uses the charity as a dumping ground for rubbish.
Among new fundraising initiatives, the charity is encouraging people to collect aluminium cans to recycle, because “everything counts”.
Another is increasing orders for Hapori Fruit & Veg Box as it receives $1.75 for every order. It has also set up donation boxes around town in places people are more likely to use cash. The charity is encouraging people in the community to set up regular contributions via their bank and the team has started attending markets with books to sell.
Last year the charity held its first book fair in the Hope Hall which raised $3,500 and Kirsty says they will repeat that in September and plan to make it an annual event.
“You have to think outside the box. We’re also starting to ask for koha when people take goods. It all adds up – a gold coin per bag or whatever people can afford.”
