Following the success of our pilot Capability Development Scheme, we spoke to MKS consultant, Dan Fletcher, who helped us support seven organisations with fundraising, measuring their impact and financial sustainability.
“It was clear that participants of the programme were able to work better and smarter, and as a result they could go on to ultimately help many more people.” Dan Fletcher
Our Capability Development Scheme was set up to help nonprofit organisations evaluate and maximise their impact, develop financial sustainability and improve fundraising strategies. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, community-led organisations have come under increasing pressure to adapt how they work and fundraise but can often struggle to find the time and resources to undergo this change. By helping organisations improve in these areas, our scheme enables them to better demonstrate the value of their work to potential funders.
The demand on our funding budget is great and can only stretch so far. We therefore want to help future-proof community-led organisations working with older people so that they are able to keep providing important services and projects in a sustainable way.
That’s why we developed this bespoke programme of support with our partner, Moore Kingston Smith Nonprofit Advisory (MKS), a consultancy firm specialising in financial sustainability and impact evaluation. The first cohort ran in 2021/22 and supported seven organisations across the UK.
Following the success of the first round of the scheme, we spoke to MKS consultant, Dan Fletcher, who reveals more about what it involves and the benefits for charities.
Meet MKS consultant, Dan Fletcher
As Director of the Nonprofit Advisory Team at MKS, I work with our nonprofit clients and my specialist areas are fundraising and strategy development.
“It was a privilege to be part of this unique scheme that enables charities to receive specialist advice and support that they might not otherwise be able to access.”
I was extremely excited to be part of the DMT’s scheme as it offered an opportunity to work with a range of different charities at the same time. As an advisor, this gives you a unique perspective. As I got under the skin of each organisation’s challenge, I was able to share not only my expertise but also that of my MKS colleagues. This brought a real breadth of experience to the charities we were supporting.
You can read more about the experiences of some of the pilot cohort here:
Galloway’s Society of the Blind
Find out about the new Capability Development Programme and how you might be a part of it.
