I'm Dave Bolt, founder and strategist at TenXed. I work with charities, churches and community organisations across WA. Most of the leaders I meet are good at the work and tired of the money chase.
The pattern is nearly always the same. A year starts with a bank balance and a hope. One grant comes in, gets spent, and then everyone starts again from zero. If you are wondering how to fund a small charity without living this way, the answer is not one clever source. It is several, moving at once.
Here are five. For each one I'll tell you what it is, who it suits, a first step you can take this month, and the trap I see people fall into.
1. Grants
What it is. Money from government, local councils and philanthropic foundations, for a defined purpose and period. In WA, Lotterywest is the big one to know. Your local council probably runs a community grants round too.
Who it suits. Organisations with a clear project, a clear outcome and someone who can write and acquit a grant. Grants are good for starting things. They are poor at paying the power bill.
First step this month. Build a grants calendar. List every fund you might fit, the opening and closing dates, and who writes each application. Then you can plan ahead instead of scrambling.
The trap. Chasing money that bends your mission. If you rewrite what you do to fit a funding round, you will end up running a program you never wanted. Apply only where the fund fits the plan you already have.
2. Regular givers
What it is. Supporters who give a small amount every month. It is the steadiest income most small charities can build, because it repeats without a new application.
Who it suits. Any organisation with people who already care: families you have served, volunteers, church members, neighbours. You need Deductible Gift Recipient status so gifts are tax deductible, and a simple online way to give. I helped a wildlife organisation work through its DGR application, and the process is very doable when you take it one step at a time. The ACNC register is the place to check where you stand.
First step this month. Set up a simple monthly giving page and ask ten people you know to look at it. Start with those who already say they love what you do.
The trap. Asking once and never again. People give when they feel part of something. Thank them properly, tell them what their gift did, and ask again in the right season.
3. Earned income
What it is. Fees for services, workshops, room hire, products or a social enterprise. You earn it by doing something people will pay for.
Who it suits. Organisations that already have a skill, a space or a program others value. A zoo I work with has things people want to book. A church with a hall has something to hire out.
First step this month. Look at what you already do that someone outside your usual circle would pay for. Pick one thing and test it with three people before you build anything.
The trap. Running a business you did not plan for. Earned income takes time, staff and risk. If it pulls your team away from your mission, it costs more than it brings in. Keep it small until it proves itself.
4. Partners
What it is. Local businesses, churches, service clubs and other groups who give money, goods, skills or a venue, often over several years.
Who it suits. Any charity with a local footprint.
First step this month. Make a list of ten local businesses and groups that already have a link to you. Maybe a supplier, a landlord or a member's employer. Ask one of them for a coffee. Do not ask for money at that first meeting. Ask what matters to them.
The trap. Logos without relationship. A name on a banner is not a partnership. If you only hear from them when the cheque arrives, they will drift. Keep in touch, invite them to see the work, and let them be part of it.
5. Major gifts and bequests
What it is. Larger gifts from a small number of people who love your mission, and gifts left in a will. These are built on trust over years.
Who it suits. Charities that have been around long enough to have people who know them well. A community hub I know built a real supporter community by telling honest stories and keeping people close. That is the soil these gifts grow in.
First step this month. Write down the five people who love your work most. Then plan a personal conversation with each, over this year. Listen first.
The trap. Never asking. Many people would give more if someone simply invited them to. A board that is too shy to ask will leave real money on the table.
The pipeline
Here is what I want you to take away. Put all five on one page. For each, write who is responsible, what is happening now, and what comes next. Review that page at every board meeting, or at least monthly.
I call it the pipeline. Some sources will be strong and some will be tiny. That is fine. What matters is that all five are moving at once, so no single source can sink you. If a grant round closes without a win, your regular givers and partners keep the lights on while you try again.
Where to start
If you are not sure which of the five is your weakest, take the free five-minute quick check. It shows you where your gaps are, in plain language.
If you would rather talk it through, I offer a free hour. We look at your numbers, your people and your next three months, and you leave with a clear first step. You can book it on the contact page.