News

By Francis Shaw, Director of Operations.

The current funding landscape is brutal. Rising costs, static income and shrinking access to funding mean small charities and social enterprises are facing impossible choices. Scaling back, letting go of staff or closing entirely.

Collaboration isn’t a silver bullet for the current challenges facing the sector – but from our experience with some of the 600+ charities we have backed – it can be one of the most powerful tools small organisations have to weather the storm.

I spoke with some of the organisations #BackedByTheFore, and here’s what they told me about how collaboration helps small charities become more than the sum of their parts:

Opening doors to new funding

Our charities often say that joint bids are far more successful than solo ones. They say funders value shared delivery because it spreads risk, avoids duplication and shows joined-up thinking. For some small charities, it’s often the only way through the door.

Going further, smarter

When charities collaborate, they don’t need to build expertise in every area of delivery; it’s a smart way to manage costs and avoid duplication. Instead, they can focus on their strengths and partner with others to fill gaps in skills, experience and/or capacity. We’ve seen organisations adopt 50/50 delivery models; for example, one charity provides trained facilitators, while the other provides social prescribers. Combining their expertise in this way offers a more comprehensive programme than either could alone. These kinds of partnerships also boost reach and are increasingly attractive ways to operate. As Colette Batten-Turner, CEO of Conversation Over Borders, puts it:

“It can be tempting to see other small organisations as your competitors, but really you should see them as opportunities to help you go further. Going it together, rather than alone, helped us punch above our weight and deliver more impact than our stretched budgets allowed.”

We have seen collaboration go even further. In a few cases, we have seen mergers. Far from being a loss of identity, these have been bold moves to take powerful local models to nationwide impact.

Unlocking new income streams

We’re seeing some charities start to explore collaborative trading arms to join forces to create stronger, more marketable offers for corporate partners. By bundling their paid-for services, they can secure larger contracts and expand into new markets.

So, what’s holding collaboration back?

With most funding tied to short-term programme delivery and insufficient unrestricted core funding available, charity leaders are left chasing their tails.

When leaders are forced to do it all, they end up firefighting rather than planning. Without the headspace to step back, build trust, and think long-term, collaboration remains a pipe dream.

How funders can help

That’s why how we fund matters. At The Fore, we’ve seen that collaboration only happens when charities have the breathing room to think beyond the day-to-day. That means unrestricted core funding that frees up leadership capacity to step off the hamster wheel. It also means creating opportunities for leaders to connect.

At The Fore, we provide both. Our unrestricted funding gives organisations the space to think strategically and explore partnerships they might not otherwise have time to consider. Our peer network connects charity leaders to share ideas, challenges and opportunities.

Of course, collaboration can be messy, and it doesn’t always work out as planned. But that’s exactly why funders need to create the conditions for it to flourish, including space for experimentation, learning and the occasional failure.

If we want a more impactful, sustainable charity sector, we need to create the conditions for collaboration. That starts with giving charities the time, trust, and flexibility to build partnerships that last.

A question to funders: Are you doing enough?

If you’re ready to help create a society that solves its own problems, we’re here to work with you. Contact Partnerships@TheFore.org to explore our bespoke corporate and philanthropic options.