Publications and tools
The Sustainable Funding Project has produced a variety of publications available to purchase or as free downloads.
Explore our publications by topic area:
- Introductory guides
- Income streams
- Trading
- Public Service Delivery
- Loan finance
- Outcomes monitoring
- Responsible investment
- Information for funders
Or find out about our newsletter to keep up to date with new publications, tools and news.
Visit our resources section to see the full range of products and services available from the Sustainable Funding Project.
Introductory Guides
Introductory Pack on Funding and Finance for Voluntary and Community Organisations - 6 Part Pack
Each of the 6 guides contains practical information on a specific area of funding or finance and includes case studies, tools, and signposts to resources to assist organisations in their search for long-term financial sustainability. Each of the 6 guides are available to download separately. October 2006.
Introducing Funding and Finance for Voluntary and Community Organisations - A6 pocket guide
A pocket guide providing a snap-shot of sector funding and basic exercises to guide organisations through the topics covered. The pocket guide is lightweight, easily slipped into a bag or pocket, and is an ideal primer for very small and new VCOs, or for those new to the concept of sustainable funding and the wider funding environment. February 2007.
Download A6 pocket guide (PDF 1Mb)
Sustainable Sun Needs-Analysis Tool
Diagnostic tool in A4 fold-out leaflet format enabling organisations to plot their current organisational health, consider future development, and display on a wall to monitor progress.
Download Sustainable Sun Needs-Analysis Tool (PDF 236Kb)
(Once you have printed out the six pages of the Sustainable Sun Needs-Analysis Tool view the entire document (PDF 224Kb) to see how all the pages fit together.)
Hard copies of the guide can be obtained by emailing us
The Art of Raising Money: using marketing theory to stabilise and grow your income
Written by Professor Ian Bruce CBE, this publication will help you to transform your fundraising and income generation so that it is sustainable, integrated and rewarding, using theories and techniques developed in the commercial world. As relevant to income from donations as to contracts or training, this book is suitable for anyone who is unfamiliar with marketing theory and needs to raise funds.
Order The Art of Raising Money.
Free Sustainable Funding for Trustees guide for all NCVO members
Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges faced by trustees and staff in voluntary and community sector organisations. Written by Peter Dyer and Anne Moynihan this guide sets out clear and accessible guidance to support trustees in their roles and responsibilities for financial sustainability.
Sustainable Funding for Trustees is available exclusively for NCVO members. Visit our members section to download your free copy.
Income Streams
Searching for and exploring other income streams?
Introductory: Use this tool to analyse your types of income and assess whether a more diverse approach could benefit your organisation. Hard copies of this version can be obtained by emailing us
Download: income spectrum (PDF 474kb)
Download the toolkit (PDF 2.79 Mb)
Advanced: This tool contains the income spectrum toolkit (see above) plus an income exploration tool - use this to consider the impact your potential income stream would have on key areas of your organisation.
Download: income exploration toolkit (PDF 486 kb) - April 2009
Understanding income streams - Funder Needs Analysis Tool
As you develop a sustainable income strategy for your organisation, you will need to work with different income providers. Take some time to think about the approach you will take with different funders, clients and customers, depending on where they fit in the income spectrum.
Download: funder needs analysis tool (PDF 290kb) - New April 2009
Trading
The Good Guide to trading - Getting ready for enterprise
The Good Guide to Trading: Getting ready for enterprise takes you through the process of launching a successful trading initiative from start to finish - giving lots of useful information on the way. The chapters can be worked through in order or used as standalone sections. Read more and order online
We run a training course to accompany this publication.
Exploring new products and markets?
Consider expanding your income base by enhancing your current products and markets, or by developing new ones. Use our tool to explore new options for your organisation and grow ideas to increase your financial sustainability.
Download: new products and markets toolkit (PDF 472kb) - April 2009
Trading Tool: Choosing the Right Legal Form
There are lots of key questions you need to ask when choosing a legal form for your trading venture, social enterprise or trading subsidiary. Use this tool developed by the Sustainable Funding Project and legal experts Hempsons to work through the relevant issues such as trading purpose, ownership, governance and tax status.
Download this publication (PDF, 605kb)
From asking to earning: Exploring the journey of trading
by Henry Palmer. Published by RISE
Between 2003 and 2005, NCVO's Sustainable Funding Project and its partners in the South West ran a pilot programme providing direct support to a selection of organisation wishing to develop an idea for generating income from trading goods and services. This publication tells the story of that journey. It details the organisations' earning by examining the critical success factors along the route. Essential reading for anyone interested in generating earned income.
Download this publication (PDF 3.5Mb)
Public Service Delivery
Before signing on the dotted line - all you need to know about procuring public sector contracts
A guide to enable small and medium sized organisations to navigate the complex rules, procedures and practices that constitute the public sector procurement process. June 2006.
This publication is not available in hard copy. However, hard copies are available of the Procurement and Contracting Guide (PDF 715kb) from the 6 part Introductory Pack on Funding and Finance for Voluntary and Community Organisations.
Loan finance
Brief Guide to Loan finance for Trustees
This guide is designed for trustees considering loan finance for their organisation, or for those who just want to be better informed about the issues. It introduces the benefits, presents some factors that should be though through and signposts to further information. November 2006.
- Download: Loan finance guide (PDF 175Kb)
Hard copies of the guide can be obtained by emailing us
Magic Roundabout
An introduction to programme related investment 2004
Download: magic roundabout (PDF 662Kb)
Outcomes monitoring
Distance Travelled - The experience of outcome monitoring within NCVO's Sustainable Funding Project
by Sara Burns, Triangle Consulting, and Deborah Turton, NCVO
This publication provides a case study example and good practice tips on implementing outcome monitoring in an infrastructure setting. Including steps taken and monitoring tools used in a collaboration between Triangle Consulting and NCVO's Sustainable Funding Project, it provides an example for other infrastructure organisations and a touchstone for outcomes practitioners generally.
Download: distance travelled (PDF 272Kb) or to order a hard copy, call the NCVO helpdesk and order line on 080 0279 8798
Responsible Investment
Investing Responsibly: A practical introduction for charity trustees
How to reconcile responsible investment with duty to maximise income. May 2005
Download the toolkit (PDF 1.8Mb)
For funders
Fruitful funding
A guide to funder's levels of engagement, May 2005
Download the publication in our bookshop section. Hard copies of the guide can be obtained by emailing us
