Surviving the recession

Is the recession affecting your organisation? Maybe there is a greater demand for your services, your donations are down, your suppliers are going out of business or you are getting more people wanting to volunteer for you. All these impact on your day-to-day activities.

There is help around if you know where to look. There are new grants, people offering free consultancy to nonprofits and lots of sources of advice and support. Here is a round-up of the ones we know about. Please help us build this list by adding your suggestions as comments.  

General support

• Helping charities through the economic downturn (Charity Commission) - research and resources.
  
• Recession Support (ACEVO) - supporting the third sector in the recession.
• Recession resources (NCVO).
• Tools for Success - self-assessment toolkit - has your organisation got what it takes to be sustainable?
• Resources for arts and cultural organisations - guide produced by Audiences London.

News and views

• Speakers at ACEVO's 2009 CEO Summit in June 09 gave their views about leading through the recession. Listen to podcasts we recorded with them. You'll need to register / log in to access the ACEVO Summit podcasts. 
• Podcasts from ACEVO - organisation leaders give their views and advice about the recession.
• Social enterprise in the recession survey (Social Enterprise Coalition)

Government initiatives and funding

• Modernisation Fund - funding to help frontline third sector organisations increase their impact and become more resilient through working more closely with others.
  
• Great round-up of other grants by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation.

Financial difficulties

• CAF's financial crisis helpline
• Managing financial difficulties and insolvency in charities (Charities Commission)

Staff and volunteers

• How to manage your workforce in a recession (CIPD)
• Managing volunteers during a recession (NCVO)

Fundraising

• The Institute of Fundraising are running lots of courses and events including fight the recession through gift aid, fundraising through the recession and loving your donors through recession. See also their conference podcasts including one on fundraising in a recession.
• Recession Watch from the IoF is their round-up of useful reports and resources.

Free support for your organisation

• Small Charities Coalition - join as a friend (for free) and get support from others. 
• The Cranfield Trust - is offering free management and consultancy for nonprofits.

Your job / your development

• Dealing with redundancy (Careers Advice)
• Dealing with redundancy (Direct.Gov)
• Finding a new job
• New to nonprofit

Events

There are lots of training courses and conferences talking about the recession. Have a look at our events section for what's on in your area.

Have your say

• Which, if any of these resources have you used?
• Were they helpful?
• What others would you recommend?
• How are you being affected by the recession?

Have your say on the issues and challenges forum.