Hey, what’s the big IDEA?.

At IDEA, our mission is to empower charities to achieve long-term sustainability by providing expert consultancy in income development and infrastructure support.

We are dedicated to helping organisations strengthen their operations, diversify their funding sources, and build the foundations for growth and lasting impact. Through strategic guidance, tailored solutions, and a focus on capacity-building, we enable charities to thrive and create positive change in their communities.

We offer bid writing on a “NO WIN/NO FEE” basis.

Our Values

Our values:

At IDEA, we focus on integrity, collaboration, sustainability, and empowerment, reflecting the supportive and strategic approach our work brings to charities.

Integrity – We uphold the highest standards of honesty and transparency in all our actions, building trust with our clients and partners.

Collaboration – We believe in working closely with charities, stakeholders, and communities to co-create tailored solutions that drive meaningful, lasting change.

Sustainability – We are committed to fostering long-term financial health and operational resilience, ensuring charities can thrive for years to come.

Empowerment – We empower charities by strengthening their skills, systems, and capacity to manage and grow their income, giving them the tools for continued success.

Innovation – We embrace creativity and forward-thinking approaches to help charities navigate challenges and discover new opportunities for growth.

Impact – We are driven by a passion for helping charities make a real difference in their communities, delivering results that matter.

  • £3million raised in income

    Across a variety of service deliverables

  • 25+ Years in the charity sector

    At Senior Leadership level

  • Voted one of the top Leaders over 50, in 2015

    By CMI

    (alongside Steven Hawkins)

Our IDEAs…

INCOME GENERATION

Funding Bids and Grants/tenders and Expressions of Interest
IDEA can write funding bids for your charity, whether you are a registered charity, a CIC or CIO or even an unconstituted group; IDEA can help you secure financial support to help you achieve your mission. A well-crafted bid can open doors to grants, donations, and other forms of funding, allowing you to expand your service deliverables, reach more people, and drive positive change. This process involves presenting a compelling case for support, outlining the charity’s objectives, demonstrating its impact, and aligning with the goals of potential funders. IDEA has seasoned grant writers available with years of experience and  understanding on how to create a clear, persuasive, and accurate funding proposal, which is key to unlocking opportunities for your charity’s growth and success.

DEVELOPMENT
Infrastructure support
To be eligible for funding, you need to be ‘funding ready’ and this could mean different things to different funders.  
IDEA can play a vital role in helping a charity become "funding ready" by guiding you through the necessary infrastructure development. This includes strengthening organisational systems, processes, and structures to ensure you are aligned with the expectations of potential funders. IDEA can assist in refining the charity's strategic plan, building a case for support, developing robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and enhancing governance structures. By ensuring the charity has sound operations, transparent reporting, and a clear, compelling mission, IDEA helps increase the charity’s credibility and attractiveness to funders, making them more likely to secure grants and long-term funding.

TRAINING (Income Development training)

At IDEA, we offer specialised training to help charities, Business Development Officers, Fundraisers, and other key staff members develop the skills needed to write compelling funding bids. 
Our training programs are designed to demystify the funding application process and provide practical, hands-on guidance on how to create persuasive proposals that stand out to funders. 
We cover everything from understanding funder priorities, crafting clear and impactful narratives, to structuring bids and presenting measurable outcomes. 
"With our expert support, participants will gain the confidence and expertise to write effective bids, increasing their chances of securing vital funding and supporting their charity’s mission".

ENGAGEMENT AND ADVICE

At IDEA, we understand that strong engagement is key to a charity's growth and sustainability. We provide tailored support to help charities effectively engage with their stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, beneficiaries, and the wider community. By developing strategic communication plans, enhancing outreach efforts, and fostering meaningful relationships, we enable charities to build a loyal and engaged supporter base. Our guidance helps charities connect more deeply with their audiences, creating a strong foundation for ongoing support and long-term success.
We also recognise that charities face a wide range of complex challenges beyond funding and engagement. Our consultancy services provide expert advice on issues such as governance, compliance, strategic planning, and operational efficiency. We help charities navigate regulatory requirements, strengthen leadership, streamline processes, and build resilient organisational structures. By offering tailored solutions and guidance, we ensure charities are equipped to tackle their unique challenges, enabling them to focus on their mission and deliver lasting impact in their communities.

Other services:

  • Mentoring (1:1 or group - Leadership / CEO)

  • Salary Bench Marking

  • HR support

  • Team Away Day (facilitating)

  • Business Strategy

  • Fundraising Strategy

  • Mapping services

  • Governance

£60k awarded
Computer
Mentoring
Successfully submitted
Training
Writing

What Clients are Saying

"Gillian’s freelance fundraising services have been invaluable. Her expertise, hard work, and dedication significantly contributed to our financial stability and growth."

Tanya Westenraad - Manager

“Gillian was successful in submitting and receiving 6 figure sum tenders with excellent results, overachieving on a regular basis.”

Mandy Bowler - Counsellor (supporting sexual abuse victims)

"Gillian has always been willing to act as guide, mentor and provide wise counsel, and for that I am very grateful"

Sandra Fruish - Director of Membership Services (animal charity)

FAQ

  • Get in touch today and we can discuss how we can work together to meet your unique needs.

  • Income generation (writing bids, grants etc.) is done on a ‘no win/no fee’ basis. Please click on the button below to see IDEAs other costs.

  • Yes, IDEA would need to determine whether you are ‘funding ready’ – either help you get to that point, or if you are, agree the pace you want to work at. 

  • Mostly, we work with registered charities, CIOs or CICs, some Groups as well. We will consider a conversation with a corporate for tender writing, but this will not be on a NO WIN/NO FEE basis.

GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR ENQUIRY