Another funding rejection landed in my inbox this morning – what a way to start my day.
If you run a CIC or a small charity, you know the feeling. You put weeks into an application from the theory of change, defining the outcomes, the budget that you’ve checked eleven times. It reads well, you know your project can make a difference. Then you get the email, the polite paragraph that starts with “Unfortunately”.
Learning
Every knock back helps me to evaluate, look for the gaps, sharpen the ask, tighten the evidence and to keep going to find the funder whose priorities align with ours. Resilience in this sector isn’t about not feeling the knock-back, it’s about getting back to the laptop and working on the next one.
We all face challenges, whether its changing jobs, feeling adrift at work or at home, losing out identity or overcoming health issues. Whatever you are facing, you are being resilient, you care getting up every day, you are making a difference to others, it might not feel like it but you are.
But here’s what I’m learning running Midlife360: a no from a funder is not a verdict on the mission of Midlife360, it’s just one funder with a limited pot and their own priorities that week. It doesn’t get any easier and as someone who talks a lot about resilience in midlife, I am having to dig deep.
What keeps us going is knowing the need is real.
What can I do?
So, here’s my ask, not for Midlife360 CIC specifically, but for all those who are looking for support. If you’re a funder, a corporate partner, or someone who simply believes in what small, community-rooted organisations do, can you reach out and talk to them? Ask a CIC near you what they’re working on. Ask what unrestricted funding would let them do that restricted funding can’t.
Because behind every one of those applications is a team who didn’t give up after the last ten “no”s and a community counting on the next “yes.”
Get in touch
If that’s you, I’d love to talk. Comment below or send me a message.
If you want to share examples of your resilience I’d love to hear from you. just email ingrid@midlife360.org.uk
For more information on the work we do, just check out www.midlife360.org.uk/events
#SocialEnterprise #CIC #Funding #Resilience #CommunityImpact #Midlife360 #resielienceinmidlife
