Funding Readiness Self Assessment
40 checks across governance, money, evidence and delivery that show your priority gaps and which to fix first.
Take the checkFunding and income resilience for not for profits across the UK
Stop relying on the next grant.
I help UK charities, CICs and community groups work out where their money should come from, get funder ready, and build income from more than one source, with a plan your own team can deliver.
Who we are
Practical support from someone who has done the job.
30years in the not for profit sector
2012consultancy practice established
1,500readers of The Funding Finder each week
4UK nations, one service
Creating Resilient Communities was founded by Sara Downman-Pardoe, who has spent 30 years working in and alongside charities, community organisations and social enterprises. She has run organisations, built investment strategies and led funding and income strategy, and she now uses that experience to help others grow.
We work with small and mid size organisations across the whole of the UK. Most come to us because a key grant is ending, applications keep falling short, or the board knows that relying on 1 funder is a risk but does not know where else the money will come from.
We tell you what funders will actually see, then help you fix it.
That means an honest read of your readiness before you apply, funders matched to what you really deliver, and income ideas that suit your structure, your community and the time your team has. You leave with work you can use, not a report that sits in a drawer.
What we offer
Support at every budget, from free to fully hands on.
Start wherever suits you. Many organisations begin with a free tool, then move to a programme or 1 to 1 support once they know where the gaps are.
Start freeFor anyone, any time
The Funding Finder
Free, every Wednesday5 or 6 open funders each week, checked and explained, plus an income idea, a free tool and the sector news that matters.
Sign up freeFree funding tools
Free9 tools to check your readiness and resilience, test your fit with a funder, and write and cost a stronger bid.
Go to the free toolsFunding Clarity Call
Free, 30 minutesTalk through where you are and what would help. No obligation and no sales pitch.
Book a callGet funder readyBe ready before a funder looks
Funder Match Brief
£100A shortlist of funders your organisation is likely to be eligible for, each with its grant range, deadline and why it suits you. Delivered within 5 working days.
Order a briefApplication review
£195, or £295 for bids over £50,000Send me your draft and I will tell you what a funder will see. I check it against the funder's criteria, strengthen your evidence and case studies, and send back clear feedback, so the application is funder ready and still sounds like you. Feedback within 5 working days.
Send me your draftSix Weeks to Fundable
£395 per organisation6 weekly lessons and tools by email that take you from scattered paperwork to a funder ready organisation, with your questions answered through a query form.
Join the programmeBuild income beyond grantsMore than one way in
Beyond Grants
£29 a month or £290 a yearA monthly briefing for leaders on where funding is going, how grants are won, and a worked income idea beyond grant panels in every edition.
SubscribeThe Corporate Guide
£59 a quarter100 UK companies that work with charities, with the route in for each one and the support they give beyond cash. A new 100 every quarter.
See the guideYour Funding Roadmap
£995, or 3 payments of £335For organisations with the capacity to do the work themselves. Over 8 weeks I analyse where you are, including why bids are turned down, then write your 12 month and 3 year funding strategy, corporate and strategic partnerships plans, and a 12 month funder timeline. Includes 1 review session with me at week 4.
See Your Funding RoadmapWork with me1 to 1, alongside your team
Mentoring and strategy
From £500 a monthRegular sessions for leaders and boards on funding strategy, income diversification and organisational resilience. Working alongside you over 6 months.
Start a conversationFractional Funding Roles
Quoted per roleAn experienced head of funding or income lead working inside your team for a set number of days each month, without the cost of a full time hire.
Discuss a roleFree tools
Free tools to get funder ready and build your income.
Not every organisation can pay for 1 to 1 support, and every organisation deserves a clear view of its gaps. 9 free tools take you from getting ready, to choosing the right funder, to writing and costing your bid. Start at any stage.
Stage 1
Get ready
Know your gaps before a funder finds them.
Financial Resilience Self Assessment
15 questions across 5 areas, including the 40% test, with a resilience report and next steps.
Check your resilienceThe Income Spread Checker
See how much you rely on any single funder, your share of unrestricted income, and what happens if your largest source stopped.
Check your income spreadGovernance Ready
The 37 checks funders typically make, filtered by your legal form and nation, with the 10 that can stop an application highlighted.
Check your governanceStage 2
Choose the right funder
Spend your time on bids you can win.
Should We Apply
Test your fit with a funder through 4 gates and 6 fit questions. If you fall short, it names the gate and suggests other routes.
Test a funderThe Funding Finder
A free weekly email of open UK grants, each checked against the funder's own website.
Join the listStage 3
Write and cost your bid
Answers assessors want to score, and budgets that cover your real costs.
The Assessor's Read
Paste in an application answer and see it marked up the way an assessor reads it, with filler and generic sentences flagged.
Check an answerThe Full Cost Builder
Work out a fair share of core costs and overheads, check it against the funder's rules, and copy the budget lines and wording.
Build your costsThe Outcomes Planner
Turn activities into outcomes, measures and targets, check each one describes a change for people, and get a ready table and draft answer.
Plan your outcomesIndustry news
What is changing, and what it means for you.
Updated 29 October 2026. Always confirm the detail with the original source.
Get in touch
Book a free 30 minute call.
Tell us a little about your organisation and what you are working on, and Sara will reply personally within 2 working days.
sara@1234consultancy.com
Working with organisations across the whole of the UK.