A Renfrewshire charity leader has urged organisations to build more sustainable sources of income instead of relying heavily on grants and donations.
Paul McIlvenny, founder of Renfrewshire-based Include Me 2 Club, delivered the message at the recent Accountants Plus Charity Conference in Motherwell.
Include Me 2 Club supports more than 2,000 people with additional support needs across the west of Scotland.
It has grown from a small volunteer-led group into a £1.6 million organisation employing 75 staff. Around 70% of its income is now generated through sustainable trading activity rather than grants.
Speaking at the conference, Mr McIlvenny said charities should “flip the traditional mindset” around fundraising.
He said: “Too many organisations are stuck in a cycle of chasing grants. We realised early on that if we wanted to be sustainable, we had to generate income ourselves through social enterprise, partnerships and events. That gives you control, stability and the ability to grow.”
He encouraged charities to diversify their fundraising and avoid relying on the same supporters or sources of funding.
Mr McIlvenny said: “Be creative and try different approaches, whether that’s events, corporate partnerships or enterprise activity. And most importantly, build relationships. The long-term partnerships we’ve developed with businesses have been transformational.”
His advice included introducing sustainable income sources early, finding different supporters and building long-term relationships with businesses.
He also encouraged charities to experiment with fundraising events and regularly share information about their work and its impact.
The conference brought together charities, funders and advisers to share knowledge and strengthen collaboration across the sector.
Mr McIlvenny said: “The sector can be too defensive at times. Events like this help people connect, collaborate and avoid costly mistakes.”
Fiona Struthers, a senior member of Accountants Plus’s charity team, said: “Paul’s story really resonated with attendees because it challenges how many charities think about funding. Developing sustainable income streams isn’t easy, but it’s becoming essential.
“The feedback from this conference has been positive, and it’s clear there’s a real appetite for more opportunities to share knowledge, so we’re looking forward to hosting another event later this year.”
Accountants Plus confirmed plans for another charity conference later this year.
Headline photo: Paul McIlvenny, founder of Renfrewshire-based Include Me 2 Club, spoke about sustainable charity funding at the Accountants Plus Charity Conference in Motherwell.