The project to boost the sector’s ability to earn and attract sustainable funding has received as boost as the Big Lottery Fund announces a nearly £1m grant to NCVO to carry out the work.

BIG announced three-year funding of NCVO’s ‘Sustainable Funding Project’ to the value of £842,707. NCVO is one of the umbrella bodies most at risk of government cutbacks, receiving a significant proportion of its income from statutory sources.

The grant will help fund training events and publications designed to help civil society organisations better understand the gamut of funding available to them, from trading to winning contracts. Funders and policy-makers will also be targeted by the work, with NCVO and its six partner organisations in the project hosting an annual gathering and regular updates for those holding the purse strings about the issues facing not-for-profit groups.

Leesa Herbert, head of the project at NCVO, said “NCVO is delighted to have the opportunity to continue our work supporting organisations across the sector to develop and implement a sustainable income strategy.”

BIG said that the grant reflected the funder’s wish to promote stability in the sector during the shaky economic climate.