A lifeline for small charities

Running a small charity is one of the most rewarding things a person can do, but it’s also one of the toughest.

Your altruistic, socially transformative dream likely stemmed from a desire to help people. To make a difference.

I would hazard a guess that the reality of running a charity in today’s climate feels very different from that dream. If you’re reading this in your lunch break, between school runs, or whilst answering emails and tackling paperwork from your day job, know that you’re not alone. Thousands of small charity leaders are in exactly the same place.

Charities are being triple-squeezed: costs are up, income is down, and demand for services has skyrocketed. This is not only unsustainable, it’s slowly breaking the people who are doing their best to keep everything afloat.

According to recent figures, 69% of workers in the VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) sector say they’re struggling with anxiety caused by burnout. It’s no wonder. When you’re everything to everyone, i.e. the fundraiser, the volunteer coordinator, the admin, the leader, and the front-line support, it’s exhausting.

One in five charities has already been forced to reduce the support they offer because they simply can’t stretch themselves any further.

When there’s no time to breathe, how do you find the time to strategise? How can you ever get off the hamster wheel long enough to look up, take stock, and steer your organisation somewhere new?

You need help. Not just for your own sanity, though this is paramount….running your organisation strategically and with better control will grow your charitable cause. And with growth, you can help even more people. Isn’t that the aim?

It’s easy to fall into perpetual firefighting. Someone needs help, you jump in. A funder opens a grant round, you scramble to apply. A volunteer pulls out; you patch the gap and keep going. But this fire-fighting approach is draining and, over time, it leads to stagnation. Without clear systems, a forward strategy, or the headspace to plan, the cycle only continues.

Most founders didn’t start their charity to learn how to write funding bids, manage spreadsheets, or figure out social media algorithms. But these are now essential skills for any organisation that wants to survive, and ultimately thrive, in today’s competitive, underfunded third sector.

The turning point

Many of the people we support at Evolve3 CIC have come to us at that exact moment, when something had to give. They’d maxed out their time, they’d become tired of constantly chasing their tails, and they realised that no amount of goodwill or hard graft can plug all the gaps.

That moment, as frustrating and painful as it may feel, is also a turning point. Because when you realise you can’t do everything alone, new opportunities open up.

AI is an ally

This is where AI tools, used well and conscientiously, can change the game for small charities.

We’re not suggesting you replace people or remove the heart from your work. What we are saying is this: by automating some of the repetitive, admin-heavy tasks that eat up your time, AI can give you back the energy and headspace you need to lead with vision.

Whether it’s helping you draft funding applications, helping you generate ideas for your next campaign, managing your emails, or analysing data to show your impact, AI can offer a helping hand. Something that’s even more crucial when you don’t have a team around you.

Knowing how to use AI tools effectively (and when not to) is what makes the difference. That’s why we offer practical, hands-on training that meets you where you are. You don’t need to be tech-savvy or have any prior experience; you just need a willingness to try something different.

Strategy, funding and support

Alongside AI, we also provide support in areas many small charities have never had the time to focus on, e.g. bid writing, diversification of income, and longer-term planning.

Technology is only one part of the puzzle. You also need a clear message, a compelling case for support, and the knowledge of where and how to access funding that aligns with your goals.

We work with small charities like yours to help you build these foundations. This isn’t about a magic wand or overnight transformation – it’s about giving you the tools, confidence and clarity to stop reacting and start leading again.

Speculate to accumulate…affordably

We know what you might be thinking: ‘Sounds great, but we don’t have the budget for training right now.’ That’s completely valid. When every penny is accounted for, spending on anything that doesn’t result in immediate impact can feel like a luxury.

But investing in your own skills – in your organisation’s capacity to function better, smarter and more strategically – is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. You’re speculating to accumulate.

What’s the alternative? Another year of burnout? Another grant you narrowly miss out on because your application wasn’t strong enough? Another service user you have to turn away because you’re overstretched?

Training doesn’t have to be expensive. As a social enterprise, we keep our sessions affordable and accessible because we want small charities to grow. We want the people who set out to make a difference to have the tools they need to do just that. Not just now, but way, way into the future.

Reconnect with your purpose

The reason you started your charity may be buried, but it’s still there. It’s just swamped under layers of operational stress and exhaustion. Upskilling, automating wisely, and creating a clear path forward isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about reconnecting with your purpose.

You didn’t start this journey to feel stuck, burnt out or alone. And you don’t have to stay there. We’re here to help you take that first step off the hamster wheel. Helping others shouldn’t come at the cost of your own wellbeing, and your charity shouldn’t have to choose between survival and growth.

You deserve to thrive.

Email diane@evolve3.org.uk for more information.