Running a small charity or social purpose organisation can be a lonely business - especially when it comes to funding. The landscape is complicated, the competition is fierce and it can be hard to know where to turn for advice that is honest rather than just reassuring.
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Bid Buddy exists for organisations who want fresh thinking, a straight answer and someone who areas about what happens to them. we build funding strategies and income plans from scratch, with you - because your organisation isn't the same as anyone else's.
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Whether yor're wondering if there's a future beyond your current funding, trying to break into new income streams, or just need someone to help make sense of it all - we're here to help.
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About
I've spent most of my career inside big household name charities — helping them grow their income, transform services, and bring new ideas to market. It was fantastic work, and I got to do some genuinely remarkable things alongside some remarkable people.
But I kept noticing something. The smaller organisations — the ones doing vital, irreplaceable work in their communities — didn't have access to the kind of expertise I was working with every day.
That's why I set up Bid Buddy.
I wanted to take everything I'd learned over twenty years and put it to work for the organisations that needed it most. Not just bid writing support — though I do that too — but the kind of strategic thinking that helps you understand your whole funding landscape, figure out where the real opportunities are, and build something that actually works for your organisation.
Every piece of work I do is designed with you. I bring genuine curiosity to every client, and I care about what happens to you — not just the bid.
Sometimes that means writing a compelling application. Sometimes it means helping you face a much harder question about your future.
I'm APMP certified, hold a PG Cert in Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy, and am a Senior Fundraising Fellow. Over the course of my career I've helped organisations raise more than £150 million. But what I'm most proud of is the work I've done with smaller organisations finding their feet — and the ones facing their hardest moments — where the right outside perspective made all the difference.
I can't wait to work with you.
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What we do
We work with small charities, social enterprises and mission-driven founders across the UK. Every piece of work is built from scratch — because your situation, your organisation and your funding challenges are unique to you.
Figure out what's possible
Sometimes the most important question isn't "how do we write this bid?" — it's "where should our funding actually come from?"
We help organisations at a crossroads, launching something new, or simply wondering if they're missing opportunities to make sense of the whole picture.
Market assessment, funding landscape analysis, income strategy — the foundations that make everything else work better.
Make it happen
Strategy is only useful if someone follows through on it. We don't hand over a plan and disappear. We get stuck in — developing compelling propositions, building funder relationships, writing funding applications and winning contracts. We work across trusts and foundations, statutory funding, government contracts, earned income and trading — wherever the right opportunities are for you.
Fundraising and income generation can be a lonely place. Rising cost pressures, increased competition and diminishing funds are the reality Chief Executives have to deal with every day whilst managing ongoing operations.
The Bid Buddy
Need focused support on a specific bid or application? Our fixed-price product gives you fifteen hours of structured, expert bid writing and coaching support for £799. A fresh pair of eyes on your most important application, when you need it most.
Why
Bid Buddy
There are plenty of experienced fundraising consultants out there. Many of them are excellent. But if you've heard the same advice a few times already and it isn't moving things forward — or if you're a founder who feels like the traditional charity sector doesn't quite speak your language — you might be in the right place.
We particularly love working with founders and younger organisations and who want someone to think alongside them rather than hand them a template.
Every piece of work we do is bespoke, but it's bespoke in the way that only comes from years of senior experience across a huge range of organisations.
Here's what you can expect from us:
We start from scratch every time. No recycled frameworks, no one-size-fits-all solutions — just someone who'll learn about your specific situation and build something that actually fits.
We're honest, even when it's not what you want to hear. If the funding isn't there, or the timing is wrong, or there's a better route you haven't considered — we'll tell you.
We care about more than the bid. Funding is stressful and the stakes are real. We get that, and we bring genuine curiosity and enthusiasm to every piece of work.
And we think it should be — at least occasionally — a bit fun.
Facing the future honestly — a community health charity
A small community health charity came to us at one of the most challenging moments an organisation can face. A third of their income was disappearing as a funding for a service was abolished. Another third was due for recommissioning — likely in a completely different form. Only the final third felt secure, and that alone wouldn't keep the organisation running.
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Rather than jumping straight into funding applications, we started by helping them think clearly about what was actually possible — mapping opportunities across statutory and trusts and foundations funding, and building a framework to help the board face the hardest question of all: should they close, merge, or evolve?
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Sometimes the most valuable thing a consultant can do is help an organisation see its situation clearly. Our client decided to pursue a merger — a courageous and considered decision, made from a position of genuine understanding rather than panic.​​
Understanding what's possible — an international volunteering charity
Our client had built something genuinely distinctive. Their core work generates solid, reliable income.
Alongside that, they run volunteering programmes in the UK and abroad. Their board wanted to understand how that track record and those capabilities could open doors to statutory funding and stronger social impact.
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We mapped the landscape, identifying three or four strong, proximate opportunities that aligned closely with what they already do well. The work is still evolving but our client now has a clear picture of where the opportunities are and how each one is developing. We're still in conversation as they decide how to move forward.
Client Stories
Sophie, Charity leader
"Lisa's success in bids and tenders made a real difference to us and we are grateful for her continued support."
Ramzan, Founder
"Working alongside Lisa has been an absolute pleasure. Very rarely do you come across someone who cares about the human and ethical approach to business. We share the vision of making meaningful change. For the first time ever, our message is truly landing with decision-makers.
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Lisa's experience shines through in strategic guidance that extends far beyond the tender itself. She's an invaluable asset for any entrepreneur or start-up seeking to grow with integrity and impact."
CEO, Community Health charity
"Without your support I do not think we would have reached a decision about our future so promptly."