{"id":400,"date":"2024-05-14T12:00:07","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T12:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journal-test.matchmyproject.org\/?p=400"},"modified":"2025-11-07T20:43:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T20:43:55","slug":"top-5-tips-for-community-based-organisations-to-maximise-social-value-through-match-my-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journal.matchmyproject.org\/index.php\/2024\/05\/14\/top-5-tips-for-community-based-organisations-to-maximise-social-value-through-match-my-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Tips for Community-Based Organisations to Maximise Social Value through Match My Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you making the most of Match My Project? Find out from Match My Project\u2019s most prolific community beneficiary how to maximise the resources available on the platform. They’ve given their top 5 tips for community-based organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Henry Fawcett Primary Boxing Club<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I spoke to Rachel, the Assistant Head of Henry Fawcett Primary School, the most active community organisation on Match My Project. The school has an impressive history of using our platform to channel the best resources and opportunities into the local community. This has earned them a reputation for excellence in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our mission at Match My Project is to help communities flourish. We do this by matching community organisations with businesses that want to deliver Social Value and CSR. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rachel said, \u201cThe support that we\u2019ve had via [Hyde Housing Association] from Match My Project compared to the support we get from other organisations \u2026 it’s not even comparable<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Rachel provided some invaluable tips and principles which could help you enhance your impact within the community you serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the top 5 tips for Community-Based Organisations on Match My Project:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Build strong relationships<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Have a look around<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Frame asks clearly<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Go the extra mile<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Go for it!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    1. Build strong relationships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Match My Project exists for people and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That\u2019s the heart of what we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s all about relationships \u2013 so naturally, having strong ones will set you up well to create flourishing communities through the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rachel identifies two key ways to achieve this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     a. Keep in touch with the authority<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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    \u201cIf there are things I put on there and I start getting a bit panicky that I might not get them, I would contact the Social Value person at Hyde and just say \u2026 <\/em>\u2018is there anyone you can poke to help us with this?\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    The authority could be a bridge between you and a new community partnership \u2013 they may be able to put your project in front of the right people. Reaching out to them could help you get the resources you need for your community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    b.  Understand the businesses on the platform<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Rachel puts her success on Match My Project down to her savviness when it comes to understanding the different focuses and preferences of the business users on the platform. She says: \u201cI\u2019ve understood what sort of things they might be looking for<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    She goes on to explain that, when creating new projects, community-based organisations should consider: \u201cWhat kind of organisations might want to do them? And framing them in a way that is going to be appealing to them.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While this may require some initial effort, it\u2019s worth the fruitful relationships that could follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \u201cI generally end up getting more than I ask for \u2026 once you\u2019re engaged with the supplier and they come and have a look and they\u2019ve come to move the furniture but then they go <\/em>\u2018oh but now you need some carpets in here don\u2019t you? We\u2019ll do that\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Taking some time to get your head around the outcomes that suppliers are looking for can go a long way in receiving the right support for your projects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Remember that suppliers will be looking for projects that contribute to the shared goals or outcomes selected by the authority, for example, \u201csafeguarding the environment\u201d or \u201cpromoting jobs and skills\u201d \u2013 you will see these outcomes listed when creating a new project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Have a Look Around <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In the same spirit of working towards shared goals, Rachel also suggests having a look at other organisations\u2019 projects on Match My Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    She says, \u201cIt\u2019s worth having a little bit of a look around to see what other people are doing and who\u2019s being successful<\/em>.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    I asked Rachel about the type of resources Henry Fawcett Primary has requested on Match My Project and was impressed by the broad range of projects they have completed. These vary from physical things like chairs to volunteers and funding. She notes that their Breakfast Club is subsidised by suppliers on Match My Project, as is a member of staff (a 1-1 mentor for the children), therapeutic residentials, and a boxing club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To view other organisations\u2019 projects, log in to your account and navigate to the \u201cDirectory\u201d on the left-hand side tab. Here you can see community projects, supplier offers, jobs & training opportunities, as well as a list of all organisations under the \u201corganisations\u201d tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Frame Asks Clearly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    \u201cThat\u2019s the important thing: being clear<\/em>.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Rachel stresses the importance of framing resource requests clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are three main elements to this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    a. Be specific<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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    \u201cTry and think about framing the narrative in your request. What you put as your heading \u2013 that\u2019s the one-line thing that comes up \u2013 is really important \u2026 if you can make the title show the benefit and paint a nice narrative, I think that\u2019s helpful. And be specific in what you\u2019re asking for<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    b. Prioritise projects<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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    \u201cYou\u2019re always playing a game of prioritising what you put on there and not putting too many things up at the same time. And being clear about which ones are really important to you and which ones are nice to have<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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    \u201cI try and keep the requests middling and then find that people are very helpful after the fact.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    c. Separate requests <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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    \u201cThere is also an art to \u2026 separating things out in the requests. So, rather than saying <\/em>\u2018I need my library redone\u2019 [say],<\/em> \u2018I need the walls painting\u2019; \u2018I need the furniture moving\u2019; \u2018I need somebody to pay for books.\u2019 Because there might be different organisations that are able to help with those things separately<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    The wording you use in your project request is crucial to the success of the project. Remember to be specific in the title, be clear about your priorities, and try to separate larger projects into smaller, more workable ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Go the extra mile<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Providing as much information as possible, and consistently engaging with community partners, makes a big difference to the impact of projects on Match My Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What could you do to get the attention your projects need?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some ideas that have worked for Rachel in the past:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \u201cWe always try and contact the supplier directly, send photos of what’s going on, say <\/em>\u2018would you like to come visit the project?\u2019 \u2026 I don\u2019t have to do these things, but I chose to.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Little actions like contacting suppliers directly and sending them photographs can have a huge ripple effect. Fortune favours the bold!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    5. Go for It!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    As the old adage goes \u2026 if you don\u2019t ask, you don\u2019t get. Rachel puts it this way: \u201cAsk, because you just don\u2019t know. Somebody might give it to you<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Or, you\u2019ve got nothing to lose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    In Rachel\u2019s words: \u201cRealistically, I could spend 15 minutes writing a Match My Project request and get \u00a34000.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Insights on Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    At Match My Project we are dedicated to getting the best resources and opportunities into the communities that need them most. We are so inspired by community users like Rachel who are using Match My Project to make a real difference in the local community. Listen to our full conversation with Rachel here<\/a> \u2013 you\u2019ll come away with plenty of insight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can also watch some highlights of the conversation here<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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