Catalyst Cymru celebrate extraordinary evaluation

Heritage organisations in Wales including museums, libraries,
conservation charities and sustainable woodlands, are better
managed and have become ‘more resilient in the changing and
challenging fundraising environment’ thanks to Catalyst Cymru’s
four-year heritage fundraising project.

Key findings from an independent end-of-project evaluation
showed:

• 44% of organisations noted immediate sustained
  or increased income as a result of Catalyst training
• 85% expected sustained or increased income
  from private sources in the next 12 months 

‘Most of our existing income streams have increased…’

The Snowdonia Society received support from Catalyst in the form
of three courses; ‘Building a Fundraising Team’, ‘Developing a
Fundraising Strategy’, and ‘Introduction to storytelling’. Several
members of staff attended courses, and a bespoke session was
developed for trustees.

‘We’ve strengthened the processes that we use,’ explained
Director, John Harold. ‘Most of our existing income streams have
increased. Some have increased dramatically.’

‘Looking back over four years, when I started the organisation
was in a period of quite serious austerity – cutting costs. We were
very, very risk averse. We’ve moved over those four years, with the
help of the work we’ve done on fundraising, to investing in
developing the capacity and strengthening the organisation. That
was definitely as a result in part of Catalyst.’ 

Delegates attend a Catalyst training session

A Catalyst for culture change

Catalyst Cymru, which began in April 2014 and comes to an end in
July 2018, has supported 1,700 participants from 980 Welsh heritage
organisations to develop their fundraising capacity, become more
financially sustainable and increase the confidence, competency and
effectiveness of staff, volunteers and trustees.

Richard Roberts, Catalyst Cymru – Heritage Fundraising Project
Manager said, ‘As a consequence of our little project, heritage
organisations are showing sustained, diversified and increased
income streams, and have become more resilient. This culture change
within Welsh heritage organisations has led to greater financial
sustainability and better management of Wales’s precious
heritage.

‘The project has achieved great things, but with 87% of survey
respondents stating they need further support in adapting to a
challenging funding environment, we know that the type of support
Catalyst can give must remain a priority for the Welsh heritage
sector.

‘WCVA will be pursuing options and advocating for the
continuation of Catalyst, and in the mean time we’d encourage
organisations to get in touch with us to be kept up-to-date if and
when that support does become available again.’

The independent evaluation of Catalyst Cymru was carried
out by Wavehill
Research.