The Institute of Fundraising has been awarded an Arts Council England grant of almost £432,000 to expand the work of its Cultural Sector Network, which supports fundraising in arts and culture organisations.

The funding of £431,832 will be awarded over a four-year period from April and will support a programme of training, mentoring and peer-to peer networking opportunities for arts and cultural fundraisers across England.

In a statement, the IoF said that arts and culture organisations played a vital role in communities and enriching people’s lives, but too many, especially those outside London, faced a daunting funding environment.

“By providing training and ongoing fundraising support, the network will help to ensure these important charities, groups and organisations are able to grow and flourish in the years to come,” the statement said.

The work funded by the grant will focus on linking fundraisers working for organisations based outside London, the statement said, to build up a national network.

The initiative will also help to connect cultural sector fundraisers with the IoF’s eight regional special interest groups and its black fundraisers and sole fundraisers special interest groups.

The IoF will also work in partnership with the Young Arts Fundraisers network on the project.

Martin Kaufman, chair of the IoF Cultural Sector Network, said: “This new funding from the Arts Council will make a huge difference to cultural organisations across England, many of which are struggling to find the funds they need.

“By greatly expanding the IoF’s Cultural Sector Network’s support to build fundraising skills and capacity, it will mean we will be able to support a highly diverse range of cultural organisations to raise the funds they need to continue and to grow their wonderful work across the country.”