How can I create myself a job?

[Cailleachian]

I took vol. redundancy in 2012 from a professional position to get a better work-life balance. Initially I took on consultancy work, but deliberately scaled it back to concentrate on family issues.

In the last 6 years, I've kindof slid off the "professional radar". My last proper consultancy project was in 2016, and I've mainly been surviving through freelance work. But the competitiveness of freelance means that the rate of pay is very poor.

I've known for a while now that this manner of working was unsustainable, and that I would have to go back to proper employment at some point, but I have been trying to fend it off until my youngest starts secondary school in August, but Xmas is going to wipe out the last of my savings and the situation is becoming urgent.

A local charity is holding an event soon in a field in which I've done quite a bit of commissioned freelance writing for out of personal interest. But none of these pieces have my "byline" or anything like it, and there is no real record of my work in this area. I had a quick chat with some of the people in the charity and it turns out that this event is designed to kick off a new project in this (rather niche) area.

I would love to work for this project, I'd be prepared to work voluntarily, but I also really need an income. I am quite skilled at finding and completing grant applications (another freelance skill) and I can already see 2 or 3 funding sources if the existing funding doesn't cover staffing and I'd be happy to raise the funding for my own salary.

I've never worked in the third sector. Is " finding funding for your own salary" a thing, or would I just come across as a CF?