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Finding sustainable ways to generate income will soon become part of every school’s future. But how do you get to your destination without getting diverted, and where do you start? By Claire Haffenden


CREATE A FUNDRAISING ROADMAP


W


ith many schools facing the tightest budgets to date, it’s time to up the ante when it comes to


fundraising. Whether you’re an experienced fundraiser looking to explore new opportunities, or you’re a total novice wondering what you’ve let yourself in for, creating a strategy is the rst vital step! A fundraising action plan, shared


with all stakeholders, gives structure and focus to your fundraising activity and should prevent your plans from being derailed. It doesn’t need to be pages long, but should be a live document; something that is regularly reviewed and has space to evolve as needs change. Your fundraising strategy should


not be created in isolation, but by your entire SLT, ideally in consultation with staff across the school. It should also be developed to run alongside the main School Improvement Plan.


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Where are you heading? Think about your short-, medium- and long-term needs. Including future plans means you can exploit opportunities as they arise, for example, as new relationships are forged you can begin sowing the seeds for your next project. Not all wishes come true, so


some of these items may have to slip off the list. Prioritise those that are most important and apply the SMART (Specic, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) approach to identify those with the highest chances of success. Read the Planning a Fundraising


Strategy feature from the spring issue (available at funded.org.uk).


Who might share your journey? Who are you going to approach for funding and how? Think rst about the options. Try not to rely


on the tried and tested methods, and the group of supporters, that your school has been using to date – instead, be open-minded about new audiences. Consider: Individuals – local celebrities, dignitaries, your alumni, parents, or someone who works in the sector into which the project you are fundraising towards falls, eg, a local scientist or musician Companies – think locally, then look further aeld. Remember, large companies get multiple requests from charities, so keep your company choices targeted around interest areas Grants – consider local Trusts, government funds, Lottery and EU grants. Use the FundEd database to nd grants catering specically to the school sector. Whilst considering who you will


approach, think also about how they can help you to raise money. Your location is important – your school may be in an afuent area with celebrities on your doorstep, or at the opposite end of the scale, where there is no possibility of raising funds from individuals. Adjust your plan to suit the supporters you are hoping to attract.


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