Find me a fundraiser
‘Appointing someone for just a few hours a week to help
address the needs of the school could bring huge benefits. Prior experience is far less important than having a passion for the school’
charities. The majority of schools have charity exempt status, but if you need to quote a charity number then you could always ask your PTA to apply on your behalf, or set up a separate charitable arm registered with the Charity Commission (in England and Wales). ‘Fundraisers need to identify what grants are available and build a strong case for getting them,’ says Sharon Noble. ‘Timing is crucial – it’s all about forward planning.’ Howard Rose (profiled on previous page)
is director of funding and publicity at Balsall Common Primary School. He says developing relationships with both local and larger scale businesses (with CSR schemes) has brought huge rewards. ‘You have to get out there and talk to people to build your supporter base. It’s about far more than asking for money. If you tap into the “feelgood factor” of what can be achieved, you create a genuine emotional attachment to the school.’ Nikki Burch agrees, adding that strategic and streamlined communication with parents is vital. ‘Schools often ask for donations at the start of the school year, when parents are already paying out for uniform and books. This year, we put out an appeal request on Valentine’s Day and raised £850!’
‘Different schools will have different
priorities,’ says Nikki Burch, who recently took on the role of fundraiser at Imberhorne School – a comprehensive of 1,650 pupils in West Sussex. ‘That means the role can grow to deliver what is needed, and even to identify exciting opportunities that the school hasn’t previously considered. At Imberhorne, one of my first objectives is to secure grant funding for trips and courses to support pupil premium and other vulnerable students. I’m also looking at how to develop crowdfunding potential and make better use of passive income streams, such as online shopping donation platforms.’ While income from grants can be an important
source of funding for specific projects, some grant providers only target schools in deprived areas and others only support registered
18 SUMMER 2019 FundEd
From top: Sharon Noble receiving an award for Development Newcomer of the Year from the Institute of Development Professionals in Education; DT
equipment purchased for Chestnut Grove Academy using a £39,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation
How to find a fundraiser ‘Schools might feel that they should advertise to get the best professional fundraiser, but that’s not necessarily the case,’ says Howard Rose. ‘Primary schools, in particular, might struggle to pay upwards of £20,000 a year at the outset. But appointing someone for just a few hours a week to help address the needs of the school could bring huge benefits.’ Schools potentially have many individuals to
draw on – from school governors to parents or existing members of staff. A parent on the PTA could be ideal, particularly as a key part of the role is usually to manage links between the school and PTA. Parents with transferable skills (such as planning, networking and public speaking) could find part-time hours that allow them to organise work around their children very appealing. ‘Prior experience is far less important than having a passion for the school,’ says Howard. ‘This is not a nine-to-five job, but it is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.’
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