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YOUR AUDIT CHECKLIST Fundraising plan


Identify your fundraising priorities for the year and put together a wish list of resources and projects.


People


Review how you attract and retain supporters – and what works well. Develop ways for people to help. Keep an up-to-date database of go-to people and their skills, expertise and interests.


Assets


Review the effectiveness of your lettings policy by looking at effort versus income. Explore how to generate more bookings. Consider working with external lettings platforms to manage lettings in a more cost- and time-effective way.


Grants


Keep an up-to-date database of grants your school is eligible for, as well as additional funding that supporters and staff (teachers, PTAs or external partners) can access. Monitor deadlines, and keep a record of applications and outcomes. Identify what you can do to improve outcomes.


Resources


Keep an up-to-date inventory of school resources you can use for fundraising. Add to this a list of free resources you can borrow. Research recycling fundraising opportunities and promote these schemes.


Events and activities


Assess the success of your fundraising activities over the year (using effort versus income) and look over event evaluations to identify areas for improvement.


Opportunities for giving


Actively promote a variety of fundraising streams, such as online affiliate schemes, crowdfunding and in-school fundraising. Identify new ways to increase income, such as eBay for Charity.


Wider partnerships


Network with local businesses and reach out to groups and individuals in the community. Invite them to support your project (through sponsorship, employee volunteering, payroll giving, grants, in-kind support, raffles, etc.)


Benchmarking


Review all the ways you can save money and resources. Do a workload audit to identify ways to help you save time. Look at the government’s schools financial benchmarking service. Use this fundraising audit to compare your activities to that of other schools. Identify new ideas and approaches that could improve your success.


4 Grant funding


Schools can apply for all sorts of grants for therapeutic services, literacy, arts and sports, as well as for extended services such as breakfast and after-school clubs, and specialist support (see the grants database on Funded.org.uk). Going forward: n Work with your PTA or Friends’ group to develop a database of emerging opportunities your school may be eligible for, including application dates. If your school or PTA is a registered


22 AUTUMN 2020 FundEd


Going forward: n Map out which stakeholder groups you can match with particular types of fundraising.If you create a range of opportunities (volunteering, supporting events, nominating your cause, networking on your behalf, and so on) you will appeal to a wider range of interests. Start by talking to people and making connections. n Develop a database of go-to helpers, skills and expertise. Look out for individuals with a passion for making things happen and those with specialist skills, such as bid-writing, PR or design. The key to successful fundraising is to capitalise on opportunities and think in enterprising ways. If fundraising is not your core role or your forte, consider bringing on board a part-time or volunteer coordinator. Stay aware of the latest rules and regulations on data collection.


3 Assess your assets Review whether you have explored all the options for letting your school facilities, building and grounds. Depending on your school and location, you may be able to generate revenue from your hall, sports facilities, drama studio, school field or car park. External companies, such as Bookings Plus (bookingsplus.co.uk), can save you time and money by managing all aspects of lettings.


charity, and if you have a large number of students who are disadvantaged, you will be able to apply for more grants. Ensure that you have key data – such as pupil premium and FSM – at your fingertips. (See page 48 for a review of the current grants landscape). n Research opportunities for students, parents, teachers and other organisations to apply for grants to help fund work in schools. For example, the Let Teacher’s SHINE competition: shinetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/ let-teachers-shine/.


5 Review your resources Create and regularly update an inventory of school resources that could be used to fundraise. Include items such as books, arts and crafts materials, digital and theatre equipment, gardening tools and produce, and unclaimed items from lost property. Identify whether you could: n use items for events n sell any items you don’t need n hire out equipment Going forward: n Add to your inventory resources your school could potentially access at no cost. Include equipment and facilities your PTA, local council, other schools, charities and businesses have to offer, such as bicycles you could hire for sponsored events, or venues such as a trampoline park. n Research the potential to raise money from old or used resources. For instance, you can recycle old printer ink cartridges and toners with Empties Please (emptiesplease.com) and receive cash for used postage stamps and cameras from Recycling for Good Causes (recyclingforgoodcauses. org). Consider setting up a recycling bank with TerraCycle (terracycle.co.uk), which specialises in recycling the ‘non-recyclable’.


‘The key to successful fundraising is to capitalise on opportunities and think


in enterprising ways. Consider bringing on board a part-time or volunteer coordinator’


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