Statesıde H


Fundraising


Fundraising is a mainstream activity in US schools, where there is a tradition of philanthropy. Angela Jones looks at what we could learn from across the Atlantic


ollywood films like to portray American schools as full of intelligent and beautiful people, equipped


with the latest technology and modern facilities. Such schools are the envy of teachers around the globe – including those in the US! Because the reality is that, just as with schools in the UK, American schools have seen their budgets slashed. In the US, that figure is seven per cent over the past decade. So how do schools bridge this


financial chasm in order to deliver a high standard of education to their pupils? Well for one thing, American schools network very effectively. They plug into and ‘work’ their


36 AUTUMN 2020 FundEd


local communities, positioning themselves as central hubs for meeting, socialising and support. Schools also ‘beg’ at every


opportunity – it is completely acceptable to approach companies for support on a continuing basis. Businesses actually expect this, and many are geared up to making the most of the reputational brownie points they get from working with schools. So the giving is not all one-way. Indeed, much is made of the concept of partnership. American schools actively support


initiatives and programme in their community. They also fundraise for them – and pupils are at the heart of this. The purpose of this is to


connect children with their locality and help them develop a sense of social responsibility. British schools, of course, encourage pupils in similar ways to carry out community work and fundraising, but with American schools such relationships are expected and can be well- developed and long-standing. Moreover, everyone in the local


community – whether connected to the school or not – is invited to school events such as sporting fixtures and concerts. And many people come along, because the concerts are high-quality or because they enjoy supporting a local team. The example of one city primary


school is typically enterprising. Sharon Jacobs is the former principal of Washington Montessori School, a state primary of 277 pupils in the


‘It is completely acceptable to approach companies for


support on a continuing basis. Businesses actually expect


this, and much is made of the concept of partnership’


IMAGES: NNDANKO; MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM


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