Raising Funds for Your School
Nick Ryan,
2017
- Print ISBN: 9781908595362
- PDF ISBN: 9781908595379
- Pages: 176
Raising Funds for Your School is a comprehensive yet practical manual designed to help all schools, no matter what level of fundraising they are engaged in or how much past experience they may have, to raise their game and maximise their fundraising returns from the resources available to them.
Directed mainly at head teachers, school business managers and other staff, as well as at parents and volunteers wishing to raise significant support, the guide begins with the preliminary, essential, requirements for building a successful fundraising programme - assessment of the available resources, establishment of a fundraising ‘culture’ and an agreement on priority needs – before turning to an overview of the different options for raising support. Different sources of funding are analysed in detail, with guidance given on how to access them, and how, when and by whom approaches should be made to funders.
Central to the book is a ‘how to’ compendium of 15 different fundraising opportunities and methods – from major donor, trust and statutory and company fundraising, through sponsorship, recycling and text giving to legacies and cause related marketing, each of which is described clearly and practically. Some users will treat this central section as a stand-alone treasure chest of ideas.
While readily accessible, Raising Funds for Your School is informed by advanced fundraising theory and such topics as donor motivations, the art of persuasion, and the management of fundraising when things don’t go quite to plan are all clearly described. Establishing and communicating a clear Case for Support and nurturing and cultivating donors and supporters over the long term are seen as absolute essentials, no matter how small or large the financial need. The book is completed by a Resources section signposting useful websites and literature.
Raising Funds for Your School shows that well-planned fundraising can offer many benefits to the school other than the purely financial. The chance for staff and pupils alike to develop a plethora of new skills and an increased level of engagement, and the opportunity to integrate the school more closely with its community, are all added bonuses.
Above all, at a time when the vast majority of schools are having to make cuts because their funding situation is ‘critical’ or ‘very serious’, this book will provide teachers, governors, parents and other school supporters with a practical toolkit to develop and expand an additional income stream and harness wide-ranging support.
Reviews
'Essential'
Nick Ryan has made it possible for all schools to access an essential funding source - fundraising! An easy guide to increasing funds for your school.’ Elisabeth Anderson, Former IDPE Chairman, Director of Development, Bryanston School
'Helpful and clear'
‘This was hugely helpful and clear. I look forward to reading it again!’ Claire Ashworth, Professional School Fundraiser
'Accessible and stimulating'
‘This book will provide readers with the information needed to raise those transformational amounts of funding. Indeed, it covers all elements necessary for a school to create a complete fundraising strategy. While broad-ranging and detailed in its coverage of fundraising methods, its easy, non-technical approach will make it an accessible and stimulating manual even for those entirely new to this field. I commend it warmly to all schools.’ Richard Foley, Clerk and Chief Executive, Sir John Cass’s Foundation, The Education Charity for London
'Invaluable'
‘In my experience there is simply no substitute for expert guidance when it comes to effective fundraising. I wholeheartedly recommend Raising Funds for your School as an invaluable source of practical advice from someone who really knows his subject.’ Steve Acklam CCMI, CMgr, FRSA, Chair, The Funding Exchange
About the author
Nick Ryan
Nick Ryan is a development professional with a broad range of fundraising experience in both the charity and education sectors, having raised tens of millions of pounds of non-statutory funds and hundreds of millions of pounds of statutory income for good causes.
The founder and director of organisational development consultancy Vantage Fundraising, Nick was also instrumental in founding Schools Funding Network, which enabled educational establishments to fundraise for any project, large or small, and to interact with major donors, charitable trusts, foundations, parents and other potential funders.
Nick lives in North London with his wife, Meg, and two children, Ben and Lucy. When not helping organisations to grow and raise funds, he can often be found running in his local Park Run or cultivating his allotment, both for food and as a haven for wildlife. His long-term aim is to be able to speak a number of languages very well, rather than several very badly.