Devising an effective fundraising strategy

Some of those who work in education are surprised to learn that every year there are billions of pounds in additional income available to schools. I have spent the last 25 years working as part of school leadership teams, and in a consultancy or training role, helping thousands of schools throughout the country access external funds. Over this time I have learnt that primary schools fall into two categories when it comes to their fundraising activities: they are either one of the “haves” or the “have nots”.

The “haves” manage to secure hundreds of thousands of pounds (or more) each year in external income, tapping into high-profile funding schemes and making a real difference to the children in their schools through high-profile new facilities, resources or provision. They are often in the news, making headlines about their successful projects.