PARTNERS
CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO INVEST IN DEVELOPMENT? Louise Bennett reviews the latest benchmarking report which shows schools’ development is thriving!
T
he IDPE and Gifted Philanthropy Schools’ Fundraising and Engagement Benchmarking Report 2023 demonstrates that despite the challenging economic climate, schools that have invested in development have been able to realise significant philanthropic support and provide exceptional opportunities for young people in education.
Philanthropic income is growing
In the two-year period under review (2021–23), £269,712,214 was received in gifts and pledges (including legacies and known legacy commitments) by 119 schools. The average philanthropic income per annum, per school, increased beyond pre-pandemic levels to £1,133,245, (up from £757,718 in 2018–21).
All schools can fundraise
What is particularly reassuring is that the benchmarking report once more demonstrates that all schools can fundraise. If we look at different types of school, co-educational independent schools continue to generate the greatest amount of income, whilst boys-only schools – where development has been established the longest – continue to raise the most on average per school. Girls schools, where development is often less established, continue to raise similar levels of income to the 2022 report, where we saw income rise by an average of 13% pa from 2018. The 2023 report shows that 71% of the development offices who reported 46 | schoolmanagementplus.com | Winter 2024
all schools can fundraise an increase in expenditure raised more money than they had previously.
Build a culture of giving
Successful fundraising relies on effective community engagement, bringing your alumni, parents and other key stakeholders with you on your development journey. The 2023 report once more confirms that the schools who are engaging more, raise more. An example of this is the campaign developed by the winners of the IDPE Fundraising Campaign of the Year Award (five years or less), Notting Hill and Ealing High School. With limited fundraising from parents previously,
the school decided to mark its 150th anniversary by introducing the ‘1% method’, inviting parents to agree to an additional 1% being automatically added to their monthly/termly school fees. This has not only created a way for busy parents of modest means to give to the school’s bursary programme, but it is also sustainable and inflationproof. Through effective stewardship, the school has already been able to identify mid-level donors to accelerate their fundraising objectives. It is these donors that ultimately will have the capacity to make a step-change to a development programme; as our benchmarking shows, the schools which generate the most income, focus on securing major gifts.
Don’t wait!
In spite of the headwinds facing the sector with potential VAT on fees and the cost-of-living crisis, the benchmarking report clearly shows that philanthropy in schools is growing year-on-year, and whilst fundraising does take time, all schools can generate income. Schools need to be reading IDPE’s latest benchmarking report and asking themselves, can they afford not to invest in development? ●
LOUISE BENNETT is Chief Executive of IDPE.
HMC and IDPE School Bursaries AND PARTNERSHIPS CONFERENCE At a time when the gap in educational attainment is widening between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers, the need to level the playing field is compelling. It is therefore unsurprising that fundraising for bursaries remains a key focus for the majority (82%) of independent schools. For Heads, bursars, governors, directors of development and directors of partnerships and community engagement, the HMC and IDPE School Bursaries and Partnerships Conference on Wednesday 31 January 2024 in BMA House, London, is designed to support you to establish and develop successful bursary and partnership programmes in your school. Find out more at idpe.org.uk.