School Fundraising Handbook

How to maximise your income from grants, sponsorship and many other sources of finance

Lindsey Marsh

• Publisher: Crown House Publishing
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781785834264
• eBook ISBN: 9781785834707
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education General

Written by Lindsey Marsh, The School Fundraising Handbook: How to maximise your income from grants, sponsorship and many other sources of finance is a carefully compiled treasury of tips, tools and key contacts to help schools in the UK save money, boost their income and manage their fundraising projects.

It's exciting to know that there are hundreds of grants available to schools whether they're for funds needed to raise attainment levels, purchase new equipment, run school clubs or improve buildings and outdoor spaces and these grants can range from a few pounds to thousands of pounds! Plus, in addition to financial grants, there are also lots of other means of support out there too, such as business sponsorship and employee volunteers.

The School Fundraising Handbook aims to help schools become better informed about such opportunities, and to raise awareness of all the wonderful charities and organisations that are willing to support schools and other educational establishments such as nurseries, colleges, special schools and pupil referral units.

Covering grants, crowdfunding, event planning, recycling schemes, corporate support and much more, this indispensable guide throws schools a lifeline by revealing the abundance of fundraising streams available to them and sharing shrewd advice on how to coordinate specific projects and initiatives successfully.

Lindsey also uses her fundraising expertise to guide readers through the grant application process from start to finish, so that even the most inexperienced fundraiser can feel confident about seeing their projects through to fruition. Furthermore, she offers ideas and insights on how to fundraise through wider community involvement, reach out to business links and benefit from various other opportunities available to schools (e.g. hire schemes, guest speakers, free gifts and free site visits).

An invaluable resource for school leaders, school business managers and anyone involved in fundraising in the education sector.

Part I

Applying for Grants

Chapter 1

Introduction to grants

There are lots of grants available to schools. Grants are non-repayable sums of money, so they do not have to be paid back. They are usually a form of restricted funding, which means that the money must be used for the specific purpose for which it was donated. Grants can be awarded for a range of purposes – for example:

Promote sports activities and exercise.

Buy equipment such as computers and photocopiers.

Install energy efficient technologies like photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.

Buy resources to help young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Improve the school building and grounds.

Support staff with professional development opportunities.

Enhance the teaching of specific subjects such as maths, English and science.

A range of different grants are available. Here are some key terms you are likely to come across:

Capital grants: These are awarded to help recipients purchase tangible goods which become assets, such as vehicles and buildings.

Project cost grants: These are given to help cover the cost of running a specific project. This may include staff salaries, equipment and a small percentage towards any direct overheads.

Revenue grants: These are awarded to help cover the costs of key outgoings, such as rent, rates and utilities (these are sometimes referred to as ‘core costs’).

In-kind support: This is a non-cash contribution to a project, which might include materials and services, consultancy, the use of company facilities and product donations.

Match funding: This refers to funds that are awarded to equal the amount raised by another source or activity. The value of in-kind contributions is often accepted as match funding too.

Grants can be given by individuals or organisations such as charities, businesses and local councils.

Charitable trusts and foundations are non-profit organisations which give voluntary help to those in need. Schools can usually apply for support from both national and regional charities, including local educational trusts. The help on offer varies, but may include monetary grants and donations of goods or time. As well as donating gifts, many charities also aim to raise awareness of the causes they care about and the difference they are making.

There are over 168,000 charities in England and Wales alone, donating approximately £30 billion annually.1 Charities derive their income from a variety of sources, including legacies, shares, fundraising events, Gift Aid donations, payroll giving, charity shop sales and so on. Some charities also distribute and administer funds on behalf of others. Most charities are run by a dedicated team of employees, alongside volunteers who give up their time to help others. Each charity is overseen by a board of trustees which works in accordance with a governing document. This is a legal document which sets out the charity’s objective or purpose and how it will be administered. Most charities are...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Contents
• Part I: Applying for Grants
• Part II: Fundraising for Specific School Projects
• Part III: Additional Information
• Conclusion
• Copyright