Fundraising: Using your school site

My studies of successful schools have shown that those which secure the largest amounts of additional funds exploit the full range of different opportunities open to them. Mindful of this fact, I am still surprised by how many schools rely on a much narrower range of income sources, often leaving funding avenues which could potentially yield much income largely under-exploited.

In this article I will be focusing on one such under-exploited funding source, which is quite literally staring school leaders in the face as they patrol around their premises: the use of buildings and grounds to generate income.

Funds raised through the use of buildings and grounds are particularly useful to schools because they are unrestricted – meaning they are not bound by the spending rules of such sources as grant-making trusts and the National Lottery. This can be incredibly useful in situations where you need to find the funds for a new member of staff, or simply buy on-going resources. Such funds are also invaluable because they can often be accessed on a planned and predictable basis, allowing schools to address priorities in a strategic way.