1. Fundraising in schools has become a necessity, but where do you start? Join FundEd,
the school fundraising association, for expert guidance, inspiration from other schools,
and the templates and tools needed to be a confident and successful fundraiser
membership benefits
1FundEd Magazine
FundEd Magazine is published three times
a year. Each glossy, 68-page issue features
advice from fundraising experts, procurement
specialists, teachers, school leaders and PTA Chairs.
Case studies of previously-funded projects provide
an insight into the opportunities available and
methods that work. Advice spans grants and events,
as well as crowdfunding, working with business
partners, and procurement. Each issue also features
grants that are currently open for applications and
free-to-enter prize draws.
2PTA+ Magazine
PTA+ Magazine is
published three
times a year and features
seasonal fundraising
ideas. The focus is on
day-to-day fundraising
events for pupils, adults,
families and the wider
community, covering
everything from bake
sales to a music festival.
3Grant-funding
advice
Bid-writing experts
and school fundraising
advisors share their
advice for maximising
your funding potential.
Drawing on a wealth of
experience, they explain
what checks to make, how to avoid the
most common pitfalls and how to make
your projects stand out...
4Grants database
The FundEd grants
database features
over £1.6m-worth of funds
from trusts and foundations
that welcome applications
from schools. Search by
curriculum area or location
to find local and national
grants and benchmark your project against those
that have previously been awarded funding.
‘Build relationships with
grant givers – some like
to speak to prospective
applicants about their
project. They may give you
initial feedback on your
ideas before you begin
the application process.’
Rachel Gordon, The
School Funding Service
5Training seminars
From autumn 2016 a team of experts will be
running a series of webinars on topics such
as ‘writing a fundraising strategy’, ‘bid-writing for
success’ and ‘building relationships with business
partners’. Regional seminars will follow in 2017.

2. ‘Getting money is great, but if
that’s all you aim to do, you’re
missing out! Build a relationship
between your school and local
businesses and you will be
surprised how, over time, the
job gets easier and the
rewards become greater.’
Howard Rose, Funding and
Publicity Manager, Balsall
Common Primary, Solihull
Join us: Membership costs £225 for one year or £450 for three
years (ex VAT). For more information on joining FundEd, get in touch:
*ONLY THE USUAL DEBIT/CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION FEES APPLY.)
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Email: info@funded.org.uk | Call: 01342 718679 | Visit: funded.org.uk
About FundEd
FundEd is dedicated to supporting all those involved in fundraising
and income generation in UK schools. FundEd brings together
Headteachers, School Business Managers, Governors, teaching staff,
PTA Chairs, fundraising professionals, philanthropists and business
leaders, to share ideas and inspire solutions to the funding crisis
facing schools. FundEd is a sustainable programme which aims to
train and galvanise both experienced fundraisers and those who are
new to the role. We do this by sharing best practice through case
studies and expert advice, providing a library of high-quality guides
and templates, backed up with technology solutions that enable
funding to be sought quickly and efficiently.
6Knowledge bank
FundEd aims to save you time and effort by
providing in-depth step-by-step guidance on
everything from event-planning to crowdfunding.
Across FundEd and PTA+ we currently have over
20 event-planning guides – from running a silent
auction to a circus or car boot sale (outlining all the
legal considerations involved). The knowledge bank
also enables school leaders to share or download
templates, letters, and other documents, in addition
to accessing guides from our experts, such as
handbooks and strategy templates.
8Funding alerts
Half-termly e-bulletins provide
information on the latest
grants available, seasonal fundraising
ideas, training opportunities, special
offers, and free resources available
through competitions and prize draws.
7CrowdFundEd
CrowdFundEd
is a bespoke
crowdfunding tool tailored
to the requirements of
schools. Supporters follow
your school, not a single
project, meaning that when one project ends,
your network doesn’t vanish – instead, they will
be alerted when your next campaign launches.
CrowdFundEd allows you to seek support from local
businesses with a ‘soft’ approach. A dedicated
space for a business sponsor’s logo enables you to
generate additional revenue in return for visibility.
9Community hub
Don’t spend time
mulling over what to
do or how to do it – seek
advice from your peers!
Join our closed LinkedIn
and Facebook groups where
you can get immediate answers
to specific questions, share the wisdom of your
experiences and upload and download templates.10Partnerships guidance
Building long-lasting relationships with
local businesses can benefit your school
far beyond financial sponsorship: work-related
learning, skills share, free services... But where do
you start, and what can
you offer in return?
Our panel of experts
share their inside
knowledge – from
identifying potential
partners to setting up
networking events or
educational workshops.
1
What’s your goal? Identify your school’s focus areas
and prioritise your immediate needs. Be specific
about what you want to achieve and by when. If you’re
working towards funding a specific item, what is the total
cost and will there be any ongoing maintenance fees?
Can the project be broken down into stages? Agree a
contingency should you fall short or exceed your target.
2
Who can help you achieve your goal? Your workforce
should consist of your leadership team, plus any
additional volunteers you can muster. Work out who can
do what, how much time they have available, and what
specific skills or expertise they can offer. If you have a
PTA, communicate your plans and get them on board.
Leverage your assets – for example, if a member of staff
is in a band, a musical festival may be a feasible event.
3
Set a timeframe. Some goals will be long-term, like
building a new playground, while others may be
more immediate. Draw up a schedule, working backwards
from your optimum end date. Input grant application
deadlines and allocate at least an hour per week to
compile supporting documentation and complete bid
paperwork. Check school calendars to avoid clashes
with existing commitments, while exploring the option
to piggyback activities that are already planned, i.e.
by running a silent auction at the carol concert or a
sponsored read-a-thon for World Book Day.
4
Brainstorm fundraising ideas. How you fundraise
will depend on the level of funding required and the
timeframe involved. Many grant-giving trusts will want
to see evidence that you are already actively trying to
raise funds yourself. Break down your total target into
smaller, more manageable chunks as this helps spread
your risk and – if you can delegate different initiatives to
others – your workload! Consider grants, crowdfunding,
special events such as quiz nights, sponsored activities,
corporate sponsorship and ongoing, passive sources
of income such as shopping affiliate schemes. Put a
monetary target against each activity to track how it
will contribute to your goal. Refer to funded.org.uk and
pta.co.uk for fundraising ideas, advice and guidance on
running successful events and boosting profits.
Planning a fundraising strategy
step-by-step:
Congratulations on becoming a FundEd subscriber! Whether you’re a fundraising pro
or a complete novice, these tips should help determine your plan of action. Good luck!
5
What resources are needed to help you achieve
your goals? If time and skills are in short supply, then
consider employing the services of a bid-writing expert,
or investing in a part-time member of staff on a trial basis
with a view that they cover their costs. Speak to your
local Council for Voluntary Services or District Council
as they often have information on local grants, regular
networking events or upcoming fundraising workshops.
Cut costs by making the most of existing assets, like
school facilities or equipment. See if you are able to
borrow items from other schools or community groups –
you might be surprised to find what people will contribute
in support of your cause, so don’t be afraid to ask!
6
Consider your support base for donations,
sponsorship or attendees at fundraising events –
are you tapping up the same audience time and again
and what level of support are they likely to be able to
offer? Aim to engage existing supporters, but also seek
ways to reach new ones. Think about who else may want
to see your project succeed, such as local companies
or sole traders working in a relevant interest area to
your project. For example, a local catering company or
hotel may be interested in a project to fund cookery
equipment at your school, while a local engineering firm
might be keen to support a new DT facility.
7
Create a marketing schedule and communicate your
plans as far in advance as possible so supporters
can factor this into their diaries and budgets. Explain
what you are raising funds for and the impact that
contributions will have. Consider breaking down the cost
of your project to show supporters how their donation
will make a difference, e.g. ‘A £100 donation will help
us purchase X number of books for our new library.’
Remember to schedule regular updates and progress
reports for all supporters.
8
Create a buzz! Promote your fundraising initiatives
on social media, your school website and in
newsletters, with a call-to-action, i.e. a link to your
crowdfunding page or how to buy tickets to an event.
Give deadlines if possible so people will be encouraged
to donate quickly. Follow up with reminders.
Community Inspired Ltd cannot be held responsible for any decisions or actions taken by a school or it’s agent, based on the guidance provided.
For ideas and advice on securing funding, visit funded.org.uk
Fundraising
Strategy
Key
message
(Why?)
Purpose
Goals
Target
£x,xxx
Outcome
drivers
(How?)
Revenue
Costs
Support
base
(Who?)
Existing
supporters
New
supporters
Action
Fundraising
activity
Communication
plan
Resources
(What
do
we
need?)
People
Knowledge
A silent auction enables you to be much more creative
with prizes and offers far greater profit potential…
1Once you know the date of your event you can start requesting
auction prize donations via email, phone or face-to-face.
Let companies know what sort of prizes you are after and what
coverage they can expect in return. If you are fundraising towards
a specific goal, include details. Invite parents to contribute auction
prizes, too. Aim for a minimum of 10 high-quality prizes.
2Chase up companies that haven’t yet responded and keep
records detailing those who have agreed to support you, what
prizes they have offered, as well as those who turned down your
request and why. Start drumming up excitement by announcing
prizes on social media. Display the list on the school noticeboard for
everyone to see and send out a letter to parents with a reply slip for
those who are unable to attend the event but want to place bids.
3Prepare your bidding sheets to include a description of the
prize and the value, with spaces for names, numbers and the
amounts bid. Think about your display - if you only have a small
number of items, and it’s an informal event, attach bidding sheets
to a board, or you may want to place the items themselves or
photographs on a table with the bidding sheets on clipboards.
4Set up your auction display – include a set of terms next to your
bidding sheets (see right). Make sure you have plenty of pens!
Five minutes before the end, announce that your auction is about to
close. Once the auction ends, collect in bid sheets and announce
your winners – some may already have left, so call them to arrange
collection of prizes and payment. Explain that prizes need to be
collected and paid for within a certain timeframe. Where the bid is a
service (i.e. singing lessons) stipulate appropriate ‘use-by’ dates.
5There may be things that, for whatever reason, did not receive
any bids or did not reach the reserve – keep a note of these
and let the donors know. Some people may change their mind
about their bid, so you may need to call the next person on the
sheet. Thank all bidders and cultivate your donors by sending thank
you letters detailing how much the event raised and how this has
contributed towards your fundraising goal.
The above is intended as guidance only. We recommend that you contact the relevant organisations with specific reference to insurance, legal, health and safety and child
protection requirements. Community Inspired Ltd cannot be held responsible for any decisions or actions taken by a fundraising organisation, based on the guidance provided.
Step-by-step: Silent auction
Tips and advice
Legalities: There are no licensing
requirements for a silent auction,
however you will need to consider the
Sale of Goods Act when providing
descriptions and stating the value of
each item. Parents are providing their
names and contact details voluntarily,
but these should be destroyed at the
end of your event. If your supporters
would prefer to remain anonymous,
invite anyone who wants to bid to
register for a unique number. That
way all they have to do is write
down their bidder number and the
amount against the lots. You can then
reconcile winners and award prizes.
Be organised: Get requests for
prizes sent out early. Track auction
items, set up bid sheets, have thank
you letters ready to send to donors,
and be firm with deadlines. Keep
detailed notes for future reference:
how much did each prize raise; which
prizes received the most bids, etc.
State your terms: Explain that
winning bids need to be collected and
paid for within a certain timeframe,
and that it is for winners to arrange
collection. If two people bid the same
amount, invite them to submit a
sealed bid on a piece of paper – the
highest bid wins. Where appropriate,
include ‘use-by’ dates. Display your
terms next to your bidding sheets.
Download templates: We have a
sample donation request letter, a letter
to parents and a bidding sheet. Go to
pta.co.uk/boost-profits.
Great for: ADuLTS Fun factor: ★★★★★ Effort: ★★★★★ £ potential: £££££
For more ideas and advice, visit pta.co.uk
This guide is provided by