School Fundraising Insights: A Recap of Greater Giving’s Infographic
We’re excited to share some fascinating insights from our recent survey on school fundraising. Greater Giving has been dedicated to supporting educational institutions in their fundraising efforts, and the data we’ve gathered showcases some noteworthy trends and challenges faced by schools across the nation.
» Download The School Fundraising Infographic in Printable PDF Layout.
The Power of Collaboration: Committees in Fundraising
One of the standout findings from our survey is that a whopping 83% of schools rely on committees to plan and execute their fundraising initiatives. This highlights the importance of teamwork and collaboration within the educational community. By working together, schools can pool their resources, expertise, and networks to create successful fundraising campaigns that benefit everyone involved.
Frequency Matters: How Often Schools Fundraise
We also discovered that most schools opt for a balanced approach to fundraising events, with the majority (more than 80%) hosting between 0-3 events per academic year. This suggests that schools are carefully considering the demands on their communities and ensuring that fundraising efforts do not overwhelm their students, parents, and staff. Quality over quantity seems to be the prevailing sentiment.
Engaging Alumni: A Winning Strategy
Another encouraging finding is that 83% of schools actively engage their alumni in fundraising efforts. Alumni can be a powerful resource, not only for financial support but also for providing valuable connections and insights. This statistic underscores the importance of nurturing relationships with former students to create a strong and enduring support network for schools.
Corporate Partnerships Pay Off
Corporate donation matching is a win-win strategy, and it’s heartening to see that 79% of schools are taking advantage of this opportunity. By collaborating with businesses willing to match employee donations, schools can significantly boost their fundraising efforts while fostering positive relationships within their communities.
Scholarship Support: A Generous Focus
A key highlight of our Q3 infographic is that 45% of the funds raised by schools are dedicated to scholarships. This demonstrates a commitment to providing educational opportunities to a diverse range of students, irrespective of their financial backgrounds. Scholarships play a vital role in making education accessible to all.
Challenges Faced by Schools
While schools are making commendable progress in their fundraising endeavors, they do face some common challenges. According to our data, the top three challenges reported by schools are:
Volunteers: The Backbone of Fundraising
Volunteers are the lifeblood of any successful fundraising campaign. Schools often find recruiting and retaining volunteers to be a significant challenge. However, with proper engagement and recognition, schools can motivate their volunteers to continue supporting their efforts enthusiastically.
Committee Recruitment: Building Strong Teams
As mentioned earlier, committees are instrumental in fundraising success, but assembling these teams can be a hurdle for many schools. Schools can address this challenge by actively seeking out enthusiastic members within their community. Providing their committee members the tools and resources needed will help them to thrive in their roles.
Donations: The Fuel for Fundraising
Lastly, securing donations remains a challenge for schools. While the desire to support education is strong, schools must continuously refine their fundraising strategies and communications to inspire donations from their community members.
Greater Giving is proud to present these insights from our Q3 Infographic on School Fundraising. As we move forward, it’s crucial for schools to leverage these findings to refine their fundraising strategies and overcome their challenges. By working together, engaging alumni, partnering with corporations, and prioritizing scholarships, schools can continue to make a meaningful impact on the education sector. We look forward to supporting your fundraising efforts in the coming months and beyond. Together, we can achieve even greater success in advancing education.
