An effective audit can be the starting point of creating a successful fundraising campaign or strategy. In these training videos, Wendy Smithers provides a detailed guide to carrying out a fundraising audit.

This article discusses how a full fundraising audit can help an organisation to align its fundraising activity with its goals and aspirations and put in place the right organisational structure to support fund development, and build a sustainable financial model. The article highlights the key areas for evaluation and issues to be considered when undertaking a ... Read more

This detailed guide provides an eight step process to carrying out a fundraising audit and includes a useful summary of the process.

Case studies and research undertaken since the 1980s have shown that price is not the most significant barrier to arts attendance and suggests that there is scope for price increases. This article on Welsh National Opera’s experience found that for current opera-goers, a decrease in price could encourage more attendances and actually increase revenue.

An article addressing how to harmonise price and demand at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. By increasing the prices for a consistently sold out, fast selling section of the auditorium for its first time musical, the organisation was able to take advantage of the stronger demand for certain nights and certain seats to maximise their revenue and still offer ... Read more

Subscription schemes are used by major American institutions to sell theatre tickets in bulk. These schemes often act as a starting point for increasing customer loyalty – by encouraging customers to attend more frequently, it is hoped that they will eventually become a friend or a donor. Consultant Debbie Richards explains the benefits of this ... Read more

Useful for anyone creating a marketing or audience development strategy, this one-page guide visually outlines the steps to take during a digital marketing audit.

The word audit can be scary, but with this handy guide to a Gift Aid audit, you can make sure you’re prepared should the need arise.

Marketers need to understand the current economic, political, technological and social environment that affects their audiences’ behaviour and consumption. This article describes the impact that polarization is having on audiences, how it is affecting organisations and what marketers can do to exploit current trends. The author argues that organisations need to tailor their marketing mix ... Read more

February 2015: New guidance on Data Protection is coming soon and information here will be updated as soon as possible A guide to collecting valuable audience information in ticketed organisations from box office data and desk research.

Carry out a marketing audit with this practical worksheet designed for use with the Thinking Big! resource. Review the current (and past) state of your organisation’s marketing and examine facts, figures and perceptions to answer a number of basic questions.

Create a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis as part of your marketing audit with this practical worksheet designed for use with the Thinking BIG! resource.