In these videos Laura Greenfield details the stages you need to go through to successfully ask for donations and reach your fundraising targets. Cultivation: a process to help identify and look after prospects from initial contact through to making a gift. Stewardship: after people have made a gift it’s crucial that you thank and look ... Read more

This guide provides key points to consider when organising a donor cultivation or stewardship event. From identifying the objectives of the event and who to invite through to targetting your messaging, selecting the most appropriate event host and making the most of your organisation’s unique qualities. The guide includes a useful sample event timeline to help you plan ... Read more

The Rotterdam Philharmonic (RPhO) is a modern orchestra that has its roots deep in the classical music tradition and embodies the temperament of its home base, Rotterdam. This case study explores the ways in which the RPhO are planning to develop income generation from major gifts by strengthening integrated research. By introducing prospect mapping and tracking tools, the ... Read more

This AMA conference 2014 session led by Graeme Williamson, a freelance fundraising consultant who previously worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC),  discusses how to engage boards, trustees and executive teams to give input to and provide support for your fundraising strategy. Using his experience at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), where he worked with the board ... Read more

In this article, Charlotte Appleyard challenges the donor pyramid concept and considers the argument that persuading an individual giver to give your cause £10 is just as important and as hard as convincing a major donor to give you millions. Motivation for giving is the same whatever the amount and this article argues that any level of fundraising ... Read more

Storytelling is at the heart of successful fundraising. It is important that an organisation refines its ‘story’ or brand to effectively make its case for support. A clear identity is essential – for the organisation, for audiences old and new, and for donors and sponsors to fully engage with you. By establishing the identity of an organisation, ... Read more

HighTide Festival Theatre (HighTide) is one of the UK’s leading producers of new plays, and the only professional theatre focused on the production of new playwrights. They consider around 1,000 scripts a year from which they then work with 100 playwrights on a range of development opportunities, from workshops to full productions. Box office makes up ... Read more

Corporate fundraising is not easy. It takes patience and time to turn a corporate prospect into a long-term, sustainable partner. This guide by the NCVO explains how developing corporate partnerships takes preparation and the right approach. It involves making contact with the right people inside the company who can help and then making an excellent ‘sell’ on why ... Read more

This article by Catherine Holden, Director of External Relations at National Museums Scotland, reflects on the highs and lows of fundraising. Catherine argues that fundraising is not all that different from marketing. Instead of working towards a visit, or a ticket sale, you are working towards a gift.  If you are passionate about your cause then fundraising ... Read more

Britten Sinfonia is the UK’s flagship chamber orchestra. In 2010 the orchestra launched a nine-month campaign called ‘A Tenner for a Tenor’ with the aim to generate support for a commission from acclaimed British composer Jonathan Dove, for a chamber ensemble and solo tenor voice. It was the first time Britten Sinfonia had used a ... Read more

English National Opera (ENO) is a full time producing company with a world-class reputation for new, exciting and distinctive opera. In this case study ENO’s Development Director, Nicole Newman, describes how she has worked with ENO Trustees to increase their active involvement in fundraising, which has been instrumental in a 100% increase in fundraised income over ... Read more