Education & Youth

Widening access and improving the student experience are at the heart of today’s fundraising programmes that not only engage alumni, but the broader community.

The need to fundraise across the Education sector has never been greater. Parents rightly expect the best for their children, whether in the private or state sector, and yet budgets are constantly under pressure. At Gifted, we work with schools and other educational establishments in a number of different ways. We help them to plan and deliver ambitious capital fundraising campaigns for new facilities, bursary funds and outreach programmes. Often these are linked to an upcoming major anniversary and attract transformational philanthropic support.

We also conduct strategic reviews for schools whose traditional methods of fundraising have become stale or ineffective. Usually, as part of this process, we advise on how an alumni relationship programme can be improved so that more alumni can be considered as genuine fundraising prospects and not just names on a database.

For organisations setting out on their fundraising journey – particularly state schools and the new universities - we can advise on resources, policies and the appropriate fundraising methodologies. Many universities, schools and colleges have development plans covering major building work, teaching and learning space and bursary or scholarship funding. Those that have carefully tested their potential and developed realistic fundraising strategies have been able to achieve game-changing goals.

Further information

Client assignments
  • Aylesbury High School
  • Bede's School
  • British School at Rome
  • CARA/Universities UK
  • Coventry School Foundation
  • Chesham Grammar School
  • De Montfort University
  • Dr Challoner's Grammar School
  • Dr Frost Learning
  • Engineering Development Trust
  • Godolphin and Latymer School
  • Horris Hill School
  • King Edward VI Camphill School for Boys
  • Lancaster Royal Grammar School
  • Leeds Children's Charity
  • Lord Williams's School
  • Malvern St James Girls' School
  • Manchester High School for Girls
  • Mill Hill School
  • Pangbourne College
  • Putney High School
  • Richmond House School
  • Riverside School
  • Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
  • Solihull School
  • Stanford School
  • St Albans High School for Girls
  • St Mary's Calne
  • Stratford Upon Avon School
  • The King's School Macclesfield
  • The Royal Masonic School for Girls
  • The University of Hull
  • Wakefield Grammar School Foundation
  • Warwick Independent Schools' Foundation
  • Warwickshire College
  • Wellington School
  • Wimbledon High School for Girls
  • Youth Adventure Trust
Services list

Feasibility Studies
Campaign Management

Strategy Reviews and Development Audits
Periodic Consulting

Legacies
Communications

Education & Youth resources

Webinar Videos

Trust Foundation Report Insights

Fundraising Auctions

Charity Law: Your Questions Answered

Charity Media Appeals

To help you navigate what can sometimes feel like media madness, we have partnered with industry experts and devoted this webinar to making the most of public media appeals.

How Strong Is Your ESG Policy

Gifted Asking: Asking Well

Gifted Asking: Getting Ready To Ask

Winter Webinar Three: Getting Back To Asking

Winter Webinar Two: Grant Funding - The State Of Play

Winter Webinar One: Recovery And Reslience

Webinar Five: Planning Your Christmas Appeal

Webinar Four: Why Your Communications Strategy Is More Important Than Ever

What can we learn from outside our sector?

Webinar Three: Designing A Transformational Legacy Program

Webinar Two: Delivering A Capital Campaign

Webinar One: Planning For A Major Project

Insights Videos

Finding A Way Through Your Next Fundraising Challenge

Dippy On Tour - A Natural History Adventure

Newsletters

Update - Spring/Summer 2023

Read about the latest Gifted updates from Spring/Summer 2023.

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Update - Autumn/Winter 2022

Read about the latest Gifted updates from Autumn/Winter 2022.

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Update - Spring/Summer 2022

Read about the latest Gifted updates from Summer/Spring 2022.

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Update - Autumn/Winter 2021

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Update - Spring/Summer 2021

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Update - Autumn/Winter 2020

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Update - Spring/Summer 2020

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Update - Autumn/Winter 2019

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Update - Spring/Summer 2019

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Update - Autumn/Winter 2018

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Update - Spring/Summer 2018

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Update - Autumn/Winter 2017

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Update - Spring/Summer 2017

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Update - Autumn/Winter 2016

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Service Videos

Communication Services

Feasibility Studies

Campaign Management

Strategy Reviews and Development Audits

Periodic Consulting

Legacy Giving Programmes

Surveys

The Fundraising Landscape - Survey Results

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Guides

How To Appoint A Fundraising Consultancy

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The National Lottery Heritage Fund

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Conducting A Feasbility Study

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Your Guide to Communications Audit and Strategy

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"A £48m ambition to build a brand new school was daunting enough, but to fundraise for a further £2.5m when our team had never mounted a capital campaign, was a challenge we clearly needed professional help to meet. Gifted have been there every step of the way as a trusted partner providing a tailored service that has enabled us to secure gifts at a level we never thought possible. Gifted's no-nonsense fundraising advice and practical day-to-day professional support has been pivotal to our philanthropic success."
Hayden Abbot, Head Teacher, Kenilworth School

"We’ve been working with Gifted since the inception of our fundraising campaign here at WGSF. Following a feasibility study in 2018, Amy has supported us with ad hoc consulting as we’ve progressed our fundraising programmes. It has been so helpful to have that ‘critical friend’ to meet with or have at the end of the phone, when you need advice, support or guidance."
Cath Worsley, Director of Development, Wakefield Grammar School Foundation

"Andrew Day has been a source of wise counsel and support for our fundraising campaigns at Warwick School, over a number of years. He has given valued strategic oversight and practical guidance throughout and has a huge wealth of experience and understanding of the nuances of fundraising in different environments. Andrew has also given advice and support to the day-to-day operations of the Development Office. Importantly, he has acted as a voice of authority and assurance to our Headmaster and governors that we are 'doing the right things'"
Phillip Rothwell, Director of Development, Warwick Independent Schools Foundation, Deputy Chair IDPE

"Working closely with Gifted has enabled us to understand how fundraising can work in a school like ours. Chris Goldie has guided Bede’s through our journey, from an initial feasibility study to setting up a development office and into our first campaign, which is now up and running successfully."
Charlotte Sutton, Head of Development and Alumni Relations, Bede's School