Latest Blog Posts

Fundraising doesn’t have to be deadly serious. In this lighthearted blog two talented NAFS alumni — one now a programme leader — share their list of lessons from the show their company is currently delivering at the Coliseum in London. It’s loverly…

Check out what our most recent alumni had to say about their NAFS experiences. The next online School is 7th September – 12th October and the next residential option is 7th-12th November.

As demand for high quality fundraising training grows, and our alumni seek more specialist advice, we need more capacity to provide support. So we’re super excited that we’ve managed to persuade two cultural fundraising stars to bring their special brand of iridescence to the National Arts Fundraising School team.

Grimsby Creates, North East Lincolnshire’s cultural development programme, has secured three places at our sold-out National Arts Fundraising School (NAFS) on-line programme in April & May and is inviting local creatives to apply to fill these spaces by 22nd March. Below we explore why this innovative Council has taken this bold step and how you can benefit if you live in the area.

In this blog NAFS Deputy Director Dana Segal explains how the National Arts Fundraising School can help local authorities raise money for their important work – and how they can support other local agencies to be more sustainable.

Yes, you read the headline right. This is a blog explaining why you SHOULDN’T come to the next NAFS on 8-13 November 2020. And actually why you shouldn’t even consider our first programme in 2021 on 25th-30th April.

As news of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak’s £1.57bn arts and culture rescue package came through late last Sunday night, it was a good way to end the weekend… and enabled me to wake up on Monday morning much more optimistic about the future of the UK arts sector than I had been previously. But hold back on the knight to the rescue fantasy. I have some concerns.

Hurrah! The recent arts funding announcement from the government is good news. It will help. Maybe now is the time to persuade your boss that you can help your organisation build for the longer term.

Nominated by arts and cultural fundraisers across the UK, NAFS has created a shortlist of funders who have responded most flexibly to the third sector funding crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In these Coronaviral times when you listen to the or watch the news it’s all about death- despite the fact that most people, even those who are infected, recover. Why are we so focused on death?

­­­­­­­­I’m sure, like me, you’re following the COVID-19 developments. In this blog want to fill you in on what plans we’re making concerning the National Arts Fundraising School set for May 1st-6th. It has bad news and good news.

So you’ve decided you want to come to the National Arts Fundraising School. Coming on the School is possibly the most expensive investment you/your organisation could make.

October 31st was an exciting day for the =mc consulting team, testing out various decision science principles on behalf of MSF/DWB with a brilliant group of young Face to Face canvassers from GiveBridge.

Some ideas are ‘sticky’ – that is they seem to very quickly and easily acquire status and circulation. Some of these ideas are natural – that is they have grown up seemingly spontaneously – and some have been created – consciously designed by advertising executives, marketers or charity fundraisers.

It’s crazy to think that the National Arts Fundraising School, or NAFS as it’s affectionately known, has been running for 30 years. Because 30 years ago, arts & cultural fundraising was a totally different space.