Latest Blog Posts

Getting to the top – Marina Jones, Royal Opera House

17th August 2017 by Marina Jones
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This blog celebrates the journey of one of the UK’s most successful arts fundraisers – Marina Jones, Head of Trusts & Foundations at Royal Opera House. Read on to discover what she gained from the National Arts Fundraising School, and how it helped her achieve her fundraising goals.

Colin McKenzie, Director, House of Illustration

It began at the Barbican… my 29 year NAFS adventure

8th August 2017 by Colin McKenzie
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When the National Arts Fundraising School (NAFS) opened it’s doors in 1988, Colin McKenzie was one of the first participants. Read about his fundraising journey since then and find out why he’s still benefitting from the programme, nearly 30 years after attending.

Brain Art - pharoah sphinx head with tree coming out of head

Myth No 5: The rational case for the arts drives donations

28th July 2017 by Bernard Ross
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In the final part of the #5Myths of Arts & Culture Fundraising blog series by National Arts Fundraising School Director Bernard Ross, he touches on the use of behavioural economics in fundraising.

Myth No 4: Millennials are mean (or millennials are magnanimous…)

27th July 2017 by Bernard Ross
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Part 4 of #5 : ‘Millennials’ – or Generation Y – is a general term for a demographic that includes anyone born from early 1980s to mid 1990s – a number of whom are now turning 30 or even closing on 40.

Crowdfunding - lots of hands giving money

Myth No 3: Crowdfunding will solve the cash crisis

26th July 2017 by Bernard Ross
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Third blog in the series of arts & culture fundraising Myths (#5Myths) by Bernard Ross. This time, crowdfunding…

Myth 2: The rich will save us all

25th July 2017 by Bernard Ross
614 Views

Introducing the second blog from the 5 myths of arts & culture fundraising series (#5Myths) by Bernard Ross.

Give up on the Unicorn! 5 Fundraising Myths for Arts and Culture…

24th July 2017 by Bernard Ross
718 Views

Bernard Ross, =mc & National Arts Fundraising School Director and fundraising expert speaks out on 5 fundraising myths in arts & culture that you need to address… Here’s a challenging graph. With some challenging information. And challenging implications. The question is, what do we do about the loss of public support since it’s unlikely that […]

19 years post-NAFS and the learning is still having an impact

27th June 2017 by Fiona Mason
560 Views

In this guest blog, National Arts Fundraising School alumna Fiona Mason, now a freelance writer, arts consultant and Development Manager for Pacitti Company, shares her story since attending the School.

Stop ‘asking donors for money’ right now

27th June 2017 by Bernard Ross
542 Views

=mc Director Bernard Ross bucks against the latest fundraising trend… and with good reason.

Creating the fundraising ninjas at Northern Broadsides

27th June 2017 by Kay Packwood
637 Views

In this blog, Kay Packwood, Creative Projects Development Manager at Northern Broadsides shares her experience on the National Arts Fundraising School in 2017.

A journey through film and fundraising

27th May 2017 by Deborah Parker
557 Views

This guest blog is written by National Arts Fundraising School Alumna Deborah Parker, Chief Executive Officer at Cinema For All. We caught up with Deborah at a recent Alumni event and asked her to share her story since attending the School seven years ago: In 2009 I was working for one of the old Regional Screen Agencies in Manchester […]

Day five at the National Arts Fundraising School

11th April 2017 by Dana Segal
673 Views

After a late night preparing their pitches, NAFS participants are up early on this bright and sunny day in Alfriston to do their Corporate Pitch task. Everyone is looking super smart and ready to pitch to a company for anywhere up to £50,000 – and have six minutes to do so, with their fellow delegates watching, and a camera recording them…

Day four at the National Arts Fundraising School

7th April 2017 by Dana Segal
589 Views

Two amazing speakers today, starting with Dr. Claire Routley… the *only* lady with a PhD on Legacy Fundraising. Her enthusiasm is just infectious, and she gave some of the most interesting and useful insight on trends, motivations and promotional tips.

Day three at the National Arts Fundraising School

5th April 2017 by Dana Segal
580 Views

Something that strikes me about the way the course is structured and designed is how it enables us all, both staff and participants, to reflect on our learning so far and share experiences, thoughts, reservations, dreams and ideas with each other over the (delicious) meals.

Day two at the National Arts Fundraising School

5th April 2017 by Dana Segal
568 Views

Our session about how to develop relationships with Trusts seems particularly relevant this week, as the Garfield Weston Foundation announce their new strategy – including providing supportive materials for applicants on how to submit a good proposal, and good finances.