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Need solid uninterrupted focus?

National Arts Fundraising School (NAFS) - Dancer - In Person Programme - Green

Our updated In Person option offers you the best of both worlds: online learning before and after an intensive five-day residential school.

Your preparation includes webinars and individual Zoom coaching. We then take you to a beautiful residential venue for five days, so you can focus with no distractions. Throughout you’ll be in a small group, led by a leading UK expert. When you leave your personal coach makes sure that you are clear on the key issues to address and that you have a strong implementation plan. Like our other options every school is different: designed around you and your fellow participants.

The In Person option offers a mix of high-quality online and in-person insight from the expert team, a wide range of learning opportunities, and the focus on practical application to your situation. Imagine what you can achieve with preparation, five days of solid focused thinking and planning, post programme coaching and then three months of support.

For 2025 we are offering an In Person programme happening 29th September – 3rd October 2025.

Book here for the the In Person programme. Not sure? Reserve your no-commitment provisional place to be at the front of the queue if you think you might want a place.

Need all the detail in one place?

National Arts Fundraising School — In Person Typical Timetable PDF cover thumb

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A Journey Guided by Your Personal Coach

Before the school you’ll have a one-to-one coaching session to establish your aims and interests. Your coach may well be one of the residential tutors. Following the school your coach check in with you to develop your plan and identify the issues you need to tackle.

Want to know more about the coaching team?

Need some quick info?

The Culture House Grimsby
The National Arts Fundraising School taught me how to approach philanthropists which has proved very useful, including making a clear case for support - the facilitators were highly knowledgeable and supportive. I have already made an approach to a major funder as a result of the course and feel a new sense of purpose.
Charlotte Bowen - Director, The Culture House & Birdhouse, Grimsby

What's different with In Person?

You’ll begin your journey to fundraising success with a call from your personal coach. You’ll then take part in two half-days of onboarding online, introducing you to some of the key ideas that underpin contemporary fundraising. Fully prepared for the onsite element of the School you’ll head for the comfortable Mere Court Hotel in Knutsford, Cheshire. For five full days you’ll be able to concentrate on fundraising, working in a range of project teams on learning through live case studies and exercises. You’ll leave ready to deliver your strategy and have the chance to refine it in two additional half-days of online insight and a further call with your personal coach. The whole process is spread over four weeks ensuring that you produce timely results, and can fit in the day job.
  • Focus to create that all important strategy, mixing online preparation and no-distraction onsite work.
  • Easy contact with the programme leaders for questions and answers.
  • The chance to catch up with the programme leaders one to one.
  • Recorded access to the online sessions, allowing you to catch up at your leisure.
  • A personal coach providing support throughout the month-online and onsite.
  • A range of learning opportunities: small groups, video recording, case studies.
  • Optional breakfast discussion tables as part of the residential element.
  • Your personal 350-page workbook plus the chance to study other materials.

Benefit from 28+ key modules

Every NAFS programme is adapted from the results of your pre-programme questionnaire and your initial one to one coaching.

Whichever option you choose, you’ll increase your knowledge and confidence in different sources: individual giving; major donors; legacies; trusts; and commercial sponsorship. We’ll also share techniques and channels: endowments, capital campaigns, face to face, direct mail, proposals and online. Finally, we’ll help you shape all this into a sustainable strategy. Only the National Arts Fundraising School offers this integration.

Want to know more about the modules? Find out more here.

Lisa February — Creative Freelance Practitioner
The NAFS course broadened my knowledge of funding opportunities and how to approach them, in order to have the best chance of success.
Lisa February, Creative Freelance Practitioner

Post-Programme Support

After you’ve completed the onsite element of the programme you’re ready to move to implementation. The NAFS team will support you to deliver your strategy and offer help with specific challenges:

  • You’ll take part in an online next step half-day webinar to ensure you have a clear direction forward
  • Your personal coach will again offer you a one-to-one online session to clarify your learning and focus
  • You’ll join the exclusive NAFS alumni and have access to regular professional development sessions and updates on sources
  • You’ll have access to six months of ongoing support on-demand for queries, questions and consultations
Bernard Ross (Headshot)
We created this new hybrid programme to offer busy fundraisers the best of both learning approaches — online and onsite — fitting in with demanding arts and cultural careers.
Bernard Ross, National Arts Fundraising School

Next available programmes

29th Sept - 3rd Oct 2025
In Person : residential + personal coaching
£1,499.00

On location at Mere Court Hotel in Knutsford UK. 15 places available.

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