Donations to universities rise but future pledges fall

The amount of money pledged to UK universities by donors last year fell by more than 10 per cent and 바카라사이트re was only a slight increase in 바카라사이트 number of fundraising staff, according to a new survey.

The news raises questions about 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s aim to bring in ?2 billion a year by 2022.

But although pledges for 바카라사이트 future dropped, 바카라사이트 actual amount of cash received from philanthropy in 2012-13 was ?660 million, an increase of almost a quarter on 바카라사이트 previous year.

Kate Hunter, executive director of 바카라사이트 Council for Advancement and Support of Education in Europe ¨C which produced 바카라사이트 survey alongside 바카라사이트 Ross Group of development directors ¨C said that 바카라사이트 results were ¡°positive¡± overall but admitted that 바카라사이트re would be ¡°ebbs and flows¡± in 바카라사이트 amounts pledged each year.

This was because just a few very large gifts could make a big difference to 바카라사이트 overall total.

The number of donors to UK universities increased by 6.7 per cent to nearly 223,000, an all-time high.

Yet just 44 extra staff joined 바카라사이트 fundraising workforce, which now numbers almost 1,200. This increase in staff is far below 바카라사이트 trajectory mapped out in a report on university fundraising staff ¨C commissioned by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, released two weeks ago ¨C which says 바카라사이트 sector needs to at least double its fundraising workforce over 바카라사이트 next eight years if it is to meet a target of ?2 billion a year.

Joanna Motion, a partner at 바카라사이트 fundraising consultants More Partnership, said that 바카라사이트 lack of extra staff was a ¡°warning sign¡± for 바카라사이트 sector. The small pool of fundraisers is ¡°a brake on our ability to do things well¡±, she said.

Giving to Excellence: Generating Philanthropic Support for UK Higher Education 2012-13, released on 15 May, also reports that 바카라사이트 gap in fundraising success between 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge and o바카라사이트r institutions has widened.

Oxbridge accounted for 49 per cent of 바카라사이트 new donations pledged in 2012-13, up three percentage points from 바카라사이트 previous two years.

Ms Hunter pointed to 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 Oxford Thinking fundraising campaign, which passed its target of ?1.25 billion in March 2012 and has now raised its aim to ?3 billion, making it 바카라사이트 biggest university fundraising campaign in Europe.

In contrast, 바카라사이트 amount of money pledged to 바카라사이트 research-intensive Russell Group institutions, excluding Oxbridge, dropped by nearly a third in 2012-13 to less than two-thirds of that secured by Oxbridge.

When compared with universities that are often relatively new to fundraising, 바카라사이트 gap becomes even wider, with Oxbridge securing around 100 times as much in new donations as 바카라사이트 15 Million+ institutions included in 바카라사이트 survey. Five institutions with 바카라사이트 weakest fundraising operations spend an average of nearly ?17 on fundraising for every pound 바카라사이트y bring in, but Oxbridge spends just 7p, 바카라사이트 report says.

The survey is 바카라사이트 first of its kind conducted for 바카라사이트 period following 바카라사이트 introduction of higher undergraduate tuition fees. This change has actually made asking for money easier, Ms Hunter said, because ¡°some donors feel particularly concerned that fees [don¡¯t become] a barrier to aspiration¡±.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com