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Results in from national surveys on philanthropy in education The findings of the first national survey on philanthropy in education have confirmed that when it comes to grant seeking, those least equipped can often be the ones most in need, with nine out of ten Australian schools surveyed considering themselves novices at philanthropic grant seeking. The three-year Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP) project seeks to explore whether the full potential of funding and partnerships across the philanthropic and education sectors is being achieved. The 2011 Survey Report, released in November, uses the responses of 302 schools, not-for-profits, philanthropic foundations and trusts to help form a clearer picture of the current impact of philanthropy in education. Presenting the key outcomes of the survey, LLEAP project leader and ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Michelle Anderson said the findings show that schools have limited knowledge, experience and expertise about philanthropic grant making, which could put them at a disadvantage when it comes to resourcing great educational projects. Results from LLEAP show that 92 percent of school respondents in Australia considered themselves new or novices to philanthropic grant seeking and 53 per cent indicated they had never been successful in securing a grant from philanthropy. In contrast, 77 per cent of not-for-profit respondents (who work with, or for the benefit of, schools) identified as experienced or expert in philanthropic grant seeking and 44 per cent indicated they have succeeded in securing a grant three or more times in the last year. Foundations and trusts were asked whether improvements could be made in the quality of grant seeking. Of the 38 trusts and foundations that said grant seekers could improve in the application process, a key identified area for improvement was to ensure there is alignment between the grant seeker’s and foundation/trust’s objectives. Yet LLEAP revealed that around 90 per cent of schools surveyed said they never read a foundation/trust annual report (compared to around 15 per cent of not-for-profits); almost 78 per cent never read a foundation/trust website when accessing information about grants (just over eight per cent for not-for-profits); and around 82 per cent of schools never referred to foundation/trust purposes when considering whether to apply (less than six per cent for not-for-profits). Dr Anderson says this may offer an explanation as to why not-for-profits are so much more successful at obtaining philanthropic grants than schools. The survey findings are currently being used to inform the development of a LLEAP Dialogue Series Guide, an evidence-based manual designed to help grow ideas in education for maximum impact. The Guide is due out in 2012 and is pitched at new or novice grant seekers and makers. It will include case studies of good practice and other useful tools and information. LLEAP is an initiative of Tender Bridge in partnership and with funding in 2011 from The Ian Potter Foundation. Tender Bridge is a national research and development service of ACER. For further information, including a copy of the 2011 Survey Report, visit http://lleap.acer.edu.au « Back to eNews
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The findings of the first national survey on philanthropy in education have confirmed that when it comes to grant seeking, those least equipped can often be the ones most in need, with nine out of ten Australian schools surveyed considering themselves novices at philanthropic grant seeking.

The three-year Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP) project seeks to explore whether the full potential of funding and partnerships across the philanthropic and education sectors is being achieved. The 2011 Survey Report, released in November, uses the responses of 302 schools, not-for-profits, philanthropic foundations and trusts to help form a clearer picture of the current impact of philanthropy in education.

Presenting the key outcomes of the survey, LLEAP project leader and ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Michelle Anderson said the findings show that schools have limited knowledge, experience and expertise about philanthropic grant making, which could put them at a disadvantage when it comes to resourcing great educational projects.

Results from LLEAP show that 92 percent of school respondents in Australia considered themselves new or novices to philanthropic grant seeking and 53 per cent indicated they had never been successful in securing a grant from philanthropy. In contrast, 77 per cent of not-for-profit respondents (who work with, or for the benefit of, schools) identified as experienced or expert in philanthropic grant seeking and 44 per cent indicated they have succeeded in securing a grant three or more times in the last year.

Foundations and trusts were asked whether improvements could be made in the quality of grant seeking. Of the 38 trusts and foundations that said grant seekers could improve in the application process, a key identified area for improvement was to ensure there is alignment between the grant seeker’s and foundation/trust’s objectives.

Yet LLEAP revealed that around 90 per cent of schools surveyed said they never read a foundation/trust annual report (compared to around 15 per cent of not-for-profits); almost 78 per cent never read a foundation/trust website when accessing information about grants (just over eight per cent for not-for-profits); and around 82 per cent of schools never referred to foundation/trust purposes when considering whether to apply (less than six per cent for not-for-profits).

Dr Anderson says this may offer an explanation as to why not-for-profits are so much more successful at obtaining philanthropic grants than schools.

The survey findings are currently being used to inform the development of a LLEAP Dialogue Series Guide, an evidence-based manual designed to help grow ideas in education for maximum impact. The Guide is due out in 2012 and is pitched at new or novice grant seekers and makers. It will include case studies of good practice and other useful tools and information.

LLEAP is an initiative of Tender Bridge in partnership and with funding in 2011 from The Ian Potter Foundation. Tender Bridge is a national research and development service of ACER. For further information, including a copy of the 2011 Survey Report, visit http://lleap.acer.edu.au

Results in from national surveys on philanthropy in education