Fundraising and Philanthropy
Wycane supports schools to move beyond reactive fundraising toward intentional, long-term philanthropy programmes. Our approach focuses on relationship-based giving, clear cases for support, and strong stewardship.
Our work includes:
Major gift strategies and donor journeys
Annual giving programmes
Campaign execution and management
Donor stewardship, reporting, and accountability
The emphasis is on building confidence and credibility with donors - ensuring fundraising supports the school’s mission and delivers lasting impact.
Case Study
Fundraising and Philanthropy
Client Overview
One of New Zealand’s leading co-educational boarding schools engaged Wycane in an interim capacity to establish a structured fundraising and philanthropy function. While the school had a strong community and reputation, fundraising activity was fragmented and lacked a coordinated strategy.
Challenge
The school faced multiple interconnected challenges:
No dedicated fundraising office or clear ownership of philanthropic activity
A need to generate target annual revenue from a mix of donations, corporate partnerships, and permitted sponsorship
Growing demand for funding to support both operational priorities and future capital projects
Limited policies, processes, and systems to support structured fundraising
An engaged but under-nurtured school, foundation, parent, and alumni community
Before fundraising activity could scale, the school needed clarity of purpose, credible planning, and stakeholder confidence.
Our Approach
Wycane acted in an interim leadership role to establish the foundations of a modern fundraising and philanthropy programme. Our approach included:
Establishing a dedicated fundraising office, including role clarity, capability, and operating structure
Reviewing all historic giving data and benchmarking the school against comparable institutions in New Zealand, the UK, the US, Australia, and Singapore
Working closely with stakeholder groups to build understanding, confidence, and support for a structured fundraising approach
Developing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support annual giving, corporate partnerships, sponsorship, and capital funding
This culminated in a clear five-point plan:
Build and engage community
Articulate and develop purpose
Create a sustainable culture of giving
Align messaging, collateral, and communications
Pursue immediate opportunities (“low-hanging fruit”) while laying foundations for long-term growth
Outcome
The school implemented a coordinated and credible fundraising framework. Key outcomes included:
Secured early corporate sponsorships
Establishment of a formal society to support bequests and legacy giving
Creation of a clear giving framework and donor pathways
Relaunch of scholarship programmes and development of a long-term scholarship funding plan
Planning and launch of a major gala dinner event
Development of a capital fundraising plan to support a proposed auditorium project
Impact
The school now benefits from:
A functioning fundraising office with clear strategy, governance, and capability
Stronger alignment and confidence across stakeholder groups
Improved donor stewardship and engagement
A growing alumni and supporter database
Clear pathways to support both immediate funding needs and long-term capital ambitions
The school moved from ad hoc fundraising to a structured, community-supported philanthropy programme capable of delivering sustainable impact.
Is your school set up to fundraise effectively and responsibly?
Wycane works with schools to create clear giving frameworks, engaged communities, and realistic pathways to long-term impact.
