Ratio of fundraising to grant in aid reaches record high

Fundraising income is catching up with public funding as a source of income for Arts Council England’s (ACE) National Portfolio Organisations, according to new figures published by the DCMS. The total value of their ‘contributed income’ earned from fundraising activities grew to £186.1m between 2013/14 and 2014/15 – a 3.4% increase on the previous year. An additional £69m is now being earned from this source compared with five years ago – £30m more than has been lost in ACE grant in aid.

An even stronger five-year pattern of growth can be seen among the 15 direct-funded DCMS museums and galleries. Excluding donated objects, contributed income has grown from £86m in 2010/11 to £210m in 2014/15, though this latest figure marks a fall of 7.8% on the previous year.

Michelle Wright, Founder and CEO of fundraising and development enterprise Cause4 and Programme Director for Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy, said it was “brilliant” to see. “It can be incredibly tough for Artistic Directors to feel that the majority of their roles is focussed on fundraising and the bottom line, but the focus is paying off,” she said. “The more that the arts can prove that it can adapt and make progress independently, underpinned by successful advocacy from ACE about the ROI of the arts and its huge value to the country at large, is the key to making sure that the arts has the sustainable resources needed to thrive and innovate. This is just excellent progress.”