Fundraising and voluntary action in primary education

In response to depleting budgets and intensified performance pressures, primary schools are increasingly engaging parents and communities in fundraising and voluntary action to help combat ongoing challenges. Nonetheless, the absence of much comment on, or significant research into, the destination of fundraised income and volunteer support in primary schools does not alter the situation that some schools succeed in attracting significantly more support than others. Drawing on literature and research from across education and philanthropic studies, this chapter seeks to consider the role of fundraising and voluntary action in education, to present a series potential concerns, possibilities and lessons learnt, which may be of benefit to both schools and the wider community in developing voluntary action in primary schools which embraces and supports the whole school community. In conclusion, drawing on the literature review and theoretical approaches I suggest four considerations for schools who seek to increase their fundraised income and volunteer support.