# Insights into arts & cultural fundraisers’ response to pandemic revealed in new report

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/05/28/insights-into-arts-cultural-fundraisers-response-to-pandemic-revealed-in-new-report/
- Published: 2021-05-28T09:00:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Arts and cultural fundraisers adapted and responded to new ways of working, taking
new approaches and changing their fundraising activities during the pandemic, with
a marked rise in offering supporters enhanced digital or online activities. However,
workload increased, with participants in a research project also reporting stress
and poor wellbeing, as well as decreased levels of job satisfaction.**

The research, from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s Cultural Sector Network,
RAISE: Arts, Culture & Heritage, The University of Sheffield’s Management School
and the University of Kent is shared in a report [‘_Dealing with the crisis: Creativity and resilience of arts and cultural fundraisers during Covid-19’_](http://www.ciof.org.uk/dealing-with-a-crisis),
and highlights how arts and cultural fundraisers were impacted by and managed the
Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. 

Based on a survey of 91 fundraisers, carried out in July and August last year, it
reveals that workload increased for 63% of arts and cultural fundraisers, while 
almost two thirds also expected their organisation’s income to fall during the pandemic.

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 * 66% of organisations also said they had postponed projects and/or programmes.
 * 30% of respondents said Covid-19 would have a substantial longer term impact.
 * 79% of respondents said that their fundraising activity overall has decreased.
 * 64% said financial support into 2021 and beyond was very important to the survival
   of the sector.
 * 65% see themselves working in the arts and cultural sector long-term, 11% saw
   themselves doing so short-term, and 22% didn’t know.
 * Before Covid, average job satisfaction was 8/10. During the pandemic it dropped
   to 6/10.

The report calls for more support, both financial and skills-based, and also identifies
that some organisations are falling between the gaps of emergency support available.

In response, RAISE and the Cultural Sector Network is committing to providing cultural
fundraisers with a holistic programme of support to help with wellbeing and motivation.

Martin Kaufman, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising RAISE Steering Committee
said:

> “This survey is the first time that the collective voice of UK cultural fundraisers
> has been heard during the pandemic. There are important lessons to be learnt from
> what the respondents have told us. These need to be taken up by the government
> and everyone who wants fundraising for arts and heritage to play a critical role
> in ensuring that cultural activity itself will not just recover but thrive into
> the future. This survey was conducted in 2020, but what it has to tell us is still
> of continuing and significant relevance.”

Dana Segal, Co-Chair of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Cultural Sector Network
also commented, saying:

> “The report findings demonstrate the resilience and aptitude of cultural organisations
> to adapt in a crisis. The commitment to their civic role and public value needs
> to be supported as we emerge from the pandemic and restore public confidence in
> social interaction and connection. Whilst we will be doing our part to support
> cultural fundraisers, we call on policymakers and the government to maintain and
> grow its support of cultural organisations so they don’t just survive, but thrive,
> beyond the pandemic.”