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.
The findings presented in this research give unique insights into how fundraisers in the arts and culture sectors manage the COVID-19 crisis. Whilst resilience and innovation continue to be key skills characteristic of the profession, only with the help of substantial support – both financial and skill-based – will fundraisers be able to contribute to create a financially sustainable non-profit sector akin to pre-crisis levels.