Image: Arts organisations could be losing out on funding

A report by consultants Arts Quarter has claimed that the UK arts sector is missing out on individual donations due to a combination of staff incompetence and a lack of resources.

In its Increasing Individual Giving to the Arts: Evidence, Aspirations and Potential Barriers to Success report, Arts Quarter says that the ability of arts industry trustees to articulate a clear case for support to potential donors is "surprisingly low".

The report states that only a third of respondents reported understanding by all trustees of their fundraising strategies at this time.

Similarly, just a third reported that all trustees understood the importance of fundraising to their organisation's business models.

Actual participation in fundraising solicitation and stewardship is also currently low with just 10 per cent of respondents able to report that all Trustees take part in making approaches or play a role in thanking donors.

John Nicholls, managing partner of Arts Quarter, said: "What concerns us is the lack of engagement by trustees in fundraising at a time when senior volunteers need to step up to the plate and play a more active fundraising leadership role in supporting the organisations of which they are a part.

"Furthermore, the lack of confidence that organisations have at this time in effectively communicating their need for support to potential donors is a significant concern particularly given increased competition for philanthropy.

"These findings show clear potential for art organisations to significantly grow their levels of individual giving and indeed meet their aspirations based on the statistical evidence we have gathered.

"We hope that as many arts organisations as possible will heed these findings and look to address these two critical factors, so that they are truly able to achieve their fundraising ambitions."

The report draws together the findings from two of Art Quarter's research projects - the two-year Hidden Wealth Research Project and Philanthropy in the Arts Survey – to look at the potential for arts organisations to increase levels of giving over the next three years.

A full copy of the report can be obtained free of charge by emailing a request to [email protected].