For decades the boys of Christ Church have been supporting charities and making a difference through traditional fundraising methods such as sausage sizzles etc. However, we had never asked our students to donate their own money to the school. We needed to introduce an innovative way to get the boys attention, to empower them to bring about change and make a positive difference. The Students' Scholarship campaign target was $15,000 a year for three years. This amount, when dollar matched by the school, would provide a full scholarship for a student’s final three senior years of school. We also aligned our regular giving campaign, inviting donations to The Students’ Scholarship. The campaign resulted in almost 600 new donors to scholarships in 2019. These include staff, students, parents, grandparents, and alumni. As a direct result of the success of this campaign, the school has introduced the position of Philanthropy Prefect. This role is driving philanthropic initiatives, establishing philanthropy groups in the Preparatory and Senior Schools and is growing a giving mindset across the whole school community.
From the Judges
We were extremely impressed by this entry, and felt it was an exemplary showcase of a student-led philanthropy initiative. Many aspects of this fundraising campaign were commendable, but we were most impressed by the thoughtfulness exhibited at every level. The students took into account a structure that would allow for a leadership pipeline over time, executed tailored messaging based on the audience, and how to efficiently raise the most money for the most good. This was a student-led initiative of professional quality.
