Creating an impact for the future: Northumbria University

“The impact of their work continues to resonate throughout our fundraising and is a testament to the positive, long-term legacy Philanthropy Company leaves on its clients. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with them again or recommend the team to other charities.”

Victoria Kent. Director of Alumni & Philanthropy, Northumbria University

Challenge

Northumbria University, a research-rich and business-focused institution with a global reputation, sought to strengthen its philanthropic activity during a period of transformation. In 2020, the Advancement Team engaged Philanthropy Company to assess the feasibility of a new gallery of Asian and Buddhist art, following the acquisition of a Grade II listed building gifted by a Singapore-based alumnus. In early 2021, the University’s Alumni and Partnership team also invited us to assess fundraising potential for its Widening Access and Participation work—at a time when the pandemic posed significant uncertainty and strategic decisions were being made about the future direction of engagement and fundraising.

Response

We delivered two distinct but complementary pieces of work. For the gallery project, we developed a robust case for support and conducted 16 in-depth interviews with senior university stakeholders, local government representatives, cultural partners, academics, and philanthropists. This was paired with benchmarking against similar university and heritage campaigns, and the development of a prospect pool including international art funders and regional partners.

For the Widening Access and Participation work, we carried out a detailed assessment of fundraising readiness and potential, producing a strategic report with recommendations and key messaging that would form the foundation for a university-wide campaign. Throughout both projects, we worked seamlessly with the University’s teams, adapting to remote delivery due to pandemic restrictions.

Impact

Our work informed strategic decision-making at a pivotal time. For the gallery project, we were able to advise that while the vision was feasible, several key issues required further consideration, and the pandemic was likely to affect timing. Meanwhile, our recommendations and messaging for the Widening Access and Participation campaign helped shape the launch of Higher Education Without Barriers in January 2022. The campaign has since raised £3.2 million, supported over 2,000 students, and helped embed social mobility as a central ambition in the University’s new strategy.