About this series

This survey of gift revenue and fundraising costs has been carried out each year for the last eight years to measure the philanthropic performance of Higher Education and Further Education institutions.

It is the only source of information on this subject in the UK, enabling institutions to compare themselves with their peers. It also provides an estimate of the overall impact of philanthropy on the Higher Education sector.

The 2008-9 survey provides the first available data about the impact of the government matched funding scheme in England (which started on 1 August 2008), operated by HEFCE. For applicants to the matched funding schemes in England and Wales, participation in the 2009-10 survey is mandatory.

All Higher Education institutions in the UK are invited to participate in this survey. We would like to have as full a picture as possible of philanthropic activity across the country. Participation from institutions not involved in the matched-funding schemes in England and Wales and those outside England and Wales remains extremely important to the survey.

The survey was first carried out in 2001-2 and NatCen has run the survey since 2006-7. You can read the 2008-09 findings here, the 2007-08 findings here and the 2006-07 findings here. The Ross-CASE survey is commissioned by the Ross Group and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

Potential policy impact

The government uses this survey to assess the impact of its three-year £200 million matched-funding scheme. By matching philanthropic donations to Universities in England and Wales, the government hopes to boost the fundraising performance of the Higher Education sector.

Methodology

Every Higher Education Institution in the UK was invited to complete a questionnaire which they could download from the Ross-CASE website.