Thoughts from the Study
Dealing with rejection
I was recently asked to contribute to Insight Magazine, a thought leadership publication on the topic of Philanthropy. I have used a shorter version of this article as my Thoughts from the Study this week.
In my experience, philanthropic thinking is accompanied by a high level of rejection; it demands vulnerability, considerable resilience, and a substantial reserve of positive energy. If one wishes to attract investment, all the aforementioned qualities are requisite, in addition to having a purpose and a compelling narrative. When executed correctly, philanthropic thought leads to the greater good, supporting initiatives and ideas that might otherwise fail to materialise.
My intention here is not to indulge in a self-congratulatory reflection, but rather to serve as a helpful reminder of my experiences in the realm of fundraising. Whilst the physical demands alluded to are not to be understated, they are dwarfed by the challenges of philanthropic fundraising, which represents the ultimate test of resilience.
The challenge
The challenge that became my narrative occurred on 15th June 2019, when I found myself in a team at the starting line of the world’s most difficult cycle race. The Race Across America (RAAM), often dubbed “the Everest of Cycling,” is a continuous, ultra- endurance event that begins in Oceanside, California, and concludes 3,078 miles later in Annapolis, Maryland. Traversing twelve states and encompassing over 190,000 feet of climbing, the race presents a plethora of formidable environments, including the traverse of Death Valley, the hottest place on Earth. We completed it in a little over six days.
The purpose
As we all know, climate change is a colossal issue that affects us all. Conservation efforts are essential to safeguard wildlife and ecosystems for future generations. My goal was to spotlight the ongoing work of the African Wildlife charity, Tusk, thereby raising much-needed funds to support their endeavours. With Prince William as a patron, I was confident that the royal endorsement would ensure the charity’s accountability and effective use of the funds.
Learning from past experiences
I was no stranger to participating in large- scale fundraising ventures or adventures. In 2012, my twin brother completed the Talisker Atlantic Row, spending 51 days at sea with a group of injured servicemen and raising one million pounds for a military charity. The event enjoyed coverage from ITV and benefitted from a substantial logistical and operational support team, highlighting the advantages of being part of a cohesive group.
Heeding advice from peers
In my quest for significant sponsorship, I reached out to several fund-management firms known for supporting similar ventures. With limited experience of persuading people to donate and to refine my pitch, I arranged a call with a world-record-holding cyclist who had recently circumnavigated the globe in 80 days. I anticipated a positive and motivating chat that I was on the right lines. However, the essence of his advice was a reality check: these companies sought substantial national exposure or groundbreaking achievements in exchange for their backing. I was also advised that they do not write cheques for less than six-figures. Despite some interest in my story, my proposals were ultimately met with polite refusal.
The importance of persistence
After countless in-person meetings, phone calls, emails, and letters, and numerous rejections, I finally secured interest from a major American pharmaceutical company. My hopes were reignited, as it appeared my efforts to secure sponsorship for the race and raise funds for the global conservation charity were back on track. My excitement was short-lived, however; a day later, during a seven-hour training ride, I received a call from the company explaining they had to withdraw their sponsorship due to U.S. trading regulations preventing them from funding a British national, even though the event was in America. This setback was truly disheartening, sending me back to square one.
Entrepreneurial thinking
I remained determined to find support for a cause I passionately believed in. With only a few months before the race’s start, I had managed only to secure a sponsor for the bike and equipment, with a modest amount raised for conservation efforts. Many ideas came close to fruition. Realising the race coincided with the presidential election campaigns, I decided to reach out to a Democratic presidential candidate with the proposal of featuring her image on the support vehicles, which would be seen by thousands of potential voters en route. This idea was nearly successful, but timing constraints ultimately thwarted our plans. It was, however, a learning experience and gave me fuel to keep going.
Finding shared vision and purpose
My fortunes (or that of the charity) changed dramatically in a single day, thanks to prior networking and efforts to connect with the right people. A UK-based IT company, with whom I had been in discussions for six months, agreed to become a lower-level sponsor and cover additional race expenses. An American technology firm then reached out after a board member learned of my story through a friend. Lastly, a prominent European city bike manufacturer, seeking to expand its international visibility, offered sponsorship in exchange for my participation in a photoshoot, riding one of their bikes. Naturally, I accepted and within a day, everything fell into place.
Final thoughts
Philanthropy is often associated with the extremely wealthy, deemed best positioned to support large-scale projects. Many independent schools who are charities will have witnessed generous donations at their schools, contributing to buildings or scholarship endowments. Such donations are crucial for sustaining important work. However, through this journey, I have learned that philanthropy is not exclusive to the ultra-wealthy; it is a calling that can unite us in a shared objective. It involves rallying support for initiatives that surpass individual goals, aiming for a collective benefit that can significantly impact the lives of others and the broader world.
Wishing you all the best for the weekend.
Mr Anstey
We are proud of our Year 6 children who noticed an alarming amount of rubbish on the beach in Spain and decided to take action. The children were able to gather a significant amount of rubbish. It was great to see Broomfield’s eco credentials extending beyond the school grounds – even on holiday! #litterpick #environmentalawareness #prepschooltrip #spainschooltrip
We are proud of our Year 6 children who noticed an alarming amount of rubbish on the beach in Spain and decided to take action. The children were able to gather a significant amount of rubbish. It was great to see Broomfield’s eco credentials extending beyond the school grounds – even on holiday! #litterpick #environmentalawareness #prepschooltrip #spainschooltrip ...
Exciting news – we are launching Broomfield Community Videos! 🎥 Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing heartfelt videos from our parents, staff introductions, and of course, some special moments with our pupils. Stay tuned for an inside look at what makes Broomfield such a unique and supportive community! #prepschoolinrichmond #prepschoolinkew #broomfieldfamily #broomfieldcommunity #prepschoolcommunity #prepschooltestimonial #parenttestimonials #prepschoollife
Exciting news – we are launching Broomfield Community Videos! 🎥 Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing heartfelt videos from our parents, staff introductions, and of course, some special moments with our pupils. Stay tuned for an inside look at what makes Broomfield such a unique and supportive community! #prepschoolinrichmond #prepschoolinkew #broomfieldfamily #broomfieldcommunity #prepschoolcommunity #prepschooltestimonial #parenttestimonials #prepschoollife ...
Broomfield House School has once again been included in the Spear’s Magazine Schools Indices this year. The indices have been compiled by Spear’s in collaboration with their expert partners at Thuso and a panel of independent educationalists from around the world.
For the second consecutive year, our outstanding educational provision has been recognised in this prestigious guide, featured alongside St Paul’s Juniors, Dulwich Prep London, and Westminster Under School.
Broomfield House School has once again been included in the Spear’s Magazine Schools Indices this year. The indices have been compiled by Spear’s in collaboration with their expert partners at Thuso and a panel of independent educationalists from around the world.
For the second consecutive year, our outstanding educational provision has been recognised in this prestigious guide, featured alongside St Paul’s Juniors, Dulwich Prep London, and Westminster Under School. ...
Outstanding 11+ results once again! We celebrate another year of exceptional senior school offers and scholarships this week. With our renowned, carefully tailored approach, we provide families with expert guidance. Our highly effective process achieved an incredible 97% accuracy in predicting Year 6 offers, a testament to our deep understanding of each pupil’s potential and aspirations. Well done Year 6, we could not be more proud! #11plussuccess #celebratingyear6 #11plusprep #11plusresults #leaversdestinations #prepschoolinkew #prepschoolinrichmond
Outstanding 11+ results once again! We celebrate another year of exceptional senior school offers and scholarships this week. With our renowned, carefully tailored approach, we provide families with expert guidance. Our highly effective process achieved an incredible 97% accuracy in predicting Year 6 offers, a testament to our deep understanding of each pupil’s potential and aspirations. Well done Year 6, we could not be more proud! #11plussuccess #celebratingyear6 #11plusprep #11plusresults #leaversdestinations #prepschoolinkew #prepschoolinrichmond ...
We are celebrating World Book Day with a truly special treat this year! Following the success of yesterday’s incredible Dukes Great British Bake Off, we are launching our first-ever Dukes Great British Bake-Off Recipe Book with families this week.
Finalists from across the Dukes family showcased their delicious, book-inspired bakes to a panel of judges at Dukes House, and their creations were simply too yummy to resist! From magical cakes to literary-themed pastries, the creativity of all the finalists was nothing short of extraordinary.
We were delighted to be joined by Aatif Hassan, Chairman and Founder of Dukes Education, and Tim Fish, UK CEO, who celebrated the children’s fantastic creations alongside us.
A huge thank you also to all the English departments who took part, celebrating not just baking, but the love of books and storytelling through food. And last but not least, a special thank you to Lauren Carver Williams, Head of KS1 at Broomfield House School, for her incredible work in organising this event!
@dukes_education @bassetthouseschool @broomwood_preprep @copperfieldverbier @dhsprep @eatonhouseschools.themanor @knightsbridge_school @radnorhouseprepschool @pointerschool
We are celebrating World Book Day with a truly special treat this year! Following the success of yesterday’s incredible Dukes Great British Bake Off, we are launching our first-ever Dukes Great British Bake-Off Recipe Book with families this week.
Finalists from across the Dukes family showcased their delicious, book-inspired bakes to a panel of judges at Dukes House, and their creations were simply too yummy to resist! From magical cakes to literary-themed pastries, the creativity of all the finalists was nothing short of extraordinary.
We were delighted to be joined by Aatif Hassan, Chairman and Founder of Dukes Education, and Tim Fish, UK CEO, who celebrated the children’s fantastic creations alongside us.
A huge thank you also to all the English departments who took part, celebrating not just baking, but the love of books and storytelling through food. And last but not least, a special thank you to Lauren Carver Williams, Head of KS1 at Broomfield House School, for her incredible work in organising this event!
@dukes_education @bassetthouseschool @broomwood_preprep @copperfieldverbier @dhsprep @eatonhouseschools.themanor @knightsbridge_school @radnorhouseprepschool @pointerschool ...
@splatttheatrecompany visited us last week to take our Year 3 children on a journey to Ancient Greece. The performance was great fun and taught the children all about King Polydectes engagement feast, the Grey Sisters and Medusa’s statues. #greekday
@splatttheatrecompany visited us last week to take our Year 3 children on a journey to Ancient Greece. The performance was great fun and taught the children all about King Polydectes engagement feast, the Grey Sisters and Medusa’s statues. #greekday ...
Building memories, one brick at a time. Happy International Lego Day from Broomfield! 🧱 #internationallegoday #creativeplay
Building memories, one brick at a time. Happy International Lego Day from Broomfield! 🧱 #internationallegoday #creativeplay ...
Every story has the power to transport us to another place.
Ahead of National Storytelling Week, we are celebrating our talented young writers at Broomfield.📕
#youngwriters
Every story has the power to transport us to another place.
Ahead of National Storytelling Week, we are celebrating our talented young writers at Broomfield.📕
#youngwriters ...
Happy New Year from all of us at Broomfield!
On Monday we kicked off the spring term with the Dukes Education Conference at Wembley. We are delighted to share that our Headmaster, Adam Anstey, and the school were honoured with the Wellbeing Initiative Award in recognition of the effective efforts to promote wellbeing among both children and staff.
This award is a true testament to what is one of the cornerstones of our philosophy and work at Broomfield.
With the theme “The Heart of Education” the conference provided a fantastic opportunity for professional development. Thought-provoking discussions explored the impact of AI, the future of education, and the critical importance of character development in shaping the young leaders of tomorrow.
Happy New Year from all of us at Broomfield!
On Monday we kicked off the spring term with the Dukes Education Conference at Wembley. We are delighted to share that our Headmaster, Adam Anstey, and the school were honoured with the Wellbeing Initiative Award in recognition of the effective efforts to promote wellbeing among both children and staff.
This award is a true testament to what is one of the cornerstones of our philosophy and work at Broomfield.
With the theme “The Heart of Education” the conference provided a fantastic opportunity for professional development. Thought-provoking discussions explored the impact of AI, the future of education, and the critical importance of character development in shaping the young leaders of tomorrow. ...
We are excited to welcome all our families back to school for another great term at Broomfield! 🌟
We are excited to welcome all our families back to school for another great term at Broomfield! 🌟 ...
At the end of the term, we reflect on many events, trips, and achievements. From the early days of settling into routines in Early Years to the progress made across all year groups, it’s been a wonderfully busy term.
Wishing all families a restful break! 🎄🌟
At the end of the term, we reflect on many events, trips, and achievements. From the early days of settling into routines in Early Years to the progress made across all year groups, it’s been a wonderfully busy term.
Wishing all families a restful break! 🎄🌟 ...
This week, on Wednesday, we welcomed M&M Theatrical Productions for a fun and engaging pantomime performance. The actors performed brilliantly, captivating both children and staff alike. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to immerse themselves in live theatre and enjoy a well-deserved treat in the last week of term.
This week, on Wednesday, we welcomed M&M Theatrical Productions for a fun and engaging pantomime performance. The actors performed brilliantly, captivating both children and staff alike. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to immerse themselves in live theatre and enjoy a well-deserved treat in the last week of term. ...