Fundraising for financial sustainability towards the acquisition of teaching and learning resources in rural public secondary schools, South Africa

Abstract

Fundraising is an important mechanism that can be used to supplement school funds. In this study I explored the school governing bodies’ fundraising experiences in rural public secondary schools. However, school governing bodies (SGBs) are struggling to use fundraising to generate extra school funds. A qualitative approach within the interpretivist paradigm was adopted using systems theory. Three principals and school governing body chairpersons were purposively selected for this case study. Tesch’s method of open coding was adopted to analyse data collected through semi-structured interviews. I observed ethical considerations to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings. Through the study I discovered SGBs’ lack of knowledge and skills in fundraising, little involvement of stakeholders, and poverty in communities as factors hampering fundraising. These are shortcomings in the SGBs’ approach to fundraising. I recommend suitable training for SGBs involving other stakeholders in fundraising, and adapting fundraising methods to the situations in their communities.