In this Q&A with Katie Kwong, Development Officer at Kellett School, The British International School in Hong Kong, we delve into the purpose and impact of the Kellett Foundation, highlighting how they use ToucanTech for managing donor data and communications to deliver a range of diverse funding initiatives.

1. What's the purpose of the Kellett Foundation — why was it set up, and what does it fund?

The Kellett Foundation drives charitable donations to three primary funds. These include the Ann Mc Donald Fund for bursaries covering school tuition, Outreach which provides lessons for children living below the poverty line in Hong Kong, and K² (K Squared) fund for curriculum enhancements.

2. What's your role, and what do you enjoy most about your job?

My role covers a lot of different functions including alumni engagement, fundraising, communications, event management and archives! On the alumni side, I most enjoy connecting with lost Alumni, seeing what they are up to and hearing the stories of past students and their love of the school. On the fundraising side, I am touched by our supportive community's generosity, so these great initiatives could be rolled out.

3. What value does using a tool like ToucanTech bring to you and your team?

I like that you have everything in one single platform. The software is easy to use, and I think it is intuitive and straightforward to work out things for yourself. I have seen the software change a lot in the 5 or so years I’ve used the system — it has just gotten better over time. I love they include me in the process of developing the software. I can provide feedback and the ToucanTech team listens. 

4. How many bursary places are offered at Kellett School?

We currently have seven students studying at Kellett on a bursary funded by the Ann McDonald Fund and we aim to offer two places per year. We open up untold opportunities and pathways for children through the gift of a Kellett School education.

5. Tell us about Kellett Outreach and how many children are involved.

Outreach, launched in 2022. This programme provides Saturday sessions for 100 children aged 6 to 14 years old. I am grateful to see the programme first-hand and can volunteer occasionally as a staff member.

The children, referred by NGOs, are from communities in Hong Kong, mostly from asylum and refugee families who wouldn’t otherwise have access to a Kellett education. 

Outreach offers sessions in core subjects such as English, Mathematics and Science, complemented by arts and sporting activities. All sessions are delivered by Kellett School staff and sports coaches with the support of student volunteers. The children attending are provided with free transportation, meals, and resources to ensure they can fully engage in the lessons and access their potential.  

Outreach creates a stepping-stone for some children to join the AMD Fund Bursary programme and take place at Kellett School full-time. 

6. Are your donors mostly current Kellett parents, alumni or others connected with the school? 

As a fairly young school (we have had only 8 years of Year 13 students completing schooling at Kellett), our donors are mostly current Kellett parents and a few corporates, meanwhile, we also encourage our alumni to give back and support to the community. 

7. You have a busy fundraising calendar throughout the year — what are the most popular activities? 

Our Giving Day was popular as we made sure students had a really fun day so they would go home buzzing to their parents and encourage them to donate. Plus the Parents’ Committee has managed the Kellett Ball which drives funds to the Foundation. However, major donor engagement to support campaigns like Giving Day contributes the most to the Foundation. 

 
8. What Kellett branded merchandise have you sold to raise extra funds and build engagement?

We sell Kellett branded merchandise, each item contributes to a different fund. Merchandise includes banded coasters, mugs, water bottles, and artwork. Plus we have a listing for ‘name a theatre seat’ on this site. Details of Kellett branded merchandise can be found on the Kellett Foundation website — https://kellettfoundation.com/shop.

9. How have you been using your ToucanTech system to manage your supporter data and communications?

Since the launch of the Kellett Foundation website at the end of 2022, we have uploaded our historical donations, keeping track of donor donations and profiles. We have seen an increase in managed donations by 25% year-on-year. We have recently run a Christmas Campaign for Kellett Parents by creating a campaign page, collecting donations, and reporting donation updates all on the same page. The majority of the donations were collected straight from the website, so all the data were logged automatically and we were able to create and send system receipts to donors. Due to this campaign and the general promotion via the Kellett Foundation website, we have seen a 5-fold increase in online donations this year!

10. You are an experienced database manager — any top tips for other fundraisers on how to keep their data tidy?

Follow the best practices tips shared by the ToucanTech customer service team and other fundraisers. Keep a good housekeeping routine, especially before and after hosting a campaign or event. Internally, get your team members familiar with the platform and centralise all the data entry, and communication in one place.

11. What are you hoping for in 2024 for the Kellett Foundation?

Make better use of ToucanTech to track donor engagement. Raise more money for our three funds, channeling donations via the Foundation website for efficiency. We are currently planning the school's Spring Fair and profits will go to the Foundation so we are looking to maximise that event which historically has attracted close to 2000 people! Further, I am seeking to pass my knowledge on to the broader team to enable more team members to use ToucanTech!