Samantha Corfield, Director of Philanthropy & Alumni Relations at Lord Wandsworth College, shares how partnering with Buffalo Fundraising Consultants Ltd (Buffalo) and SuperKind helped transform their Giving Day into a community-wide celebration of philanthropy.
What drew you to SuperKind?
We were first introduced to SuperKind through Buffalo when we were looking for ways to involve our pupils more meaningfully in fundraising. What immediately struck me was that SuperKind is designed specifically for schools, is safe for under-18s to use, and—amazingly—is free. It provides a legal and practical way for pupils to set up their own fundraising pages without the headaches of forms and cash collections.
But SuperKind’s resources extend further than their fundraising platform: SuperKind provides resources to help pupils learn about campaigning, philanthropy, and social responsibility. It’s not just about raising money—it’s about inspiring the next generation of changemakers and, for us, future donors.
What are some examples of social action projects that have been inspired by SuperKind?
Our first Giving Day was in 2023, which coincided with LWC’s centenary year. We honestly had no idea what we were doing at the time, but Buffalo guided us brilliantly and we raised just over £93,000—far more than we expected.
This year we returned with our second Giving Day, held in March at the end of the spring term. Our theme was “Widening Worlds, Transforming Lives”, linking directly to our school mantra of widening horizons while raising funds for our foundation to transform lives.
Despite concerns—particularly with the new VAT on fees—we were thrilled to raise nearly £99,000. We believe our stronger focus on pupil involvement this year played a huge part in that success.
How did your fundraising tie into the school day/curriculum?
We wanted the Giving Day to feel different while still fitting around the normal timetable. Pupils kept up with lessons, but we added layers of excitement during lessons, breaks, evenings, and after school.
For example:
These activities not only linked to learning outcomes but made philanthropy part of the pupils’ lived school experience, rather than something happening around them.
Why did you involve pupils?
In our first Giving Day in 2023, pupils enjoyed the atmosphere but weren’t truly involved. Their parents and alumni donated, but the children themselves didn’t have a direct role in giving. We realised that while they were having fun, they weren’t learning about philanthropy or experiencing the sense of achievement that comes from raising money themselves.
That’s why we chose to make pupil involvement central to this year’s Giving Day. The difference was striking. The Junior House Colour Run, run through SuperKind, saw 59 pupils raise nearly £7,000—far exceeding their £1,000 target. Families whose children fundraised gave on average four times more than those who simply donated directly to our Giving Day campaign. Clearly, when pupils are involved, excitement spreads through households and into the wider community. One parent told me that their child didn’t “get it” at first, but once donations started coming in, they became excited, engaged their family in conversations about the foundation, and even encouraged friends to join. That moment of realisation—that they were making a difference—was exactly what we hoped to spark.
Beyond the fundraising totals, involving pupils also gave them valuable experiences. Running stalls, planning events, and asking for donations built skills in organisation, leadership, and communication. The activities themselves—from egg-and-spoon races to singing challenges and the Colour Run—made philanthropy fun, linking it with joy and community.
Ultimately, by actively involving pupils we’re not just raising money today—we’re embedding a culture of philanthropy from a young age. These children will grow into tomorrow’s donors, advocates, and socially responsible adults.
I absolutely urge all IDPE members to bring SuperKind into their school. It’s amazing. We reached 4x more donors, each family gave more and SuperKind are playing a brilliant role in educating and empowering our children."
What’s next for you?
We plan to continue using SuperKind year-round for other sponsored events, like our Stern Challenge where pupils run 100km in one day.
Our focus going forward is on active pupil participation—ensuring that fundraising isn’t just about parents writing cheques, but about pupils themselves taking part, learning, and developing a lifelong connection to philanthropy.
As much as our Giving Days and fundraising events are about raising money, they’re equally about shaping socially responsible adults who understand the power of giving back.