proudest moments
Secured Kate Winslet to officially open a new neonatal unit post capital appeal
Grew corporate fundraising income from £150k to £900k pa in five years
Grew events fundraising income from £200k to £700k in four years
Brought the first colour/paint run to the UK
Acquired 3,000+ active donors to a brand new fundraising department in two years
Turned around a charity in severe financial crisis, to a position of 11 months free reserves within one year
Developed several large capital appeal strategies which resulted in success, within planned timescales
Winner of the Institute of Fundraising's Professional Fundraiser of the Year
Led my first capital campaign, exceeding the £1.5m target by £200k in 2 years (I’ve since been involved in 10 more capital appeals!)
Strong track record of achieving five and six figure grants for small and large projects, and core costs
Led a £600k capital appeal within 9 months, with no existing donor base
Secured two year half marathon partnership raising £180k, double that of any previous charity
Secured a partnership with Aardman to support a capital campaign and a special event
my story
My love for charities was found during university. My marketing degree included a year's placement and I landed a sought-after job with Esso Petroleum. I hated every minute - but I did learn a lot about my values and priorities! I filled my evenings with volunteering, looking after rescued animals and birds at Wildlife Aid and donning a tabard with the League of Friends in a local hospital’s children's ward. When I returned for the final year of the degree I shifted tack, planning a career in fundraising and collaborating with CLIC Sargent on my dissertation (exploring why donors give).
After university, In 2000, I got a job as a Community Fundraiser for Cancer Research UK where I built a fantastic foundation in community, events and corporate fundraising. Since then, I have been responsible for c.£20m income, held several senior management positions and worked across fundraising and marketing/communications. I set up the first fundraising department at North Bristol NHS Trust as their Fundraising Manager, later becoming their Head of Fundraising as I built the team. I then joined the incredible Children's Hospice South West at Charlton Farm as Head of Major Gifts, later moving into the role of Head of Fundraising.
I started freelance and consultancy work in 2017 and, at the same time, set up the Fundraising Consultants and Freelancers UK Group on Facebook which now has 2,500 members. My work since has been diverse and I love it that way - both in terms of the vast range of work I have delivered, and the number of different sizes and types of charities I’ve worked with. I also bring experience of being a Trustee with Great Western Air Ambulance. You can read a little more about me on LinkedIn.
CONFIDENCE
I am hold £1m professional indemnity insurance and £1m public liability insurance. I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and a member of their Directory of Consultants. I achieved a Distinction in the Postgraduate Diploma in Charity Marketing and Fundraising, Bayes Business School (City University of London) and also hold the Diploma in Fundraising (MinstF Dip), Chartered Institute of Fundraising. I work to the highest standards in ethics and integrity and stay up to date with the latest trends, best practice and regulations. You can feel confident that you are investing in someone who is ambitious and competent.
