I am a coach and consultant. I help leaders in non profits become better leaders through coaching, training, workshops, consulting, speaking and writing and creating and designing solutions. I help them raise more money and hopefully change the world. Here’s my back ground, what led me to this, today. I worked as a lost teenager in the family business, then in retail and sales. I learnt a lot…don’t we all at that age. But it wasn’t right and I couldn’t find my niche, a home.
When I was 23 I became a fundraiser for charity. Accident almost. I got my first sector job as an Area Appeals Manager for Scope, then called something else (I was there and part of the name change). I quickly realised I had found a purpose, belonging and a space.
So my career in fundraising had begun. Founded in 1983.
Fundraising and leadership career
So that was over 35 years ago. I’ve worked in the third sector at all levels in the UK and internationally, and in 2014 I decided to take the leap to working for myself and with partners in the sector in the UK and globally. As I made the transition, I was most recently formally working as Executive Director at Action on Hearing Loss, the RNIB and as Director of Fundraising at Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre’s in the UK. From 2006 to 2010 I was Development Director for Legacy Fundraising at the NSPCC. I joined the NSPCC in 1998 as Director of Community Appeals where I was responsible for Local volunteer and community fundraising, schools, and national events across the UK. In 1999 when the Full Stop appeal was launched I managed the appeal in the regions, which raised £55 million. Before joining the NSPCC, I was Head of Regional Fundraising at UNICEF for 3 years and prior to that spent 12 years in a range of fundraising and management roles at Scope. I was previously chairman of Remember a Charity, a consortium of over 145 charities promoting gifts in wills, and have just recently served 6 years as Vice Chairman of the Institute of Fundraising. I’m proud to be a trustee at Clic Sargent
My motivation and passion
In my time I’ve been lucky in the experience I’ve gained, the people i’ve worked with, the organisations i’ve served and the places I have travelled to. I have had successes big and small and failures as well. But all along, I have found that there are some things that have guided me and stayed with me. Understanding leadership and why and how it works. Learning how a few key principles in fundraising always hold the key to whether you succeed or fail. The power and joy of great teams and talented people and how special it is when you get these aligned and motivated.
How fundraising techniques are never a substitute for a good authentic story told well with emotion and connection. How finding purpose and meaning in each person, team and organisation unlock strategy and innovation and impact.
In my work I like to write and explore in my blog. I connect with my podcast and through video. I take my principles and I apply a method built around Leadership Driven Fundraising, using 4 platforms to help people in the non-profit world
