Being a trustee feels like a weighty responsibility. There are so many important issues to get to grips with and fundraising is often one of the areas in which many trustees have little or no experience. In fact, many of the skills and experiences they have from their business lives directly apply to fundraising: having … Continue reading 6 questions trustees should ask their fundraisers…
Building fundraising success: the importance of leadership
Time and time again we see the critical role that leaders and trustees have on their charity’s major gift fundraising success. If you are a Trustee or leader, how do you develop the skills that make you effective in either fundraising directly or supporting the executive team? What do you need to know about major … Continue reading Building fundraising success: the importance of leadership
Lessons in leadership from Greta Thunberg
How many leaders really lead by example? How many go above and beyond to model the behaviours and values they espouse? People won’t believe or trust in someone who says one thing and then behaves in another way. And if they don’t trust you how can you lead? How can you create psychological safety if … Continue reading Lessons in leadership from Greta Thunberg
Three steps for Boosting your Fundraising Confidence
Stephanie Harvey, fundraising manager from Little Village, shares her thoughts on this year's Status of UK Fundraising 2019 Benchmark Report. One outcome is the decreased confidence in charities. Stephanie elaborates: "We have all seen the negative news with various stories being uncovered of late, and like others we were disappointed and angry about what was … Continue reading Three steps for Boosting your Fundraising Confidence
Why is the cost of raising funds rising so fast?
The cost of acquiring a pound of charitable income has grown swiftly since the start of the century. The latest edition of the UK Civil Society almanac contains a section on the cost of generating funds, which shows that in the year to March 2001, adjusted for inflation, the charity sector spent a total of … Continue reading Why is the cost of raising funds rising so fast?
Creating and leading a Great Fundraising Organisation
Do you work for a Great Fundraising Organisation? Not any great fundraising organisation… but a Great Fundraising Organisation. For the purpose of the academic study, “The Great Fundraising Report,” Profs. Adrian Sargeant and Jen Shang from the Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy at the University of Plymouth, defined Great Fundraising Organisations as those charities, NGOs and … Continue reading Creating and leading a Great Fundraising Organisation
Fundraising Directors – Why is your job so hard?
The majority of Development Directors are hired to grow income. In keeping with the ads and job descriptions, the charities are poised for growth and keen to hire an experienced fundraiser to lead the charge. The job interviews focus on a DD’s ability to raise funds, lead a team and be a senior team player … Continue reading Fundraising Directors – Why is your job so hard?
25 Facts and Stats about NGOs Worldwide
Raising money is hard work, and sometimes, just sometimes, we need some great facts to help remind ourselves that we are doing great work to help society and the world improve. #NGOFACTS is an ongoing online campaign that highlights important data about non-governmental organizations (NGOs), nonprofits, and charities worldwide. You can join the campaign by … Continue reading 25 Facts and Stats about NGOs Worldwide
Radical Transparency
What does Jennifer Coleman-Peers mean by ‘radical transparency’? It’s about pushing beyond the norms of honest and open practice to be open to the extreme, to share all the most important aspects – both the good and the bad – and in doing so to build trust in who we are and what we do … Continue reading Radical Transparency
Better to be kind, than to be right?
In this leadership blog, Shaun Horan discusses how the need to be “right” holds some leaders back: "you can’t bring people with you if you are only focused on yourself." Shaun continues: "Kindness should be seen as an antidote to this. We all know being kind makes us, and everyone around us, feel better. So … Continue reading Better to be kind, than to be right?