Carolyn Sheppard, Head of Individual Giving, Legacies and Membership

02 October 2025
5 minutes
Legacy Fundraising
Standard Content

This continuous learning through human connection has been the thread running through my entire career. Each organisation, each colleague, each beneficiary has taught me something new about our sector and about myself.

Carolyn Sheppard
Carolyn Sheppard
Head of Individual Giving, Legacies and Membership at Rethink Mental Illness and Mental Health UK

How I got into fundraising

My fundraising career began at the University of Cambridge Development Office. Like many fundraisers, higher education provided my entry point into this incredible sector, giving me that first taste of what it means to connect people with causes they care about.

Finding what drives me

What I love about being a fundraiser is the people. I meet so many interesting people, both as colleagues and peers and amongst beneficiaries. I've never stopped learning with every charity I've joined or met.

This continuous learning through human connection has been the thread running through my entire career. Each organisation, each colleague, each beneficiary has taught me something new about our sector and about myself.

Membership and Learning with the CIOF

I initially joined the Chartered Institute when I took the Diploma course. The qualification gave me a good all-round understanding and has helped me to be a great silo buster - something that's proved invaluable throughout my career.

The Diploma gave me an all-round understanding that's served me well throughout my career. There are financial pressures facing both individuals and organisations today so for anyone considering the Institute's learning opportunities, I have practical advice based on current realities: See if you can get a bursary. It might be what enables you to do the course.

What made me keep my membership going was practicality. As I moved into interim roles across several organisations, I didn't want to lose my membership as I changed employers. This decision to maintain personal membership has proved wise as I've navigated different career phases.

How membership has supported my knowledge

Membership has helped me keep abreast of important changes that affect our sector. Whether it's legislative, or best practice, the CIoF and Civil Society sites are my go-to resources.

In my current role, we don't have organisational membership, so I'm often asked about what is happening in the sector. I regularly update colleagues with information and learning from CIoF, essentially becoming the conduit between the Institute and my organisation.

This knowledge-sharing role highlights two key ways my membership helps me:

Getting involved with my regional group

For several years I've been on the Committee for the East Anglia regional group, and I'm now Chair. This regional involvement has given me something truly special: networking with others and the sense of community.

Beyond the networking, there's the joy of our regional Awards - you hear so many amazing stories. These events remind me why our work matters and showcase the incredible dedication of fundraisers across East Anglia.

If you’re thinking of joining - try it and explore the networking. Through the special interest group and regional events you can meet and talk with others.

For anyone considering volunteering with the Chartered Institute, my message is also to try it! You will meet other amazing people who understand your challenges, will share your successes, and you will be part of this amazing community.

The fundraising community

What keeps me connected to the Chartered Institute isn't just the formal benefits or the professional development opportunities. It's the sense of community - that feeling of being part of something larger than myself.

In our sector, we face unique challenges. We're constantly balancing the needs of our causes with the realities of fundraising in an increasingly complex world. Having a community of peers who understand these challenges, who celebrate our successes and support us through difficulties, is invaluable.

Through regional Awards, committee meetings, and informal networking, I'm constantly reminded of the incredible work happening across our sector. These connections don't just inform my professional practice - they sustain my passion for this work.

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