In the closing remarks of Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s annual convention, CEO Katie Docherty spoke of how it offers professional fundraisers a togetherness of purpose; an opportunity to share values and combine commitment. It’s a community she’s enormously grateful to be part of, she said, and remarked that so much has changed in both fundraising and the institute over the last few years.
The Chartered Institute shaped a new strategy in 2022 and is now working to deliver it – this being the change members wanted to see. “We need to meet your needs and changing demands,” Katie said, “as we champion career fundraisers, empowering them to thrive in this ever-changing landscape.”
Katie talked about the challenges fundraisers and charities face – the impact of the rising cost of living on their personal and professional lives. “It must sometimes seem,” she said, “as if you have one arm tied behind your back. These factors are completely out of our control but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work out what we should do as a response to the impact. We at the Chartered Institute are focused on growing giving through research, policy and thought leadership, and looking at how we can work to arrest the concerning trend of fewer people giving to charity.”
The challenge of recruitment and retention for charities of all sizes was also addressed. Katie quoted research Revolutionise, which found that nearly half of all fundraisers plan to change job within two years, while one in ten plans to leave the profession for good. “We need professional respect,” she said. “Without it, morale plummets. We need to feel we are achieving as well as contributing. This recruitment and retention challenge must be met head on.”
Katie went on to say that career fundraisers deliver a lifetime of impact, but their work cannot happen in vacuum. They need investment and support from their organisations to succeed.
And in contrast to the bleaker statistics already mentioned, it’s heartening that 86% of those questioned say they are proud to be a fundraiser. “Your passion energises and motivates us,” said Katie, “but we have more work to do. When fundraisers are appreciated, they deliver time and time again. I want that shared across every board table in the UK.”
Katie ended her speech by saying that the support fundraisers provide everyone with through their paid and voluntary work is what gives her the most pride in her job. “When we come together with a shared purpose to tackle common challenges, all of fundraising benefits,” she said.
When Jonathan Levy, chair of the Convention Board, took the stage, it was to thank Katie profusely for her leadership. He then thanked every member of the Board for the time, effort and energy they put into their roles. He also congratulated this year’s Rising Stars, acknowledging how difficult yet incredible it is to stand up and deliver a talk in front of an audience for the first time.
Speaking about his personal journey into fundraising, Jonathan namechecked charities who have helped him throughout his life. They included Coffee for Craig, the Dyspraxia Foundation, The Homeless Charity, Fifth Sense - who helped him navigate his lack of sense of smell - and Jewish Action for Mental Health.
He also commented on the incredible work face-to-face fundraisers do: “I’ve shadowed fundraising and seen their great work first-hand. They’re very passionate people speaking to others about causes, and they’re brilliant ambassadors for these causes.”
Lastly, in exploring ‘connection’, the theme of the 2023 Convention, Jonathan gave a few definitions of connection he’d collected from members of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. These included:
- Connection is a feeling of understanding between people
- It’s belonging and acceptance
- It’s a secret ingredient that inspires people to give
Jonathan chose to close with a great piece of advice he had been given and which he wanted to share with the audience on how to create connection: