Every day is completely different in fundraising, and that's exactly what I love about it. Understanding what motivates donors is always inspiring, and knowing you can help them meet their needs is genuinely rewarding.
But perhaps what I value most is getting to work alongside truly passionate people who are driven to help their causes create change – and I honestly can't think of anything better than that.
My journey into this sector began with inspiration from my family. Growing up, I watched my aunties and uncles support organisations like Oxfam, CND and Greenpeace. My uncle's career path was particularly influential – he worked at Oxfam and Save the Children before ending up at the United Nations. During my environmental sciences degree, I studied NGOs and remember thinking how much I wanted to work in the charity sector.
Like many graduates, though, the reality was different. After I left university I tried various jobs, including an unexpectedly interesting stint in the Obituaries department at The Times, before landing in IT recruitment. After three years, I experienced a profound "what am I doing with my life?" moment. Fortunately, my IT role was well-paid, and I'd saved enough to leave without another job lined up immediately.
When I applied for a role at Help the Aged (now Age UK), I didn't get the job. However, John Thompson, who was the corporate development manager at the time, asked if I'd volunteer with the organisation.
I started as a volunteer and then worked as a temp in their events team. This became the launchpad for not only my fundraising career but also an incredible bond with John, who I've always referred to as my "guardian angel."
It was John who encouraged me to pursue my first permanent full-time paid fundraising role in the corporate partnerships team at the Red Cross. Years later, whilst I was at Every Child, my CEO suggested I consider John – by then co-founder of Changing Business, where he works as a fundraising consultant and recruiter – as my mentor. When I reached out, he agreed, and we began a transformative six-month mentoring journey.
Some years later I stumbled across my old notebook from our sessions together, and the advice within those pages still resonates powerfully. One of the most valuable pieces of guidance John gave me was about career progression: get hold of job descriptions for roles you want, identify gaps in your skillset, and strive to gain experience and knowledge in those areas.
In that notebook, I'd outlined two main life and career goals – to have a family and to hold a "director of" position. When I took the role of Director of Fundraising at Terrence Higgins Trust, having already started my family, I posted about it on LinkedIn. Within five minutes, John had commented: "all goals achieved." This simple acknowledgement of everything I'd worked so hard for – with his help and support – felt amazing.
If I had one piece of advice to anyone in the sector at any stage of their career, it would be to consider getting a mentor and to gravitate towards people who bring you joy and lift you up. Being mentored definitely had a positive impact on my career and my outlook on life in general.
Alongside mentorship, membership of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising has been instrumental in my professional development. I joined around 2005, and it has helped me develop my career, become a better fundraiser and leader, and meet some of the most inspiring people I know.
The Institute supports my career development, helps me gain knowledge and insight, connects me with other fundraisers, and keeps me updated about the latest sector news.
What I value most is access to the latest thinking and insights from the fundraising sector. I love Convention – I even volunteered there when it was still in Birmingham! I've also served on the Standards Advisory Board.
Volunteering with the Chartered Institute has given me the chance to learn new skills, learn from others and think differently. It's widened my skillset, which has opened up other opportunities.
The Chartered Institute can't do what it does without its amazing volunteers. It's a mutually beneficial experience – you expand your skills and knowledge, the Institute can deliver more, and above all, the sector benefits hugely.
For my current role as Executive Director of External Engagement at Samaritans, where I'm responsible for fundraising, external communications and influencing, membership is invaluable. Training and development opportunities for my team encourage a growth mindset and support innovation. This has led to us being ambitious with our organisational strategy so we can reach and support more service users.
To anyone thinking of joining the Chartered Institute, I'd say: do it. You won't regret it. You'll hear about best practice for fundraising, trends and insights, plus you'll get to meet loads of talented people who are passionate about making change. As fundraisers, we're fortunate to help our causes drive change, and having the support of a vibrant, knowledgeable community makes that journey all the more rewarding.