When I joined the Chartered Institute of Fundraising in June 2022, one of the things that attracted me to the post was how important volunteers are to the organisation. It was clear when I was doing my research that volunteers are absolutely central to the organisation. Too often volunteers are kept at arms-length from the organisation that they gift their time to, and this was clearly not the case at the Chartered Institute.
June was an interesting time to join the organisation. I attended the Scottish Conference Awards and enjoyed an inspiring evening, listening to the amazing work that fundraisers had done in a year that had been more challenging than most. The energy and positivity that evening was infectious, and I couldn’t wait to get started the following week when I was due to take up my post.
A few weeks later I was at the 2022 Fundraising Convention at the Barbican. An amazing event which would not have been possible without our amazing volunteers. I got to meet some fantastic people over the course of the three days, and even the early morning starts, and the hot days didn’t dampen their energy or stop them smiling.
I have had the pleasure of meeting so many volunteers in the last year, albeit virtually in most cases. It’s always great to be able to meet people and hear what they are doing to support their peers. From networking, to training, conferences, mentoring, webinars and more!
There is no end to the creativity that you all show and the hard work that you put in. From seasoned veterans of the Chartered Institute to people embarking on a career in fundraising for the first time, our volunteers are there to support fundraisers every step of the way.
All over the UK, and from every fundraising specialism you could imagine, our volunteers gift their time to promote fundraising, support their peers and represent the Chartered Institute. We could not begin to try and deliver our strategy without their support, skill, and enthusiasm. It has been a joy to meet so many of you over the last year and I look forward to meeting more of you this year. It is a privilege to work with you as we take the Chartered Institute forward and support fundraisers around the country as they continue their journey.
Fundraisers who are making a lifetime of impact, through their career in fundraising.