Tracy Calcraft shares how volunteering with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising has helped shape her fundraising career, expand professional networks, and strengthen fundraising best practice. From chairing the Yorkshire Committee to supporting Fundraising Convention, Tracy reflects on the value of collaboration, sector learning, and giving back to the fundraising community.
After my daughter went to school I switched careers from working in the commercial shipping sector and ‘fell’ into fundraising as a fundraising administrator with Marie Curie - 21 years later still loving it!
Meeting supporters and beneficiaries - the lengths people will go to, to support our charities never fails to inspire me! I’ve also loved working alongside brilliant and talented fundraising professionals in all my roles.
I wanted to meet like-minded professionals, share best practice and learn from the best! I’ve been a member for many years and a volunteer for the past five years.
“Membership of the Chartered Institute has helped me meet and learn from the best in the business!”
The friendships I’ve made have helped me professionally as well as personally. Our fundraising community is so warm and welcoming, and always eager to share best practice and ideas which we can all learn from and take into our workplaces.
The takeaways from networking and Fundraising Convention give us tips and ideas to try within our fundraising strategy and plans which ultimately lead to success and more support for our beneficiaries.
The connections I have made and the opportunity to volunteer and give something back.
I have served as Chair of the Yorkshire Committee for three years, and I’m currently in my first year as Chair of Fundraising Convention, where I also volunteer through the two days. I volunteer with the Chartered Institute because I want to give back to this wonderful profession. Through volunteering, I gain the networks, ideas and best practice that make a real difference to my work, and my message to anyone thinking about volunteering is simple: I can’t wait to meet you!
“You won’t regret it!”
