Where are you are working and in what role?
My role is as the Partnerships and Philanthropy Operations Coordinator at Age UK. My team essentially supports the fundraising efforts of the Corporate Partnerships Team, the Philanthropy Team and the Trusts and Foundations Team. We provide prospect donor research, fundraising propositions, stewardship and engagement donor communication materials as well as general operational support for the whole Partnerships and Philanthropy team.
How are you feeling about your role so far?
I am really enjoying the role so far, I get to work on different projects with different teams within the Partnerships and Philanthropy group, so I feel I’m getting great exposure and experience in different areas of fundraising. The experience has confirmed to me that fundraising is the area I want to continue in, but with my new knowledge, I’ve decided to focus on High Value donors as this is where I believe my commercial experience will have the greatest impact.
What aspects of the work do you enjoy the most?
So far, I have loved building relationships and working together with a host of different people across the Partnerships and Philanthropy team.
Some highlights have been participating in my first fundraising event, Love Christmas at St Paul’s Cathedral, and also working on the iconic Innocent Big Knit campaign.
Everyone has been extremely welcoming and taken the time to walk me through their various roles and the overall culture of the organisation.
What is your commercial experience and how are you transferring these skills to your role now?
My previous experience is in investment management which also involves a lot of relationship management. The clearest transference so far has been my relationship building skills which are really valuable within fundraising. I am gradually also learning to transfer other important skills such as strong analytical skills, project management skills, teamwork and creative problem solving. I feel far better equipped to explain how my skills relate to what is required in fundraising.
Why did you apply to The Well Placed?
I heard about the Well Placed through a talk Maya gave at the Career Returners Network. That opened a potential door to a career path in Fundraising that I hadn’t really considered before or didn’t think that I had the skill set for. It was the perfect timing as I was looking to transition to a more meaningful career at the time, so I applied!
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to switch to the charity sector?
Start by volunteering at a charity you would like to support – this will give you a good feel for the environment and culture of the sector.
Do as much research as you can on the different roles in the sector and assess in which areas your own skillset would fit best. Then apply to The Well Placed! It’s invaluable to have a community of like-minded people to connect with, share experiences and receive support from as you navigate this change!