The review just published on ‘Regulating fundraising for the future’ led by Sir Stuart Etherington recommends significant changes to the Fundraising Standards Board, the Institute of Fundraising and the Public Fundraising Association. There’s been a lot of feedback from the sector about these recommendations, and the aim of this particular post isn’t to add to … Continued

Awards aren’t everything, but it’s always nice to win one!  So we were delighted that the 2014 Christmas appeal we developed with NICHS (Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke) picked up the NI IOF ‘Fundraising DM Appeal of the year award’ recently. The appeal sought funds for the vital work of NICHS’s Stroke Family Support … Continued

I have just returned from visiting Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) in Surrey, where I had the chance to see for myself how this brilliant charity supports disabled people to increase their independence and improve their life skills. As a fundraising consultant, my job is to tell people why they should support this … Continued

Please note – we’ve now published the 2016 diary here Don’t miss this handy reference to your essential diary dates for the UK voluntary sector 2015. You won’t find it anywhere else – we’ve compiled this calendar of charity and health awareness days and fundraising events for June – December 2015 from a wide variety … Continued

Could charities benefit from recent changes to pensions? In April 2015 the Government made a number of important changes to how people can access their pensions.  Under the new rules, anyone aged over 55 now has total freedom over how and when they access their pension – including taking 25% as tax-free cash. There has … Continued

There’s no shortage of advice in the fundraising sector (whether in blogs, conferences or other channels) on how to achieve big things – such as how to build massive mobile-driven campaigns, how to tell stories via a range of integrated channels or how to come up with big, game-changing creative ideas. Whilst this advice is … Continued

I witnessed an amazing bit of asking this week that I want to share here as it seems to have a connection to the art of fundraising. I was in a baker’s shop when a well-dressed man came in and put a teabag on the counter. Man: Hello. My friend outside told me that if … Continued

We’re delighted to welcome Kate Wright to ChangeStar, who starts this week as our new Account Director. Kate has tons of communications experience – including direct mail, social media, branding, digital media, advertising, media buying and print production – and loads of charity experience, including Whizz-Kidz, RNID, ChildLine, The Terence Higgins Trust, the British Red … Continued

Delicious cakes, meetings held in the countryside, consultancy sessions in the pub – oh, and some of the most useful and practical fundraising training you can get your hands on. We’re delighted to offer our new brochure of training, coaching and services to help individuals and organisations (large and small) improve their effectiveness.   As you’ll … Continued