The Fundraisers Fund

Fundraisers donate £20,000 to the Fundraisers Fund in memory of Gill Astarita

Admin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:01:00 GMT

Friends of Gill Astarita – the well-known fundraiser and chief executive of Volunteer Reading Help, who lost her battle against cancer in September 2008 – have donated £20,000 to the Fundraisers Fund.

The donation will be administered through this website (www.fundraisersfund.org) as The Gill Astarita Memorial Bursaries, which have been established by her husband Mark, director of fundraising at the British Red Cross. The money will be used to provide support and training to fundraisers in Africa and Asia. To spread the fund as far as possible, the Gill Astarita Memorial Bursaries will only be used to provide training for fundraisers within their own countries.

“Gill would have been delighted with this fund,” says Mark. “She was passionate about supporting and developing anyone who chose fundraising as a career and I feel sure this is something she would have herself wanted to give to.

“I hope that between 15 and 20 bursaries will be made in the first year, and I've agreed with the Resource Alliance that we will attempt to spread the funding over a five-year period. During that time I hope we will have been able to have supported some 75 fundraisers and who knows, one or two of them may be the stars of tomorrow going on to raise millions.”

Half of the donation has been provided by the trustees of the Private Equity Foundation (PEF), which is a supporter of Volunteer Reading Help.

Shaks Ghosh, chief executive of the Private Equity Foundation, says: “Volunteer Reading Help was one of the first charities the Private Equity Foundation invested in. We worked very closely with Gill and know how passionate she was about fundraising. Our trustees were keen to make a donation to Gill's memorial bursaries fund to commemorate her work and to invest in a programme that will bring a future social return to people in the developing world.”

Simon Collings, Former CEO of the Resource Alliance, says: “I am extremely pleased that we have been able to help Mark celebrate Gill’s life in this way. Perhaps her spirit will be able to live on in some of the up-and-coming fundraisers in countries where funds will be used.”

Gill spent her entire career in the voluntary sector, starting as a temp at War on Want and working for a number of charities, including Prisoners Abroad, Addaction and the Pre-School Learning Alliance. She is particularly well known for her role as director of marketing and communications at Action for Blind People, where she pioneered the charity's use of face-to-face fundraising and helped its income grow from £3m to £13m.  After leaving Action for Blind People, Gill joined Volunteer Reading Help as chief executive.

The Institute of Fundraising is to rename its 'Fundraiser of the Year Award' as the 'Gill Astarita Fundraiser of the Year Award'. Mark Astarita has been asked to present the first award at the 2009 National Fundraising Convention in London.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

tonyelischer — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:21:00 GMT

Almost there, and what a year it has been!!! Generally a pretty good one, so thanks for all my friends and contacts from/via the RA I look forward to working with you in 2009 and driving the Fundraisers Fund up to new dizzy heights!!!!

Enjoy the festive season, warm regards

Tony

UN Conference on Climate Change in Pojnan, Poland and our programme in Bangladesh

Md. Sirajul Islam Molla — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 08:01:00 GMT

Dear Colleagues:

As a conscious citizen of the civilized world you must be aware of the imminent disastrous effect of the climate change. The great disaster is advancing fast toward many countries of the world and Bangladesh is the riskiest of them. The world leaders are seriously thinking of it and meeting to reach a concensus to drastically reduce the carbon emission. As a part of their concern, the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 14) has begun in Pojnan in Poland on 1 December and will continue till 12 December 2008.

The concerned people throughout the world has been demonstrating raising their voices against the polluter and asking them to drastically reduce the carbon emission to save the earth from the wrath of the nature. SUNDER JIBAN together with the biggest forum of environmentalists and environmental organizations, The Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA) has also organized a rally yesterday in Dhaka to express their soliderity with the world people and press home their demand to the developed nations to reduce the carbon emission immediately to a safer level. Many of the local newspapers have covered the news widely.

I urge all of you to raise your voices also to reduce the carbon emission and be environment friendly. Please stand by our side to save us from the most disastrous effect of climate change which will make 40 million people of Bangladesh homeless maybe by 2030-2040. The country will face severe food crisis, its people will be suffering from malnutrition, waterborne diseases and will be compelled to migrate to other countries. In order to save them from the heaviest calamities, all people from around the world should press the developed nations to reduce the carbon emission drastically and to come forward to help the people of Bangladesh and others to cope up with the situation.

Regards,

Siraj

Public gathering on 6 December 2008 against climate change

Md. Sirajul Islam Molla — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:23:00 GMT

Dear Colleagues:

As you may know the UN Climate Change Conference has begun on 1 December in Pujnan city in Poland. As part of the global campaign against climate change (GCCC), people who are concerned on environmental disaster and climate change are going to hold simultaneous programmes in their respective countries throughout the world during this time. Bangladesh campaign against climate change (BCCC) in cooperation with its partner organizations are also committed to organize people’s gathering, rally, etc. at different places in Bangladesh simultaneously.

As a part of the above programme, Sunder Jiban, Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA), the greatest forum for environmentalists and environmental organization in Bangladesh and Bangladesh Campaign against Climate Change (BCCC) are jointly organizing a public gathering in Dhaka on 6 December 2008 while the people of the rest of the world are also expected to make similar demonstration in their respective countries.

You, your friends, colleagues and family are cordially requested to please raise your voices against the disastrous climate change. Please remember this is a people’s movement throughout the world and we Bangladeshis are going to be the worst victim of the circumstances. So please join us with this movement and raise your voice against it. The more people will raise their voices, our demand will be stronger and maybe during our lifetime we cannot achieve our target, but our next generations will.

With kind regards,

Siraj

Md. Sirajul Islam Molla

President, Sunder Jiban

And Member-Secretary,

Air and Noise Pollution Control Programme

Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan

Cell. 01713-093-887

Everyone else is doing naked calendars. Shouldn't we?

Ian MacQuillin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:44:00 GMT

There's a tradition in the United Kingdom that, at Christmas, lots of sane and otherwise quite conservative people will take all their clothes off and pose naked for a fundraising calendar. I think this might be done elsewhere but nowhere is it such a cottage industry as in the UK, where everyone from the Women's Institute (the famous one!) to women's rugby clubs and pony trekking clubs, from waste management companies to the vending machine trade association, will gladly throw traditional British reserve to wind in the name of raising money for a good cause (of course, one way to look at this is that Brits are a totally repressed bunch just waiting for a worthy excuse to prance about in the buff).

I once wrote in a magazine article that fundraisers should do the same thing. After all, if amateur fundraisers are baring all, shouldn't professional fundraisers do the same?However, there was no obvious beneficiary charity to do this for. Until now that is, because there now is a charity that raises money specifically for other fundraisers and, of course, we on its website now.

So I've just written on my blog at UK Fundraising (www.fundraising.co.uk/blogs/ianmacquillin) that, just maybe, the Fundraisers Fund should consider entering the nude calendar market next year.

Of course, I'm joking. Well, at the moment I'm joking, but maybe it really is something we ought to consider? What do you think? Any donors to the Fund prepared to put their body where their money is?

With my PR hat on, if we can get a few people discussing it on UK Fundraising, it would be a great way to keep the Fund in the forefront of people's mind in a light-hearted way at the end of the year. So please, can you visit my UK Fundraising blog and let me have some comments about what you think of this idea and whether you'd volunteer.

I can think of a couple of people who are donors to the Fund who I'd expect to be first in the queue.

25 000 Euros secured for cutural heritage in Egypt

Ouafa Belgacem — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:26:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

I am happy to share with you this good news. In last October I submitted a proposal on behalf of the "Association pour la Sauvegarde du Ramessium" to the European Commission and it has been awarded 25 000 Euros.

The project will be lead by one of the most internationally renown Egyptologist : Mr. Christian Leblanc.

The fund will be used to prepare and publish ten bilingual booklets (a sort of little guide book) for the use of pupils to help them understand and enjoy visiting some of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt.

I am so happy

Report back from Argentine fundraising congress

Simon Collings — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:43:00 GMT

Back in August Resource Alliance supported the 3rd International Fundraising Congress in Argentina. The event was organised by the local fundraising association AEDROS and was attended by 269 delegates representing 120 organisations from 11 Latin American countries.

Last week I recieved their formal post-conference report including feedback from delegates assisted with scholarships. Reading the comments really gave me a lift. They show just what a difference our support can mean for people. Here are a couple of examples:

'In our country (Chile) people do not even understand the concept of fundraising...Both professionally and personally I was stunned by the excellence of the workshops, the professionalism of the speakers, and the commitment of the organisation. There were no loose ends. It is amazing how your mind and manner of thinking can change and how you get to understand the role of fundraising in a thorough way.' Susana Gonzalez Moreno, Fundacion Nuestros Hijos, Chile

'We are putting most of the acquired knowledge into practice. In fact we did not have time to even think about it! The need was ahead of us as soon as we left the conference! We are convinced that what is most important is not to copy strategies from other organisations...but to create a flow of actions and projects that will provide sustainability and foster development for our organisation.' Graciela Fidalgo, Hospice San Camillo, Argentina

Resource Alliance's funding, including some from the Fundraisers Fund, provide scholarships for 10 people. AEDROS ran an excellent event.

A scream from Generation X

Alan Clayton — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:08:00 GMT

I am generation X. That's just tough luck really. The baby boomers had all the fun: anti-apartheid, CND, Paris 1968, bra-burning and all that jazz. My Generation X (born between 67 and 77) had Thatcher-Reagonomics, yuppies and shoulder pads. Pah. There's not much you can do with a brick-shaped mobile 'phone and a WHAM! 12" vinyl to make you a real subversive radical.

It's not fair! We want to change the world too!

We're jealous of the boomers, but don't want to end up as Generation Y - the culture of the celebrity, luxury goods in your teens and massive credit card debts (well done Capitalism - you've proven that we can survive ONE WHOLE GENERATION on the debt spiral! Woo hoo!)

So they describe my generation as being spiritual nomads - wandering agonisingly around the world looking for a sense of purpose. It is tempting to deny this, to say "pfah" to the moaners and the ever-so-wonderful boomers and say "they don't understand."

But there's one problem.

It's true.

We Generation X types know the world is in a state. We know there are HUGE problems - climate change, poverty, HIV AIDS, health, obesity - for goodness sake!

And we want to change it. The wandering is not anout the "what." It's about the "how."

Stop telling us what's wrong. And, for the love of cheese, stop telling us it is our fault.

We're fed up wandering in a philosophical land-fill. Tell us the solutions and we'll join in.

Any organisation who gives us a sense of purpose - a big answer to big problems, a movement to join, a reason to get out of bed in the morning, a reason not to waste this precious blip in the space-time continuum that is my life ........ any of this ......... will get our money.

Any ideas?

The Cardiff 'alf...

Roger Jones — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:05:00 GMT

Many thanks for all your support... http://www.justgiving.com/rogerworld nailed the http://www.cardiffmarathon.org/ in 1 hour 59 minutes 04 seconds...Whooop Whoop!

Photos to follow soon...

Finale...

Roger Jones — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:56:00 GMT

The Wild Wild West Party was hilarious...a multi-lingual multi culture ho down...I went for the Cinderella (home by midnight) due to Cardiff 'alf Marathon on Sunday...Friday was chilled - with a quite inspirational closing presentation - the most powerful thing of all is that Simon and Tim did not even need to hit the main stage such was the quality of the speakers - it made you question your own values

Met a lovely lady from WSPA who looks after orangutans in Borneo - bloody good idea for a holiday!

I learned so much about the charity sector - its major players and the passion that exists.

All good.

One day at a time...

Roger Jones — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:47:00 GMT

The first day was superb - the opening plenuary session was simply inspirational!

This Congress is full of passion (not literally - although I did see a few people leaving the bar...)

The breakout sessions are pretty intense - everyone is on a mission to absorb as much information as quickly as possible.

I / we had dinner with Steven and Jo from NSPCC - and came up with the 10x10 idea based around running tourists...who raise money throughout the year running in amazing places...lovely idea...hope it comes off...

I was Cinderella and in bed by Midnight - but many people looked a little dehydrated this morning - many blaming the hotel's air conditioning...hilarious...

This morning up nice and early to see Bryan from CRUK speak about Fundraising 2.0...we are peas from the same pod.

A little nervous re the Wild Wild West dinner this evening - it could get messy.

It's Blog Action Day!

Beth Granter — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:36:00 GMT

Hi everyone,

I thought I should let you all know that today is Blog Action Day where thousands of bloggers will unite to discuss a single issue - poverty. The aim is to raise awareness, initiate action and to shake the web! If you have a blog on The Fundraisers Fund website, you can bring traffic to your blog by signing up on the Blog Action Day site. If you haven't got a blog yet, you can request one by sending Admin a message.

I'm not at the IFC so it would be great to hear what people have learnt there so far.

The 28th International Fundraising Congress

Roger Jones — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:26:00 GMT

Oh my word this Congress is huge

http://www.resource-alliance.org/

is launching

http://fundraisersfund.org/

designed and powered by

http://www.thegoodagency.co.uk/

400 alarm call for a 615 flight...d'oh!

Ten reasons to support the Fundraisers Fund

Kathy Allen — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:54:00 GMT

1. You can directly fund people’s training – no admin, no salaries, no staplers.

2. The fund is run by fundraisers, for fundraisers. We are you, and you are us.

3. Supporting fundraising in the global South is an incredibly effective way to change the world for the better.

4. Inequality. Many ‘poor’ countries have enclaves of wealthy and middle-class people. Effective fundraising in these countries will make sure these people do their bit to solve local problems.

5. You like hanging out with fundraisers. And the Fundraisers Fund website means you can meet some of the most inspiring fundraisers in the world – wherever they are.

6. Inspiration. You won’t believe the innovative ways people have come up with to raise funds.

7. You can share your knowledge directly with aspiring fundraisers – a tiny investment of time that could have a huge payback.

8. You earn a living through fundraising. By giving something back, you can help other people to do the same.

9. If you believe in fundraising’s power to change the world, this is your chance to put your money where your mouth is.

10. We can’t ask anyone else.

My proselytisation to fundraising: an impression...

Sudeshna Mukherjee — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:31:00 GMT

A forum for exchanging fundraising ideas... ...(read more)

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Admin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:04:00 GMT

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