The Chartered Institute of Fundraising, and indeed the fundraising sector, has seen a significant transformation over the past few decades. In celebration of the Chartered Institute’s 40th anniversary, we are delighted to share the thoughts and experiences of some of our members who have been with us since the early years.
We catch up with the wonderful Susan Robinson, whose insights from her illustrious and varied career will surely help the next generation of fundraisers and resonate with those who have been fundraising through the years gone by.
After serving in the Royal Navy and running a conference centre, I realised I hadn’t quite found my passion. So, I took the plunge and applied for a job in the voluntary sector as an Appeals Office Manager and, despite not knowing what it was exactly, luck was on my side as I was given the job! My strengths lie in organising and talking to people which came in handy, but I came in with no knowledge of the sector – and I’m so very glad I was given that opportunity. Following this, I was fortunate to be given some other exciting roles, such as setting up a fundraising team at Sense Scotland and working with an employment charity for people with disabilities.
What has always motivated me and compelled me to apply for the roles I’ve had is passion – I seek out causes that I truly care about, and that I would personally give to. I’ve had an organisation flashing their cash at me and offering all the trimmings to work for them, which I initially accepted, but by my second day I realised I had made a mistake, because I wasn’t passionate about the organisation. Later, I went into consultancy with various charities in various countries, helping to build better teams and thus help charities blossom. Another one of my many hats has been as a trainer, wherein I delivered the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Certificate and Diploma in Fundraising, which was really exciting.
A few spring to mind, including helping to set up the Chartered Institute’s Scotland branch and the Scottish Conference – I was involved in organising the second up until the seventh or eighth conference. To see that event continuing today is an incredibly satisfying feeling! I’ve also been involved in some projects that have truly opened my eyes to other ways of living, with the key example being my involvement with a Scottish spiritual community in Findhorn to build the ‘living machine’. What is that, you ask? Europe’s then-first solar aquatic sewage treatment plant, with no chemicals, established by the Findhorn Foundation. Completely off the grid, using tanks and water, which was way ahead of its time.
I’m pleased to say that it is still going strong today. I learned about the challenges of fundraising for a cause which doesn’t fall under the ‘cute and cuddly’ umbrella, particularly given that it wasn’t in the nature of this particular community to even ask for funds. Securing donations was particularly rewarding because of this, but it did take a little more effort to get there.
My experiences haven’t always been so positive, and I imagine this feeling will be echoed by many others. As with pretty much all sectors, fundraising was very much a male dominated world. So, in the late 80’s, I was part of a group called Women in Fundraising Development, looking at codes of practice and behaviours. We then joined the Chartered Institute and achieved representation on the committee. I was on the board in London from the early 90’s, and we managed to get the first female chair of the Chartered Institute appointed, which was a great win. I do wonder, though, has enough changed in the sector, or is there still further to go? I have seen first-hand the expectations placed on women to use their sexuality to secure donations. I worry that, when under pressure to hit and secure targets, that this can put pressure to give in to unfair expectations.
There have been some brilliant people around me that were always on the side of progress and inclusion which was reassuring. For instance, Ken Burnett and George Smith, both brilliant role models and allies for me in the earlier days. This gives me hope that, as society progresses, that antiquated and harmful attitudes will continue to be phased out. I was also lucky in my early career to have had a manager so committed to investing in training. They enrolled me on the Chartered Institute’s then “Foundation Course in Fundraising Practice” which was brilliant, giving me the chance to connect with other fundraisers, and I continued professionalising my knowledge. Early on, the Chartered Institute showed commitment to improving standards and quality, which is key to this day. The Chartered Institute has brought together a network of likeminded fundraisers, who I can share ideas with. I can’t stress enough how important finding a network of peers is, not just for professional growth but also in terms of building a community.
My parting thought for fundraisers today, simply put, is to show excitement, interest and persistence – work for causes you genuinely believe in! For me, this is essential for a successful career in fundraising. Find your passion and run with it, because knowing your work is making a difference to others is such a huge motivator. Take time to develop your skills and have confidence in yourself – because believing in yourself is half the battle! Last but not least, be creative, be bold, and seize the opportunities offered to you on this varied career path. Enjoy it!