171. Growing existing partnerships and winning new ones, with Charlie Richardson
Fundraising Bright SpotsShow Notes
Growing existing partnerships and winning new ones – these are the two main ways to increase corporate fundraising income for a charity. But they are easier said than done. Since joining her charity in a newly created role focused on corporate partnerships, Charlie (Charlotte) Richardson has grown partnerships income in both ways. In this interview she shares the techniques she learned on the Corporate Partnerships Mastery programme that she’s used to deepen relationships and add value with her charities’ partners – this has led to an increase in income of £100,000 in the last year with one partner – as well as how she’s found and built brand new partnerships – one worth £50,000 - from scratch. We’d love to know what you think about these ideas! Thank you for sharing the episode, so it helps as many charities as possible. Charlie and Rob are both on LinkedIn.
More from Fundraising Bright Spots
When did someone last invest in your growth as a fundraiser? If the honest answer is “not for a while”, you’re not alone. And the good news is, you don’t have to wait for a budget to start. Robin Peake, Director of Fundraising at Wycliffe Bible Translators, shares the low-cost and no-cost habits he has been using for years, and that have helped his team keep learning and keep improving results. This encouraging conversation includes: how to find a mentor without ever asking them to be your mentor; the power of a small peer learning group; how one hour a week can transform your team’s culture; and how to persuade your boss that learning is an investment, not a cost. We’d love to know what you think! And thank you for supporting our podcast, e.g. by sharing it with colleagues or on social media. We are both on LinkedIn.
Charities rely on numbers to communicate impact. Yet year after year, supporters nod politely when you quote your statistics - without really understanding or feeling the profound meaning behind them. How can you translate your numbers so donors connect emotionally and feel moved to give? Rob was thrilled to talk to Karla Starr, co-author of the brilliant Making Numbers Count, to share techniques for bringing your most important numbers to life.
Every fundraiser knows those conversations that get avoided. The donor meeting where the ask never gets made. The strategic mistake that goes ahead because we didn’t manage to speak up. Paul McKenzie from Giant Steps calls this 'being nice' as opposed to ‘being kind’. And he reckons it's costing you more than you think. In this refreshingly honest conversation, Paul unpacks why the bravest thing you can do is ask clearly, speak truly, and stop softening things because they feel awkward. He agrees it doesn’t always feel easy! And he shares things you can do to get yourself to speak up anyway, and the massive upside when you prioritise ‘kind’ over ‘nice’. We'd love to know what you think! And thank you for supporting our podcast, e.g. by sharing it with colleagues or on social media. We are both on LinkedIn.
Most fundraisers know the frustration of hearing a funder say no to something you believe in. After years of this, Shamime decided to stop asking funders to fit her vision into their boxes - and started building her own system instead. She created Bollyfit Active to solve a real problem: giving women a safe, culturally affirming space to enjoy exercise. But funding challenges tested her resolve. This episode captures the moment she shifted from grant dependency to earned income and found a better strategy. It's a lesson in trusting your vision, telling your story and adapting your approach until it works.
Fundraising can feel safer when we stick to what's tried and tested, but is that quietly holding us back? In this episode, Chris Murphy, Director of Fundraising at Maggie's, shares five principles that have helped him grow results, including being willing to take risks. Chris and Rob discuss ways to make this easier to do, for yourself and others. And Chris gives examples of how this approach makes work more interesting and rewarding. If you've ever wondered whether playing it safe is costing you more than it's saving you, this one's worth a listen.