Ten Years in the Charity Sector: Highlights, Challenges, & the Things That Still Baffle Me!

Charity Beginnings:

I often tell people that I ‘fell into’ bid writing and fundraising. It seems to be a common story among fundraisers – that we didn’t consciously set out on this career path, but that we somehow got here. In my case, it’s true . . . I think.

In 2011, I had been due to begin a PhD (in African ethnomusicology, with planned fieldwork in Mali). In that year, I found out that I was pregnant (the best surprise, as it would turn out!). At 27, I became a mum, with new priorities and a new focus. My first son was born at the end of 2011, and my second in 2014.

In 2016, I started freelancing as a bid writer for a local brain injury charity. My now-husband knew a trustee at the charity, and they were looking for someone with good writing skills. I was reluctant at first; charity work appealed to me, but not bid writing. I imagined that it would be tedious and repetitive and frustrating.

But, prior to this, I had done a charity internship (in fundraising) in 2007 and also a one-month Vodaphone-funded placement with a charity (in fundraising) in 2011. So maybe I was subconsciously heading in this direction anyway . . .

Charity work had a huge appeal to me (much more so than the corporate world), and my skills (writing, editing and research) seemed best suited to fundraising and comms.

Charity Highlights:

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work for a range of incredible organisations. All of these have been in the health/welfare/community sectors. Most have been small charities with annual income below £250,000, and with small staff teams. I’ve never worked in a charity that’s been big enough to have an HR team or a marketing department. The staff have modest charity salaries, and tend to muck in and do a bit of everything. People work tirelessly, with HUGE commitment.

Since 2016, I’ve been able to contribute to the most extraordinary causes. This is life-changing work, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it. A few highlights:

I worked with Oxfordshire Association for the Blind from 2017-19 (it is now MyVision Oxfordshire and run by the incredible Mark Upton, my former colleague). I learned so much about visual impairment in this time, discovered the world of visually impaired sports (including ice hockey, tennis, and running), learned about adaptive technology and equipment, and met remarkable people – some of whom remain great friends today. I was lucky to meet Laura Howdill (my manager at that time) who I have continued to collaborate with.

Laura and Rosia

The funds that we raised supported a range of life-changing work: counselling sessions, advice sessions, sports sessions, local support groups, and much more.

In that time, I played a key role in initiating two awards for the charity, leading to national publicity. Our counsellor Judith won Radio 4’s All in the Mind Award and a British Citizen Award, in recognition of her incredible work (Judith had lost her sight many years ago, and had devoted her working life to helping others with sight loss). Judith, who passed away in 2019, was an exceptional human being, and one of the most remarkable people that I have ever met. I am so glad that we were able to honour her and her work.

Judith receives her award

I then worked with Asylum Welcome from 2020-2022. In that time, the charity’s income tripled, enabling us to step up our services, support more clients, and have an even bigger impact. We had extraordinary fundraising successes in our small fundraising team (two paid staff members, plus several volunteer bid writers). Covid grants played a part in this, but we also worked exceptionally hard, and the organisation was very innovative, well managed and fundable. Our success enabled us to embark on many new initiatives – developing a project with refugee community organisations, building up our digital inclusion work, stepping up our advocacy work, and developing our lived experience agenda.

My work went far beyond bid writing. I worked on press releases, charity appeals and annual reviews. I managed social media accounts and donor communications, and developed partnerships with local schools and organisations. I filmed refugee poets as part of the Ashmolean Museum’s One World festival. The breadth of this work gave me the confidence to establish my own consultancy in 2023.

Asylum Welcome staff team, 2021

Since 2023, I have been running my own writing business, specialising in charity consultancy work. I have had the privilege of working for a number of organisations in that time, ranging from time-limited projects to interim fundraising support to long-term consultancy (I currently work for two charities on an ongoing basis, as their sole fundraiser).

I have secured a range of funds for these organisations, introduced new sources of funding (85% of the funding secured for my longest-standing client has been from new funders), and contributed to organisational development and strategy. This funding is supporting thousands of people per year, helping them to overcome disadvantage, access opportunities, and lead healthier and happier lives.

Over the years, I have worked with brilliant funders. There are some truly amazing funders out there, such as Lloyds Bank Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund, and the Harpur Trust. These funders have clear processes, are friendly and approachable, and genuinely understand and care about the organisations that they support.

I have also made lifelong friends, and worked with such passionate and inspiring people. I am lucky to work with so many talented people – amazing CEOs (like you, Sharif and Crina!), and brilliant teams . . . Finance Managers, frontline staff, and admin staff.

I continue to meet wonderful people as a freelancer/consultant. In 2025, I set up a monthly networking group for charity freelancers, along with two other Bristol-based consultants. Our group attracts a wide range of people from across the sector – writers, fundraisers, strategists, researchers, graphic designers, interim CEOs, and many more. We discuss challenges, exchange tips and experiences, and share opportunities. It’s a really lovely thing to be part of.

Charity Challenges:

Along with the positives, there are of course big challenges in this sector. Fundraising is not an easy profession. It is highly pressured and it’s unpredictable and frustrating. The funding landscape is more difficult than ever. There is huge competition for funds, and many funders are closing or pausing their funding streams.

It can be difficult to manage expectations. Many people who work outside of fundraising think it is a lot easier than it is. Sometimes they’ll offer their (well-meaning) suggestions, and these can be completely unrealistic.  

Fundraisers carry so much responsibility, and outcomes are often out of our control. We can produce incredible work, and it can and will fail – for reasons that are not our fault. I’ve learned to manage this better and to not take it personally. In ten years of doing this work, I have never received constructive feedback; I’ve only ever been told that we weren’t successful because of the level of competition or because of a factor outside of my control (e.g. our reserves were higher than some other applicants).

There is a huge power imbalance between charities and funders, and many funders seem completely out of touch with charities. Their processes are (often) rigid, unclear or unfair. And it’s really hard for charities to query or challenge these processes when it can affect our results (and for consultants too; I liaise directly with funders on behalf of my charities).

Interestingly, I am finding it much more satisfying to work as a consultant. I feel appreciated and valued, whilst retaining a healthy degree of separation. My boundaries are very clear, and these boundaries are respected.

The Things That Still Baffle Me:

• The huge power imbalance between charities and funders and the extraordinary amount of time that is wasted. Every funder has their own processes (and these are often overly arduous). Many funders will shut early when they are oversubscribed. And many funders will publicise their opportunities widely when they can only afford to give a tiny amount or award a few grants. It’s painful to think about the insane amount of time/money that is wasted due to these bad processes . . . and how that time/money could be used . . .

•  The way that outcomes are still so often attributed to the fundraiser alone. There are many people involved in a grant application, and there are many factors that contribute to grant outcomes. It’s no surprise that fundraisers burn out and quit when they feel blamed and undervalued.

•  The expectation that charities will become miraculously ‘sustainable.’ I have yet to find a charity that I would describe as genuinely sustainable (let me know if you know one!). It is very difficult to become truly sustainable when you have to find your income through a mix of grants and donations. Most (all?) income streams are precarious or have risks attached. We can work towards sustainability, but it’s incredibly hard to achieve.

  In summary? My work in this sector can be tedious and frustrating and draining, but it’s balanced with the strongest sense of collaboration and care and purpose.  And I wouldn’t change that for the world.