What first drew you into fundraising, and was there a moment early on that made you think this is the work I want to do?

It was 2002 and I had just returned from travelling after finishing college. I knew I wanted to do something that contributed to society, and while my Make-Up & Special Effects course had been fun, I didn’t really see it as fulfilling. Then I saw an advert in the Big Issue looking for travelling Face to Face fundraisers. I instantly felt inspired. The next week, following an interview, I found myself on the streets of Stoke-on-Trent in a big yellow puffer jacket with the Amnesty logo on the back and a clipboard. Once I shook the initial nerves, and had my first few conversations, I knew I had found something I loved.

What’s the most meaningful shift you’ve seen in the face-to-face fundraising sector over your career?

I think it’s hard to narrow it down to one. I’d say there’s been three dramatic shifts. Firstly, the move from paper to online sign-up forms, which completely transformed security and compliance. Secondly, the rapid move away from independent contractor to employment model, ensuring a much more compliant supply chain. But number 3 must be the biggest – albeit much more slow and long tailed. That’s the refocus of volume to quality. In the very the very earliest of days, I hate to admit no one mentioned the words “retention” or “quality” to us in the field. It was essentially, “don’t leave until you hit quota!” I love now how everyone, from campaign managers through to fledgling fundraisers have quality at front of mind, and the tools and expertise to ensure the people they are signing up are truly inspired and able to stick around.

Are there practices or values from the earlier days of F2F fundraising that you think deserve a comeback?

Mostly I would say no. We have come such a long way as an industry, both in Australia and globally, and I absolutely think the best is yet to come. Although I’m sure I’m not alone in missing the odd clipboard spinning competition when a venue is very quiet!

What’s a moment from your time in the sector that you find yourself coming back to, anything that stuck with you?

There are so many – particularly because I was very lucky to fundraise for Greenpeace in the early days when the whole program was conducted in-house. We had so much contact with campaigners and activists, and so much opportunity to participate in campaigns and actions – we really did live and breathe Greenpeace. I try to keep that in mind now…what inspired me as a fundraiser? How can I make fundraisers feel like a valuable part of the organisation? Of course, most organisations don’t have access to ships or banner drops, but you don’t need them. While experiences are the gold standard of fundraiser inspiration, some of the most incredible ‘wow’ moments I remember are hearing campaigners, researchers, and humanitarians talk about what they can achieve with the right funding, and knowing that I could help make that happen.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give someone just starting out in face-to-face fundraising?

Be ready for a roller coaster. Not everyday will be filled with wins. But the wins we do have are well worth the effort.

What’s one thing you’d like to see the PFRA tackle or prioritise in the next few years?

I’m really excited about the new strategic plan. One area in particular is the focus on building sector capability. We know that face to face presents organisations with the best possible chance of growing their regular giving program and providing a more stable financial future for their cause. We also know that for some orgs, it remains firmly in the ‘unviable’ basket, for a myriad of reasons – not always financial. I strongly believe that if we can educate and work with boards and executive teams to understand face to face as it presents today, we can empower more organisations to take a step that could transform their future.