The Fundraising Team

Simon George BSc (hons), FInstF (dip)

Simon is the Director of Wootton George Consulting. He has worked in the voluntary sector since 1987 and as a consultant since 1996. He has achieved the Diploma in Fundraising Management and in 2010 was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Fundraising. Simon's special interests include strategic planning for fundraising, as well as legacy campaigning and charitable trust fundraising. He carries out a wide range of assignments in these fields for our clients.

In 1999, he founded the Institute of Fundraising's Trusts and Statutory Special Interest Group and was the founding Chair of the IoF's West Midlands regional group. Simon has written numerous articles on fundraising in the charity media and currently writes a blog on UK Fundraising. He has published two e-books on legacy marketing and grant fundraising, published by SPMFundessentials. In his spare time, he is a member of Rising Brook Baptist Church and a charity trustee. He is a keen gardener and walker.

To speak to Simon about your fundraising needs, please call him on 01785 663600.

Howard Lake BA (hons), MSc, FinstF

Howard Lake is a digital fundraising entrepreneur and a recognised expert on fundraising through new media. A fundraiser since 1988 (Oxfam, Afghanaid and Amnesty International UK), he founded UK Fundraising, the world's first web resource for professional fundraisers, in 1994. Having written the first book on online fundraising in 1996 he has gone on to train and advise thousands of fundraisers in how to fundraise using digital tools. He also advises fundraising companies and those bringing digital fundraising tools to market. A judge on the Institute of Fundraising's National Awards for the past five years, he is consistently voted in the top 50 most influential in fundraising by readers of Fundraising magazine. He advises our clients on digital strategy and online fundraising.

Robin Jones BA (hons) MInstF

Robin has worked in research and fundraising for 20 years and specialised in prospect research at The Factary, Europe's leading prospect research agency, for 8 years, where he became managing director.

Since 2003, Robin has worked independently and has carried out prospect research for our clients on high net worth individuals, companies and trusts & foundations.

He is an experienced trainer and is regularly invited to speak on prospect research at fundraising conferences. He has also published an e-book, with Rebecca Funnell, on fundraising research.

Robin is a former Chair of the Institute of Fundraising's special interest group for Researchers in Fundraising and continues today as a committee member. In his spare time, he is a trustee of the Bristol-based recycling charity, The Sofa Project.

Maxine Barlow BA (Hons) MInstF

Maxine has worked in the voluntary sector since 1989, originally with Apex Trust and then Rathbone Community Industry, specialising in Trust and Corporate fundraising. She then worked for Imperial Cancer Research Fund for 6 years, developing national campaigns and was one of the team which set up the hugely successful Race for Life event in the UK. She is a long-standing member of the Institute of Fundraising and has a special interest in medical and social welfare causes.

Claire Greenhalgh MA (Hons) MInstF (Cert)

A former Director of Fundraising in an international development charity, Claire Greenhalgh has been in fundraising since 1998, working with a range of voluntary sector organisations, developing fundraising strategies and business plans and devising and implementing major projects and programmes of work. She specialises in developing strategies and in funding from trusts, government funders, the National Lottery and the EU and also has experience of managing direct marketing programmes. Claire has worked in the arts, children's welfare, international development and work with older people. She is a PRINCE2 Practitioner and has also completed the NEBS Management Course.

Jeremy Sparkes BSc (Hons) MInstF (Cert)

Jeremy is a Management Science graduate from one of Europe's leading business schools. He worked in marketing and business management for 15 years, before joining the not-for-profit sector in 1997. Prior to this, he was a volunteer for seven years with the Princes Youth Business Trust. His expertise lies in working with major donors and charitable trusts, as well as in health funding, specialising particularly in Dept of Health applications. In recent years, he has advised organisations in the fields of youth, medical and social welfare causes and recently contributed to the book Why the Rich Give, published by DSC.

Ros Taylor BA (Hons) MInstF

Ros began fundraising in 1990 with Help the Aged and subsequently held positions at the RNIB, Brain and Spine Foundation, the Foundation of Nursing Studies and Reading Single Homeless Project. Since 2002, she has worked as a consultant, primarily in the fields of social welfare and disability. She has particular experience of fundraising from charitable trusts, the National Lottery, EU funding and corporate support, as well as many years' experience of fundraising start-up, managing teams and supporting strategic change within organisations.

Andrew Ball BA (Hons)

Andrew has been working in fundraising since 1995, specialising in major bids and securing funds for humanitarian work in developing countries. He is a highly experienced practitioner advising on and developing complex bids for major projects, as well as guiding and mentoring charities through the major bid process.

Andrew has worked for a range of agencies including Save the Children, Amnesty International and Action Aid, where he was a Programme Funding Manager. As well as securing large grants, Andrew has also delivered lectures in strategic fundraising at Liverpool and Manchester Universities. He is a longstanding member of the British Overseas Network for International Development (BOND).

Cate Birch BA (Hons) MInstF

Cate began her career in fundraising in 1997, securing an internship with the Media Trust. She then moved to leading youth homelessness charity Centrepoint to specialise in fundraising from charitable trusts and livery companies.

Since then, she has developed extensive experience in trusts fundraising; providing bid writing, research, strategy advice and interim management to a wide range of charities and arts venues across the UK.

This has included the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Central School of Ballet, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and the Anglo-Sikh Heritage Trail. Cate is also experienced in mentoring new trust fundraisers.

Caroline Dewfall BA (hons)

Caroline has 16 years' experience in fundraising spanning all income streams. She has worked for charities of varying sizes and has held the position of Director / Head of Fundraising within two organisations. She is very experienced in strategic planning and in successfully developing fundraising 'from scratch' within smaller organisations. She has a track record in securing large grants from charitable trusts, the Big Lottery and the Department of Health and has substantial experience in community fundraising, corporate fundraising and training.

Amanda Price BA (Hons) MInstF

Amanda started her fundraising career in 1998 at the NSPCC as Community Appeals Manager, where she remained for eight years. She has since worked for the University of Liverpool and Action for Children. She specialises in major donor and charitable trust fundraising, where she has consistently secured large grants, and has additional experience of corporate, events and community fundraising.

Amanda is experienced in project management of capital campaigns and was instrumental in setting up a scholarship programme. She has also taken a lead in volunteer recruitment and development, public speaking and PR charity work.

Amanda is a former features writer for a family magazine and freelance writer of a children’s magazine. She continues writing in her spare time as well as doing voluntary fundraising.

Lynne Farnell BA(hons)

Lynne has been fundraising since 2002, specialising in; fundraising strategies, capital campaigns, charitable trusts, sponsorship, individual giving and establishing and managing teams. Lynne has raised substantial funds for a range of charities, including; Manchester Deaf Centre, MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry), Imperial War Museum North and Lancaster University. In her spare time, Lynne is a Trustee of the Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

David Russell BSc, MInstF (cert)

David has worked as a fundraising consultant since 1996 specialising in church capital building projects. He has helped leaders of various denominations develop their plans for expansion, renovation & community use of their buildings including leading and coordinating the capital appeal process. David is an experienced church leader and serves as an elder and trustee of Renewal, a leading Midlands church.

Jane Crompton BA (Hons) Cantab, MInstF (Cert)

A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Jane joined the voluntary sector following a 15-year career in publishing, spanning editorial, commissioning and business development roles in both the private and public sector. She specialises in high quality bid writing and has managed successful capital and revenue appeals for regional and local charities. She has a particular interest in children's, literacy, and social welfare causes; recent clients have included St George's House Charity in Wolverhampton, Spitfire Advice and Support Services in Birmingham, Balsam Family Project in Didcot, Play Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. She has also achieved the Certificate in Fundraising, passing with Distinction.

Helen Duncan BMus (hons) MMus

Helen spent 12 years as Trusts and Foundations Manager at the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, raising funds for a broad portfolio of projects, including a major capital appeal. She has experience of working with a wide range of grant-making bodies including the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Prior to that Helen worked in marketing and communications roles in classical music and at Oxford Brookes University where she was part of a small editorial team writing content for prospectuses and other promotional materials. Her interests span the arts, culture, heritage and wildlife.

Victoria Hone BA (Hons)

Victoria is a passionate trust fundraiser with over 16 years' experience of working in the voluntary sector. She spent 12 years working for Barnardo's, raising income from charitable trusts for projects across Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Whilst at Barnardo's Victoria secured significant grants from Children in Need, Comic Relief and The Big Lottery, alongside working on several large capital campaigns.

Latterly, she has been working for the national disability charity, Go Kids Go, as their Fundraising Manager. Responsible for all income streams, her focus has been on establishing a successful trust fundraising programme for the charity.

Her interests lie in the fields of children, youth, social welfare and disability.

Wil Berdinner BA (Hons), MCIM, MInstF (Cert)

Wil has worked in the third sector since 2006, for local, national and international causes. His early achievements led to him being shortlisted for the Institute of Fundraising's national 'Best up-and-coming Fundraiser' award. He went on to enjoy successes as Director of Fundraising and Communications for homelessness charity New Hope. Wil has complementary marketing expertise and was previously Head of Marketing for an independent school. He is a full Member of the Institute of Fundraising and has achieved the Certificate in Fundraising Management. He has worked as a fundraising and marketing consultant since 2015 and is a charity trustee. Wil specialises in business analysis, strategic planning and trust fundraising.

Sarah Clay BSc (hons) MInstF

Sarah started her career in 1997 working for the Big Lottery Fund on the pilot small grants scheme that became Awards for All. Since then she has held a variety of roles firstly as a funding advisor and then as a Fundraising Manager in small charities. More recently she specialised in trust fundraising at the Motor Neurone Disease Association, successfully fundraising for both medical research and support activities. Sarah is a member of the Institute of Fundraising and was secretary to the West Midlands Group for six years.

Bonnie Clayton BA (Hons), DipM, MInstF

Bonnie is a senior fundraising professional and a specialist in corporate fundraising. She has a passion for creating and implementing winning mutually beneficial partnerships to achieve social change for good causes, whilst meeting the CSR and marketing needs of companies. Bonnie has over 22 years’ experience in the corporate, voluntary and public sectors and has worked directly with a wide range of local, national and global causes. Prior to her 11 years of consultancy, Bonnie lead Scope’s team of 14 corporate fundraisers, as well as heading up Corporate Relations for a £13m public sector capital appeal. Bonnie was formerly also Head of Fundraising at Barts and the London NHS Trust.

Karen Edgington BA (Hons), MInstF (Dip)

Karen's fundraising career began in 2000 and she has developed considerable expertise across a spectrum of fundraising practice and strategy. Her approach is creative, bold and results driven and she was the recipient of Professional Fundraiser of the Year at the IOF's National Awards 2006 for her work managing an NHS capital appeal. Karen has held a number of senior management positions, including Head of Fundraising with Children's Hospice South West. She specialises in corporate, events and capital appeals and has particular experience in the medical, healthcare and hospice sectors.

Fi Harrison BA (hons) MInstF, MCIM

Fi started her fundraising career in 1992 at Save the Children as a member of the corporate fundraising team. She went on to be National Corporate and Trusts Fundraising Manager for St. John Ambulance and worked for Turning Point and the NSPCC before moving into the TV production industry, specialising in securing commercial sponsorship. Fi's 20 years of experience in building mutually beneficial relationships between businesses and charities includes working with sports, medical, animal welfare, arts and culture and international development organisations. She is currently a committee member of the IoF West Midlands region.