The Fundraising Team

In fundraising, experience counts. Our Team members have over 300 years of experience in fundraising and fundraising management between them. You will be hard pressed to find this anywhere else.

This means we are very familiar with the opportunities and challenges you face. It also means that our Team members can draw on each other's considerable fundraising experience if they need to. Where relevant, we carry out assignments on a team basis, drawing together the specialist knowledge and experience required to achieve a successful outcome for our clients.

Our Team includes nationally recognised fundraising experts. All have a proven track record and most have been with us for many years. Each has one or more specialisms. None are generalists. When new people join us, we take up references and check their qualifications. We also seek feedback on their work from our clients. As a result, you get an experienced, quality assured consultant every time

Please see the short biographies below to see what our Team can offer.

Ben Ansell BA (hons) CIM (cert)

Ben is the Director of Wootton George Consulting. He started his career in fundraising in 2005 and has undertaken a wide range of fundraising, leadership and consultancy roles for small, medium and national organisations including Oxfam, The British Heart Foundation, Royal Trinity Hospice, and Palace for Life Foundation to name a few. Ben has a broad range of fundraising experience including community and special events, trusts, major gifts and capital appeals. He has worked with organisations in many areas including health care, international development, young people and has a special interest in faith-based Christian organisations and churches. Ben has a degree in business and a certificate in marketing qualification from the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

To speak to Ben about your fundraising needs, please call him on 01903 723519.

Simon George BSc (hons), FCIoF (Dip)

Simon is the Founder 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. 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 Community Church and a charity trustee. He is a keen gardener and walker.

Howard Lake BA (hons), MSc, FCIoF

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) MCIoF

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) MCIoF

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) MCIoF (Cert)

A former Director of Fundraising, Claire Greenhalgh has worked in fundraising since 1998 with a wide range of voluntary sector organisations, developing fundraising strategies and business plans and devising and implementing major projects and work programmes. She specialises in developing strategies and raising funds from trusts, government funders and the National Lottery (Community Fund and ACE). She also undertakes project evaluations for our clients, often in relation to major grants. 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) MCIoF (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) MCIoF

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).

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) MCIoF

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.

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 National Lottery Heritage Fund and the 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.

Cath Errington BA (hons) MCIoF (dip)

Cath Errington has worked as a successful fundraising manager since 1998 for Young People First and then Heart of England Mencap, specialising in trust fundraising. She has experience of implementing fundraising strategies to achieve maximum results. She is diploma qualified and a full Member of the Institute of Fundraising, with a special interest in disability and young people’s issues.

Vickie Randall DipM MCIoF

Vickie has over 15 years' experience in the voluntary sector. As a former Fundraising Manager, she now specialises in the development of strategic plans, corporate relationships and bid writing. She has a particular interest in corporate social responsibility and is a CSR Accreditor, so really understands how corporate partnerships can benefit charities.

Vickie has a marketing diploma with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and is also a full member of the Institute of Fundraising.

Her depth of knowledge in the commercial aspects of the charity sector enable her to quickly assess an organisation's immediate, medium, and long-term requirements and help them develop strategies for growth and sustainability.

Jenna Wills BSc (hons) MCIoF

Jenna started her fundraising career in 2005 and has held senior roles in a variety of local, regional, national and international charities. With 15 years’ experience spanning all income streams, Jenna is a passionate and dedicated fundraiser with a reputation for achieving excellent results. She has a track record of securing substantial funding from trusts, foundations and government tenders and specialises in trust fundraising and writing winning bids.

Having set up regional fundraising for Oxfam in the Midlands, Jenna also specialises in developing strategies for growth and loves nothing more than the challenge of increasing income and maximising return on investment. She was Head of Fundraising and Marketing for Disability Resource Centre for five years, where she devised a new trust fundraising strategy which doubled income for the organisation.

Jenna also has extensive experience of community fundraising and managing mass participation events, including the London Marathon with Action for Children. She is a full member of the Institute of Fundraising.

Rebecca Turner BA (hons), MCIoF

Rebecca started her charity career in 1997, and worked for many years in national charities as a successful corporate and events fundraiser, including five years at BLISS – the premature baby charity. She’s done everything from national TV appeals, gala events, integrated FMCG partnerships alongside winning friends and influencing people as a high level corporate networker. She has been working as a consultant since 2007, and has lots of experience setting up fundraising from scratch for smaller organisations, as well as securing large grants from trusts and foundations for big appeals and projects. Rebecca’s work is underpinned by her excellent writing skills and passion for good communication and she’s carved out a niche for herself as a talented charity copywriter. Her ability to absorb and synthesise large amounts of information quickly, understand what clients and the audience need, combined with her fundraising experience, means she has the ability to create great charity copy that not only meets the brief but raises money, whether that’s a case for support, major donors brochure, or a trust application.

Sian Mexsom BA (hons) MCIoF

Sian began her fundraising career in 1993 and has developed experience in trusts, major gifts and corporates, including expertise in planning and running capital appeals. She has worked with a wide range of organisations, offering consultancy and interim support. Today, she helps our clients to develop their income from wealthy individuals, helping to plan and run major gift appeals. In her spare time, she is a charity trustee.

John Grain MCIoF

John is an individual giving specialist with over 30 years of experience, having worked at Oxfam, Habitat for Humanity, the DEC and many more charities in his long career. A consultant since 2004, he has a particular interest in donor acquisition and development and is a well-known speaker and writer in this field. In 2017 he launched the Secret Giver mystery shopping benchmarking programme. He was a project manager for the Commission on the Donor Experience, responsible for the Donor Thanking and Welcoming report. He also contributed to the Etherington Report on fundraising. Today, John works with a wide range of charities to develop their individual giving, offering analysis, strategy development, campaign planning and implementation support, including copy writing.

Cat Large BA, MCIoF

Cat began working as a fundraising researcher over 20 years ago at The Factary, where she was Research Manager. After a stint at ‘We The Curious’, Bristol’s science education centre, she moved to Devon in 2008 to take up the role of Prospect Research Manager at University of Exeter. In 2017 Cat left the University and has since worked on a freelance basis, taking on a wide variety of research projects for welfare, education, arts, health and humanitarian charities. In her spare time she teaches mindfulness for well-being and also supports a number of grassroots organisations campaigning for a healthy, sustainable planet.

Georgina Wilson MA FCIoF

Georgina, who began her fundraising career in 2006 volunteering for an international development charity in Malawi, is an experienced non-profit leader with a particular passion for corporate development and is skilled in implementing income growth strategies and securing high-value strategic partnerships. Having worked across multiple causal areas and income streams, she also has significant experience in delivering high-profile special events, developing innovative digital fundraising products, and running mass participation events. She gained valuable experience as a high-value fundraiser during her time as Head of Operations and Events for the October Club, where she led the grant-giving activities, due diligence investigations, and financial reporting. Georgina has also gained a master's degree in Philanthropics from the University of Kent, where her dissertation focused on how the pandemic has affected global corporate giving.

Dave Mance BA Hons

Dave has over 20 years' experience working for charities of all sizes, including Cancer Research, Save the Children, and NDCS. He is passionate about harnessing the power of both online and offline marketing and communications to build strong supporter relationships and inspire generous giving. He specialises in helping small and medium-sized charities achieve a lot with limited resources.

Prior to joining the third sector, Dave created ad campaigns for brands including Dove, Pot Noodle and Rolls Royce, and has written scripts for stars including Lewis Hamilton, Imelda Staunton and PG tips Monkey.

Phoebe Walker BA Hons, MSC, PG Cert

Phoebe has a successful background in fundraising and strategy development for organisations spanning arts, disability advocacy, anti-racism work, mental health, women’s services, and migrant justice. She specialises in grant fundraising, including Trusts and Foundations and statutory grants; and development strategy. Her expertise also covers capital campaigns, corporate partnerships. She has a particular interest in arts for social justice, community leadership and social mobility.

Phoebe is an alumnus of the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Fellowship Programme, and a current Member of the Institute of Fundraising.

Phoebe Broad BMus Hons

Phoebe started her career at Macmillan Cancer Support and has spent the last decade working across fundraising disciplines for a variety of causes, including hospices, arts charities, health charities and education charities. Since becoming a freelance fundraiser, she has worked with a mixture of local, national and international organisations including the Rugby Football League and World Literacy Foundation. She is also a charity trustee.

Phoebe’s particular passion is supporting small charities with their strategy development, bid writing and implementation across all funding streams. Her interests outside of work include raising her two young sons, baking and writing/presenting a weekly podcast.

Dean Lesser BA Hons

Dean has almost 20 of experience in the charity sector including several fundraising disciplines with a focus on Trusts and Foundations and Major Donors. He has worked with a number of great charities including those supporting people with disabilities, medical research, child health, education and international development with a proven track record of increasing levels of income from existing, lapsed and new donors.

Dean has successfully raised funds for capital appeals, received donations from High-Net-Worth Individuals, Trusts, overseas foundations, the National Lottery and won tenders from local councils

Wendy Pidgeon BSC

Wendy has been responsible for legacy marketing at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSHCC), Havens Hospices and most recently, the National Osteoporosis Society, where she grew legacy income by 123% from £1.3m to £2.9m in five years. As a consultant, Wendy has developed Legacy Marketing Programmes for various charities, including Bath Cats and Dogs Home, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Charity, Alnwick Gardens, First Light, Hammersmith United Charities, People to Places, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, The Charity for Civil Servants and The Unitarians, among others. She holds the Certificate in Charity Legacy Administration (CiCLA) and has worked in legacy fundraising for over 17 years.'