What a year. 2021 has been (another) year of challenge and struggle for many of us. But today the team and I at Fundraising Consultants Ltd wanted to pause and be thankful.
Yes there have been tough times. But for us as a team, it’s been an incredible year.
We have had the privilege to work with some fantastic charities. Meningitis Now, working to defeat meningitis within a generation and to support anyone who has been affected by the disease. Halow Project, helping learning-disabled young people in Surrey become independent and create a brighter future for themselves. Orchid Project, a charity dedicated to putting a stop to female genital cutting. Christian charity Innovista, working to equip leaders in the UK and abroad. And longstanding client, the children’s continence charity ERIC. There are many more. The Royal Cornwall Museum, based down in Truro, Brain injury charity, Headway Devon and London-based youth charity, Future First.
You – and the many other charities not listed here – are the heroes. Your work changes lives, improves communities and helps create a more just and equitable society. And we want to say a big thank you to you, our clients, for working with us this year. It has been a privilege to work with you. For some, you now have a strong case for support in place and are using it to tell your story more powerfully. Others have had some major grant successes or have improved your stewardship, and are now reaping the rewards of these investments. Some of you now have a fully-fledged fundraising plan. And for some of you, this is a first.
And your achievements are all the more important because of the context you are working in.
Many of you have struggled with workloads, competing priorities, staff sickness and redundancies. But each of you, in different ways, have stood firm and are more resilient as a result.
So to you, our wonderful clients, thank you for choosing to work with us this year. But most of all, thank you for working tirelessly to make our world a better place.
There are many other organisations we haven’t been able to work with, but would have liked you. Having to turn work down is a bit of a double-edged sword. It’s great to be in demand, but also hard to have to turn work away. To you – and to the thousands of other charities, voluntary organisations and community groups out there, we wish you a safe and happy Christmas.
Thank you.
