A new transatlantic fundraising consultancy partnership

Today, Gifted Philanthropy and US-based Creative Fundraising Advisors (CFA) announced a new partnership to better serve nonprofit clients with global reach. Since our foundation in 2016, Gifted has worked with a wide range of charities delivering important missions in the UK, as well as in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. Similarly, for more than a decade, CFA has guided hundreds of organisations across the United States as they set challenging fundraising goals and achieved transformational results.

Initial discussions about the partnership uncovered a range of philosophical and practical synergies, including a strong focus on realising big visions and driving positive change in the world. In the last few years, both teams have been specifically looking to grow in a way that puts clients’ needs first and promotes best practices at home and overseas. The new partnership brings together two firms with the same ambition: to provide charitable organisations with collaborative, creative counsel from experienced professionals on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Building cross-cultural collaboration

Worldwide, philanthropy is in the midst of a rapidly changing context. Nonprofits often champion missions that transcend geographic borders, and in the last twenty-five years, the number of nonprofits and charities outside the US has increased dramatically, with the UK seeing a 15% increase in this period. The US is home to more nonprofits than any other country, with 1.3 million charitable organisations that raise more than $550 billion annually. Cross-cultural collaboration can help organisations make good use of the practices and strategies that contribute to the well-established philanthropic norms of the US. The CFA/Gifted partnership is a pathway to growth for both firms as they will be collaborating in ways that embrace each country’s unique cultural nuances and legal frameworks.

Gifted’s portfolio of global clients has been steadily expanding. “From Dublin’s wonderful Christ Church Cathedral to incredible projects based in Rome, the Middle East, and Nepal, we’ve seen our international reach widen and the complexity of assignments increase,” says Gifted Chief Executive Amy Stevens. “This brings some fantastic opportunities. The world is also more connected than it’s ever been, so it makes sense to look for ways that harness fundraising expertise across different jurisdictions and make the best use of having boots on the ground across the pond.”

CFA CEO Paul Johnson adds that “Nonprofit organisations bring people together. They spark dialogue, bolster democracy, and solve problems. They elevate quality of life and even anchor local economies. At CFA, our North Star is to ensure that nonprofits are well funded for maximum impact. When nonprofits thrive, everyone benefits. CFA and Gifted have an important role to play in nurturing this dynamic across the globe.”

To advance this mission, Gifted and CFA will be co-hosting two webinars this spring, as well as an event in the Autumn. So, whether you’re based in the US and interested in learning more about your global fundraising potential, or in the UK and wanting to explore how to best connect with your supporters in the US fundraising market, the differences in transatlantic fundraising will be explored. You can find out more, here.