The Power of Ten

This May, Gifted celebrates ten years of building exceptional fundraising partnerships with clients across the Third Sector. Anniversaries are always a moment to take stock. Here, we highlight some of the fantastic clients we’ve had the privilege of working with and share a glimpse of what’s next for Gifted.

When Gifted was founded back in 2016, the goal was to create a client-centred consultancy with regional presence and cross-sector strength. “We knew that building great fundraising partnerships wasn’t just about having decades of experience to bring to the table,” says Gifted Director and Chairman, Andrew Day. “It also required a rigorous knowledge of the charity space and a personal commitment to philanthropy. For our consultancy team, it means walking the talk and gaining a closer understanding of the challenges charities face. From recruiting volunteer leaders to implementing fundraising strategies and winning campaigns, our role is toprovide the right kind of support for as long as it’s needed.”

None of that has changed. Ten years on, we’re proud to have partnered with a diverse range of clients, representing over 200 charitable organisations based around the world. From small, grass roots charities delivering vital local services, to large international causes involved in pioneering healthcare or humanitarian projects, they are a powerful reminder of why giving matters. Reflecting on all that’s been achieved, we appreciate how much our clients have taught us. We’re also grateful to them for trusting us to collectively deliver:

• More than 80 feasibility studies to assess the potential of raising over £500 million, and $300 million worldwide.
• Capital campaign management support for charitable projects worth over £400 million collectively
• Strategic reviews for more than 25 charities with a combined income of over £70 million.

“These figures demonstrate just how important philanthropy is to societal change,” says Gifted’s Chief Executive, Amy Stevens. “They also highlight the value of investing in strategic planning that straightens out internal processes and often leads to further income potential.”

Leading on philanthropic impact

One question we’ve frequently explored with clients gets right to the heart of philanthropic purpose: ‘How is what you’re doing, or wanting to do, charitable?’ Often an organisation will have a great project in the pipeline, but the narrative around impact needs developing. “We spend a lot of time with clients, drawing out the benefits of their activities, so that major donors and grant-makers lean into the cause and all the good it promises to deliver,” says Gifted Director, Chris Goldie. “And the results we’ve seen have been extraordinary. It’s really humbling to work with charity and volunteer leaders who create transformative turning points in an organisation’s philanthropic journey. Whether that’s a Director of Development doubling the number of fully funded bursaries, or a Trustee who gives to a campaign and confidently invites others to do the same, we’ve had the pleasure of watching people and projects flourish.”

When it comes to capital campaigns, there have been some standout successes. At Solihull School, the Egypt Exploration Society, the Lord Leycester Hospital and Team Domenica, fundraising succeeded because key individuals and well managed teams, led from the front. Here, as with so many other fundraising projects we’ve witnessed, achieving the desired outcomes depends on the strength of the case and the people who step up to share it.

Invested in the fundraising profession

The first ten years of Gifted has been all about delivering the best fundraising services for clients and creating a comprehensive bank of resources, most of them free to download. From fundraising handbooks to step-by-step guides and Gifted Talks podcasts, our back catalogue says a lot about who we are and why we are so invested in the profession. Our design and communications team has been integral to developing this fundraising library. As well as powering Gifted’s publishing priorities, they support a wide range of clients with everything from rebranding initiatives to communications audits and striking campaign materials. It means charities benefit from a professional, flexible in-house service that simplifies the process of achieving great results.

A perfect ten?

Ten years down the track, our directors now work with over 20 consultants and fundraising specialists in the UK and internationally. In April, we also welcomed Konna Beeson to the leadership Board as Director of Innovation. Konna’s appointment comes in response to rapid changes in the technological landscape and the implications this has for fundraising around the world. Since Konna joined Gifted in 2023, he has built an impressive portfolio of clients and brought insight and expertise to the advanced data and research space.

“Konna’s appetite for getting to grips with data and making sense of the stats is nowhere more evident than in his sector-leading work in the trusts fundraising world,” says Amy. “For the past three years he has produced highly regarded Insight Surveys and Reports - and more recently, launched a powerful new AI platform, Granted Giving, that plans to save the sector £500 million a year in efficiency. We’re thrilled that Konna is joining the Board of Directors at Gifted and can’t wait to see the benefits he will bring to our clients as part of a comprehensive and balanced fundraising package.”

So, has it been a perfect ten? “We’d like to think so!” says Amy. “A global pandemic, the impact of continually shifting geopolitics and rapid advances in the tech world have kept us on our feet and meant we are always learning and adapting to new challenges. But throughout all this, our clients have continued to thrive and achieve incredible things. Our consultancy team has trebled in size, we’ve launched a new transatlantic partnership with US-based, Creative Fundraising Advisors, and have some really exciting plans for 2026 around AI and innovation. We’re energised for the next ten years, driven by supporting our inspirational clients to achieve their goals and to make the most of the opportunities that arise.”