Consultancy Projects 2007-Present

Active Philanthropy – author of ‘How To Enjoy Making Donations Wisely’ and adviser (from 2007)

Arab Foundations Forum – facilitator of session on ‘Future Strategy and Plans’ (May 2008)

Asylum Aid – fundraising strategy advice (May 2007)

Banque de Luxembourg – adviser to Philanthropy Advisory Services (from October 2008-March 2012)

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home – facilitation of Board away-day (March 2009)

Bertram Pohl Foundation/Castle Island Music (Luxembourg) – adviser on project development (October 2007 and May 2008)

Bioversity International – assistance with preparation of new strategic priorities (October 2011)

The Brooke – facilitation of Governance Review with senior executive staff and trustees (January 2007-February 2008); assistance to Bill Bruty Associates on preparation and presentation of a report on institutional funding (November 2009)

Building Change Trust – consultancy to review progress, plan future strategy and ‘legacy’ (May-July 2015)

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) – Consultancy on mid-term review of implementation of 2014-2019 Strategy (March-June 2016)

Community Philanthropy Initiative (CPI) – facilitator of Meeting of European Community Foundation Support Organisations, Madrid (June 2007)

Coutts Bank Philanthropy Services – author of foreword to and assistance with editing of Coutts Philanthropy Handbook (November 2007-January 2008); Adviser to the development of the Philanthropy Knowledge Exchange project (June 2010-September 2011)

Diabetes UK – assistance to the CEO with an assessment of the charity’s governance review (July-October 2008)

Dutch Oak Tree Foundation – review of grant-making procedures and processes and liaison between UK foundation and d.o.b.foundation, Veessen, The Netherlands (September 2005-June 2007)

EKOS Economics and Regeneration, Glasgow – associate member of team undertaking evaluation of Futurebuilders Scotland (2006-2007)

European Foundation Centre – consultancy on Capacity Building Needs of Foundation Staff and Board Members and proposals for how EFC could help meet them – leading to preparation of ‘Building Talent And Excellence Within Foundations – A Review of how the European Foundation Centre (EFC) could enhance and further develop what it does to build capacity within Foundations in Europe’ (March-October 2008) Download the report

European Foundation Centre Diversity, Migration and Integration Interest Group – facilitator of meeting, Madrid (May 2007)

European Philanthropy Research and Teaching Initiative – consultations with foundation leaders, researchers and other academics and the preparation of ‘The Application of Learning & Research to the Practice of Philanthropy, a report on how a stronger learning framework could be developed within Europe (August-November 2009)
(See also ‘Shedding Light on Our Own Practice ‘ project – below)

European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) – facilitator at Members’ Meetings, London (January 2006) and Venice (February 2007 and March 2009); chair of 4th (Frankfurt – September 2008), 5th (Amsterdam – November 2009) and 6th (Luxembourg – November 2010) Annual Conferences

Future Builders England – member of advisory group on re-tender (February 2007-January 2008), independent member of recruitment panel for new Chair (November 2007), facilitator of Senior Management Team Away-Day (July 2007) and of Board/Investment Committee Away-Day (January 2008)

Gatsby Charitable Foundation – and other Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts – consultant on social renewal programmes (2001-2007)

Giving Architects convened meetings with staff and/or board members about Social Impact Investing – speaker and commentator at ANZ Bank in Auckland and Sydney, Tamaki Regeneration Company, Auckland, Child Fund Board, Auckland, Hugh Green Foundation, Auckland, WEL Energy Trust, Hamilton, Mater Hospital, Brisbane and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Innovation Xchange, Canberra (April 2018)

The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) – consultancy on European development (October 2011 – April 2012); assistance with recruitment of London based liaisons (2012 and 2014)

Goldman Sachs Gives – adviser (with On Board) to new donor advised fund (August 2007)

Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust – advice and intervention to assist grantee organisation with governance (December 2009)

Joseph Rowntree Foundation – consultations and preparation of report on ‘Mission Connected Investment: is there more the Foundation could do?’ (June-August 2010)

Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust – ‘desk top review’ of board member succession and other governance issues (October 2014)

Kusuma Trust UK – consultancy on development of enlarged Trust and recruitment of CEO (from November 2009)

Local Trust – research project, carried out jointly with Steve Wyler and Neal Trup, on the financial viability and sustainability of community hubs in England (March-May 2019)

Mission, Models, Money – co-leadership of two strands of work of a project designed to help arts and cultural organisations develop their financial and organisational sustainability: ‘New and Alternative Financial Instruments: Going Beyond Grants and Donations – enlarging the financial toolbox’ (September 2006-February 2008) Download the Report and ‘Mission Accomplished – ensuring good governance in challenging times’ (September 2006-March 2007)

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Funding Commission – preparation of ‘think piece’ paper on Future Funding Challenges and Opportunities for VCOs (January 2009) Download Report

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) (with On Board) – adviser to Governance Review (January-November 2007)

National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS) – facilitator for Senior Management Team review days (September 2007 and October 2008)

NESTA Innovation in Giving Fund – member of Selection Panel (from 2012)

Network of European Foundations (NEF) – facilitation of NEF Partnership session on ‘Dissemination and Advocacy at the European Level of NEF projects’ Brussels (June 2010)

New Economics Foundation (nef) – adviser to Mission Connected Investment project (April 2007-July 2008) Download the report

NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS), icare foundation & Department of Finance, Services and Innovation (DFSI) of the NSW Government – member of judging panel of ‘I4GPitch, designed to showcase and support outstanding social service organisations’, Sydney (November 2017)

Nuffield Foundation – member of the interview panel for the Commonwealth Programme (October 2006)

Oak Foundation – one of a panel of three consultants engaged to review the impact of the Housing and Homelessness Programme (USA and UK) and future options for further development (June-August 2010)

Paul Hamlyn Foundation – commissioned article ‘Learning for Foundations’ for 2011-12 Yearbook (July 2012) Download the article

Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation – preparation and facilitation of trustee review of foundation’s ‘niche, focus and effectiveness’ (November 2010)

Policy Exchange – adviser to philanthropy research projects: ‘Give and Let Give – Building a Culture of Giving in the Financial Services Industry’ (June-December 2007) Download the report and to ‘The Wealth Bridge: local philanthropy helping to build communities’ (2008) Download the Report

Royal Marsden Hospital Charity – adviser on ‘independence’ of governance (July-August 2009)

Salzburg Global Seminar – participant in ‘Optimizing Institutional Philanthropy for the 21st Century’ (December 2008)

Samworth Foundation – adviser to trustees of family foundation (1995-2013)

SG Hambros Private Bank – Philanthropy Workshop with Private Banking Staff (October 2008)

Shedding Light on Our Own Practice: The impact and effect of our behaviour a collaboration between consultants (myself, Judith Symonds and Karen Weissblatt) and a group of funders on the application of learning about the practice of philanthropy in Europe, drawing on interviews with leaders of 24 Foundations from across Europe. Initial report prepared for the EFC AGA and Conference in Belfast (June 2012)
Download the Initial Report; Download the Final Report – published January 2013

Shell Foundation – consultancy to contribute to the production of a report on scaling up enterprises to mark the Foundation’s 10th Anniversary and to the development of a Social Investment Policy (2010); contributor to and participant in staff group policy review sessions (2011, 2012 and 2014)

SHINE – facilitation of Board and Staff Away Day: ‘Reflecting on a Decade’s Work’ (February 2009)

Trans-Atlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN) – facilitator of Peer Exchange ‘From Donor Services to Donor Engagement’, Bruges, Belgium (December 2007)

Tubney Charitable Trust – preparation of ‘A Legacy Of Action And Learning’ – a paper for the staff and board of the a ‘spend out’ grant-making trust (October 2008)

Venture Partnership Foundation (VPF) – facilitator of sessions at mini-conference for social entrepreneurs within VPF portfolio on ‘challenges and role of social entrepreneurship within charity/social sector’ and ‘how can the private sector and social entrepreneurs work most effectively together’ (May 2010)

The Wates Foundation – facilitation of a ‘next steps’ meeting of trustees and family members to discuss options for the future structure and direction of the Foundation (April 2008)

Welfare Association (Ta’awoun) – consultancy to assist the Enterprise Performance Manager with the development of her role and to review with the Director General the organisation’s presentational materials, income generation strategies and opportunities for co-funding and joint ventures (July-December 2008)

Willow Foundation – leader of review session with senior management team on the management of change (October 2009)

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) (now World Animal Protection) – consultancy on Board skills and experience (February-May 2008)

Zurich Community Trust – member of team led by Bill Bruty carrying out a research project to explore potential collaborative partnerships and additional income opportunities for the Community Trust (December 2006-May 2007)