I’m Helen, a freelance fundraiser with over 10 years experience in nonprofits.
About
I am currently a trustee of Heritage Crafts, a UK charity supporting traditional crafts people where I advise on fundraising strategy.
During my career I have worked in public fundraising, trust, corporate and philanthropy teams for charities of all sizes including Unicef. I have a diploma in fundraising from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. I am personable, solution focused and passionate about the difference charities can make!
I have previously enjoyed volunteering with refugees and in animal shelters to learn first hand why our voluntary sector is so important.
Best fundraising memory: Hitchhiking to Morocco aged 19 for an education charity.
Worst fundraising memory: Getting injured running the Paris Marathon and walking the final 6 miles.
Services
If you have a big idea, small idea, or even no idea at all, I can help you realise your nonprofits fundraising ambitions.…
· Fundraising strategy
· Building a compelling case for support
· Prospect research- pipeline of minimum 20 top prospects
· Major donor fundraising- donor profiles, strategy, cultivation plans
· Trusts and foundations fundraising- strategy, applications and reporting
· Corporate fundraising- strategy, approaches, pitches and proposals
· Creating campaigns- for an appeal or service
I offer a 20 minute scoping out call completely free of charge. Please get in touch to book yours.
helennichols632@gmail.com
Testimonials
Jessie Brinton, Mothership
"We hired Helen to help with fundraising for our non-profit and I can't recommend her highly enough. It was early days for the project, and her experience, knowledge and positivity were invaluable. I loved her ideas, her rare ability to be both steadily efficient and flexible, and the lovely energy she brought. I hope we can work with her again but I know she'll always be in hot demand. A girl can dream..."
Emma Lawson De-Roeck, International Finance Corporation (former manager at St John's Hospice)
"Helen is a superb fundraiser. She formed part of a philanthropy and trusts function that performed well above most other hospices and was successful in advancing it further. Not only did Helen manage a portfolio of prospects and donors, she was particularly impressive through: the development of the care interface, refreshing project information and cases for support covering several areas of the hospice's work, cross-team working and leveraging communications to realise full value donor relationships. It is her mix of creativity and business sense that sets her apart, with the dedication and skills to follow up and make things happen."
Daniel Carpenter, Executive Director of Heritage Crafts
"I have worked with Helen since 2016 when she became a Trustee of Heritage Crafts, focusing on fundraising and philanthropy. Within that time Helen has spearheaded a new Benefactor scheme for the charity that has helped reduce our reliance on grant funding, and put procedures in place that have allowed us to attract ten of thousands of pounds in private donations and commercial sponsorships with companies such as The Royal Mint, Axminster Tools and Rose Uniacke. Helen is astute in recognising the commercial value of a charity brand, and effective in steering the staff team to realise that charity's potential."