We go backstage at the West Australian Ballet to speak to Philanthropy Director, Catherine Henwood, and winner of the Creative Partnerships Australia Emerging Philanthropist Award, Alexandra Burt.
Head of Marketing & Fundraising, Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney What did you want to be when you grew up? Throughout my childhood I was always involved in theatre, so like a lot of other kids, I wanted to be an actor. Funnily enough, my involvement in theatre meant that I did a lot of fundraising. A play I was in was selected to represent Australia at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland. We had to raise our own money to attend and I got really involved in the fundraising. I also won my first grant at 16. My friends and I wanted to self-direct and produce…
‘A Sign of Love’ – Berry Street’s Tax Campaign 2020 Launched during the pandemic, Chloe’s story in Berry Street’s ‘A Sign of Love’ campaign stands out and captures donors’ imagination. 2020 was a roller coaster year for Berry Street and its clients: kids impacted by family violence and neglect. The bushfires and coronavirus had affected the Victoria-based family service organisation through increased demand for its services. They needed new, innovative ways to better support clients across the organisation as well as a stand-out fundraising campaign in this challenging year. For their 2020 tax campaign, Berry Street wanted to create a beautiful, emotional and image-driven campaign that would inspire donors to help their beneficiaries.…
Trudi Mitchell Deputy National Director for Australia for UNHCR (A4UNHCR), Trudi Mitchell, took out the Fundraiser of the Year award for her leadership, tenacity and influence in the organisation. With over 25 years’ experience in the sector, Trudi has played an instrumental role in leading the team through the pandemic. Working with the National Director and Board, Trudi established a Business Continuity Plan to reforecast, reprioritise and pivot A4UNHCR’s fundraising areas and campaigns when COVID-19 hit. This strong leadership meant that the organisation finished FY20 tracking 11.8% ahead of target and 6.6% ahead of YTD 2019. “Trudi exemplifies the true characteristics of leadership – within her teams, the organisations she…
Wendy Scaife FIA’s Arthur Venn Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021 went to Wendy Scaife for her invaluable contribution to the sector. Wendy has worked in, studied and taught philanthropy and fundraising for over 30 years. In her role as Associate Professor and Director of the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS) at QUT, she has advocated for the sector and closely teaches and mentors generations of fundraisers coming through the program. Wendy has been recognised by QUT for her leadership and teaching, receiving the Vice-Chancellor’s Performance Award in 2016 and the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Award in 2017. ACPNS alumnus Earle Johnston credits Wendy, his fundraising lecturer, as “fanning the…
Luke Toebelmann Luke Toebelmann has only been in the sector for five years but has already made a mark. The Corporate Partnerships Manager at the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL), Luke has helped grow their income to over $5 million in just 12 months. Luke was also involved in the strategy behind securing BSL’s largest ever philanthropic gift. “Luke is passionate, talented and an incredible relationship manager. In my 15-year career in fundraising, I have not worked with an up-and-coming fundraiser who has impressed me more than Luke,” says Head of Fundraising and Philanthropy at BSL, Karen McComiskey. He’s dedicated to genuine, effective stewardship and in his role implemented best…
St John’s Care Emergency Appeal With only three weeks of food and funds when COVID-19 hit, St John’s Care had to think quick and cheap. What can you do with $328.05? Quite a lot, actually. This was the budget for St John’s Care, a small emergency support organisation operating in Reid, ACT. The organisation runs a drop-in centre for people experiencing homelessness in Canberra, the ACT and nearby South Coast and Southern Tablelands. Like most nonprofits, COVID-19 put an abrupt halt to their operations. Their volunteers, typically falling within a vulnerable demographic, were no longer able to run food collections stalls. Their main fundraising event, a special dinner in the…
