SUPPORTING CHARITIES
TO GROW THEIR IMPACT
I help charities and social enterprises grow through practical fundraising, strategy and business development. With 30 years of hands-on experience, I bring a track record of growing organisations from £30K to £2M+ and delivering real change.
While I work with organisations of all sizes, I focus particularly on supporting small and medium-sized charities and people with good ideas they want to make happen.
FUNDRAISING
With over £50M personally raised across all funding streams and 30 years' experience growing organisations from the ground up, I know how to write and implement a successful funding and income generation strategy. I started my career delivering frontline services at the YMCA, giving me a deep understanding of how projects actually work in practice - essential for creating strong funding proposals.
I can help with:
• Fundraising audits and reviews - understanding what's working, what isn't and creating practical plans for improvement
• Creating and implementing fundraising strategies that work in reality
• Writing compelling trust and foundation applications
• Statutory funding and tender writing
• Corporate partnerships and sponsorship proposals
• Trading income development and social investment
• Setting up individual giving programmes
• Managing capital campaigns
• Getting fundraising ready – developing the right systems, processes and evidence
I work flexibly – I can write applications directly, support your team to develop their skills or combine both approaches.
HONESTLY DEBORAH, YOU HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE FUNDRAISERS I'VE EVER WORKED WITH, AND I'M VERY OLD AND HAVE WORKED WITH A LOT!
“
STRATEGY
Strategy and business planning doesn't have to be complicated - it's about turning vision into real impact. My approach comes from years of developing and implementing strategies myself, from complex multi-stakeholder partnerships to small start-up organisations. I know the process and can guide you through it.
I can help develop your strategy or business plan and then work with you to make it happen:
• Practical, actionable strategies and plans
• Implementation support and guidance
• Theory of change development
• Impact measurement frameworks
• Budget modelling
• Governance frameworks
EVERYONE ALWAYS MENTIONS YOUR STRENGTH AS A FUNDRAISER, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT YOU CLEARLY NAILED THE MISSION AND STRATEGY... YOU'RE EXCEPTIONAL AT LEADING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND PURPOSE AND HOW THEY CAN GET THERE THROUGH CLEAR, ACHIEVABLE STRATEGIES.
“
COACHING
Having led four charities through significant growth and change, I understand the challenges of leadership, particularly of small charities.
I can help with:
• One-to-one coaching (EMCC qualified)
• Team capability building
• Board development
• Practical implementation support
• A sounding board when needed
“
YOU'RE THE MOST DYNAMIC, INSPIRING AND ADEPT LEADER I'VE WORKED WITH, AND YOU HAVE LED THE MUSIC WORKS TO HEIGHTS WE COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED.
ABOUT ME
I'm fast, pragmatic and results-focused believing in:
• Getting stuck in – from strategy to implementation
• Making support accessible – flexible rates and pro-bono work
• Quick, practical solutions
• Building genuine relationships
• Sharing resources and knowledge freely
My commitment to the charity sector started at my local YMCA on a youth unemployment scheme. Working from the ground up to Programme Director gave me invaluable insights into what makes projects actually work.
Since then, I've been CEO at several local and national charities, leading them all through significant growth, including most recently The Music Works (£30K to £2M). I have worked across a broad range of sectors with particular experience in youth engagement, arts and culture, sport, health and wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion and community development.
On a personal note, my experience facing cancer and supporting my son through severe OCD, ADHD and mental health challenges has given me resilience and deepened my commitment to sustainable approaches to growth and change in these sectors.
CONNECT
I offer an initial conversation to understand your organisation's needs and explore how I might help.
If I'm not the right fit, I'll connect you with other specialists from my network.
I’m based in Stroud but work UK-wide
(except February, when I might be working from a beach somewhere!)
EMAIL deborah@dpconsulting.co.uk
PHONE 07904 052268