“For me, it just comes down to the basics. Take some time to recentre on who you are – your vision, your mission, your values, your fundraising priorities – you know, ‘where are we, where’s the organisation going?’ And then I would say my biggest advice is to plan.”  

Emily brings two decades of knowledge and passion for NFPs to TFA and, more importantly, the many charities who trust TFA to help them deliver on their mission. 

Although initially drawn to marketing, that didn’t provide Emily the meaning she wanted from her work, and the chance to “work towards a cause and be part of an organisation that actually did good.”  

The direct marketing skills she had developed, though, did lead her to a career supporting not-for-profits. Emily’s love of data and the opportunities for learning and improvement it offers has underpinned her expertise in donor acquisition, donor development and retention strategies, and integrated campaign planning and implementation.

Emily is an experienced fundraiser who understands the challenges and opportunities presented daily to fundraisers and charities. She has been both a solo staff member and one of a team of 20, working within a wide range of local, national and international charities and NFPs.  

Emily initially made the move to consulting while briefly back in the UK, working directly with CEOs and Board members to strengthen their capacity to support fundraising – something TFA knows to be essential to fundraising success. Returning to New Zealand, she has continued to work alongside a wide range of not-for-profits to strengthen their fundraising capability, develop sustainable fundraising income streams, and support their teams through periods of change and fundraising growth. 

Throughout her career Emily has supported more than two dozen charities to enhance their fundraising success. Beyond her own enthusiasm and experience as a fundraiser, she brings both strategic listening and thinking skills to the charities she supports, helping them identify their fundraising opportunities and enabling them to see their own potential for success.

At TFA, with Sarah, Emily has found an approach that is compatible with her own way of thinking and working. 

“When you know who you are as an organisation and understand the value that you give your beneficiaries and community, then you don’t have to try to connect with everyone – you can just connect with people who want to give to you. That changes everything.”