Best fundraising charity to work for

Howard Lake | 21 June 2007 | Blogs

This award recognises charities whose workign practices, ethos and respect for their staff, volunteers, donors and those it serves have so inspired its staff that they wish to nominate it.
Shortlisted charities (in alphabetical order):
Sue Ryder Care
Sue Ryder Care has increased its fundraising team from 60 to 100, but staff say they all feel an integral part of the team in a ‘positive and affirming work environment’ – one member said ‘I have never felt so part of a team in all of my working history’.
The charity has worked hard to build a coherent and cohesive team, offering extensive training and personal development for every member of staff. Ideas are shared and best practice encouraged. A third of the team are undertaking the Institute of Fundraising’s Certificate in Fundraising Management. Fundraisers working remotely in hospices or care centres are nurtured and valued and never made to feel isolated. ‘The charity encourages us to meet, work together and communicate as one voice as regularly as possible,’ said one fundraiser. ‘It believes in its staff and welcomes their input into its future,’ said another, and ‘There are many oportunities:to be recognised for our efforst/ideas and to develop,’ said yet another.
Many staff are inspired to volunteer at events and to raise money personally for Sue Ryder Care. Several staff said in their nominations that they would not want to work anywhere else.
Warwickshire Association of Youth Clubs
WAYC is recognised as an organisation that really values its staff and gives them true flexibility in their working life. In the last two years it has gained a Commendation and Small Employer of Choice award from Warwickshire County Council.
It has a clear commitment to supporting staff to develop. Fundraisers are given the opportunity to complete a fundraising qualification and are supported with training costs and study leave. It gives staff ‘true flexibility’ in their working life, making people feel really involved. Fundraisers are encouraged to learn about the projects the organisation undertakes so they have a better understanding of fundraising for WAYC. One nomination said: ‘Fundraisers are there to support youth workers in the development of new projects. Our youth workers are the ones who work with young people, understand their needs and recognise new fields of working. So we use this knowledge to develop our grant applications and proposals.’
WAYC has spent two years focusing on developing a clear strategic plan and annual business plan and all staff have been actively involved in developing and agreeing these plans. This has results in a very clear fundraising strategy developed to support the planned expenditure of the organisation.
Youthnet
‘Youthnet believes in a work culture where people are valued, respected and know they matter, and where diversity is celebrated.’ So said the nomination for this charity.
It went on: ‘Working in YouthNet’s development team is challenging, demanding and always inspirational. I continue to learn from colleagues across all areas of the organisation and the infectious positive working environment means I am more committed to YouthNet’s cause than I was when I started work here.’
Every individual’s strengths are recognised, and it is accepted that there can be more than one way to achieve results. YouthNet actively promotes and encourages opportunities for training and personal development, and these are identified at regular appraisals and one-to-one meetings with line managers. New members of staff have a personal induction with the chief executive, which fosters an ‘open door’ policy.
All staff can contribute to operational work through project teams that consist of staff from all parts of the organisation. Members of staff volunteer and donate to the organisation, taking part in parachute jumps, or volunteering time as a relationships adviser on askTheSite.

About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.