![[ad] Fundraising Everywhere Trusts and Major Donors Conference December 2026](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2026/09/fundraising-everywhere-trusts-conference-202612-728x90-1.jpg)
Charities should allow sabbaticals for VSO
Howard Lake | 9 August 2007 | News
Charities should be willing to let their fundraisers take sabbaticals so that they can undertake VSO placements to help them in their careers, Tony Elischer said at a recent seminar.
I guarantee we will take on senior fundraisers to make sure they undersand this is a career enhancement to make you a better fundraiser, Elischer told the delegates at the seminar organised by VSO and the Resource Alliance. You should know that your job is safe and that you will come back with a different experience.
VSO currently has placements for fundraisers throughout the developing world, ranging from three months to two years.
Delegates also heard from Liz Piper who spent two years on a volunteer placement in Ghana. She told delegates about her experiences in the country but said that career development hadn’t been a prime concern for her. But it is really valuable and makes you grow as a fundraiser, she said.
Advertisement
Almost 80 people attended the seminar, with another 70 on the waiting list. VSO is intending to run a further event in the second half of November.
- Almost half of population never volunteers (31 August 2007)
- Volunteers needed for F2F conference (2 September 2007)
- Nominations open for County Durham and Tees Valley charity awards (5 September 2007)
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.