# Spare a Thought for Sole Fundraisers

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/09/07/spare-thought-sole-fundraisers/
- Published: 2009-09-07T13:45:36+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

So much of the sector media and conference slots seem to focus on larger charities
with fundraising teams that it’s easy to forget that many fundraisers work alone
in smaller organisations – often with little or no budget – and are expected to 
cover all the fundraising bases.

 

In a recent presentation on “How to Survive as a Sole Fundraiser”, I identified 
over 20 difficult issues these special people face – from isolation to the need 
for total self-motivation and the risks of stress and burnout.

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Now we can all have a moan occasionally, but sole fundraisers have a special place
in my heart – I once was one. So I was interested to hear that a session at this
year’s Convention on sole fundraising (not one of mine) seems to have struck a cord
with people, so much so that momentum is now growing for a dedicated support network.
Historically of course, the IoF has seen its regional groups as the place for this,
but now there does seem to be some shift towards supporting them as a group in their
own right. And not before time.

 

So if you are struggling on a small budget, with no agency to help you and no colleagues
who understand what you do, drop a line to Sally Campbell at Campaign Against the
Arms Trade, who has offered to coordinate a new network for sole fundraisers. You
can contact her at Sa***@******rg.uk

 

Let’s remember too that many of our best fundraisers started out as sole practitioners,
so they are an important source of future talent and skills for our sector. If we
don’t support them, we may lose them…

 

 * **[Fundraisers become youngest honours recipients](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/01/04/fundraisers-become-youngest-honours-recipients/)**(
   4 January 2022)
 * **[New discussion forum for solo or lone fundraisers](https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/11/17/new-discussion-forum-solo-or-lone-fundraisers/)**(
   17 November 2004)
 * **[New group for solo fundraisers in Scotland](https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/11/18/new-group-solo-fundraisers-scotland/)**(
   18 November 2004)