# Video interview with Margaret Bennett at 29th IFC

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/10/23/video-interview-margaret-bennett-29th-ifc/
- Published: 2009-10-23T12:11:34+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Margaret Bennett of THINK Consulting was head of individual giving at WWF-UK during
the recession of the 1990s. She shared some of her experiences and those of other
charities from those times at her masterclass at this week’s International Fundraising
Congress.

 

Speaking to UK Fundraising just after the masterclass, she explained some of the
topics she had covered with the delegates.

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She started with the good news: committed givers will most probably stay with your
charity, and some might even give more. Other supporters might pause in their giving.

 

What should charities do in this recession? They need to focus on existing supporters,
identify and focus on sustainable income, and strive to ensure general, uncommitted
income is maintained.

 

To do this charities need to re-examine their fundraising portfolio and focus on
their core fundraising activities. As a result, they should focus a little less 
on recruiting new supporters.

 

In addition, fundraising managers must protect their fundraising team, since too
many charities are tempted to cut fundraising staff when times are bad. Bennett 
argues that you need to invest in fundraising and be ready to respond to new opportunities,
and take advantage of the recovery when it comes. “Go against the trend – recruit
more fundraisers”, she added.

 

 

www.thinkcs.org

 

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