Fundraising think tank announces first two associate members
Howard Lake | 5 January 2015 | News
Rogare, the fundraising think tank at Plymouth University, has announced that creative agency Bluefrog and regular giving specialist Rapidata have become its first associate members.
They will work with the organisation, headed by Ian MacQuillin, to help identify areas of research and to plan publications, events and other activities that will bring this research to the attention of the wider fundraising community.
Rogare describes ‘associate members’ as “suppliers to the fundraising sector who share Rogare’s ‘Critical Fundraising’ ethos and vision for how fundraising needs to meet the challenges confronting it”. Its overall aim is to “be the engine that turns academic ideas into actionable information for fundraisers”.
Ian MacQuillin, Rogare’s manager, added:
“Associate Members are not just passive sponsors, they are genuine, active partners in delivering our research programme. We have ambitious plans to change the way fundraising rises to overcome the challenges it faces. The first step in this process is to critically evaluate and question what we currently know, or think we know, about fundraising.
“That’s why I’m delighted to welcome two organisations that are led by people with just this critical mindset.”
Scott Gray and Mark Philips, Managing Director of Bluefrog, will both join Rogare’s advisory panel of senior and emerging sector thinkers.
Scott Gray explained the partnership, saying:
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“I believe our annual benchmarking report that tracks cancellation cycles and regular giving trends will continue to help understand why this might be, and I hope our association with Rogare will focus attention on how charities can make the most of Direct Debit, build loyalty and improve retention.”
Other associate members
MacQuillin said that Rogare plans to limit the number of Associate Members at any one time to six. He is in talks with seven other organisations considering Associate Membership.
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.