# Five new IoF Fellows announced at National Fundraising Convention - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/07/08/five-new-iof-fellows-announced-at-national-fundraising-convention/ - Published: 2015-07-08T01:09:43+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake The Institute of Fundraising has announced the award of five Fellowships. Mark Astarita OBE, Eric Grounds, Liz Monks, Dr Claire Routley and Bruce Tait received the honour for their contribution to fundraising above and beyond their day job. The announcement was made by Richard Taylor, Chair of the Institute of Fundraising, at the Institute’s AGM, held during the three-day National Fundraising Convention in London. He said: ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) > “Becoming a Fellow of the Institute is a badge of honour which recognises a substantial > contribution to fundraising and to the work of the Institute of Fundraising. As > individuals, Fellows offer advice, guidance and support to trustees, staff and > IoF members. > “We are delighted to be awarding Fellowships of the Institute to five outstanding > fundraisers who have clearly demonstrated immense commitment to so many good causes > and great support to the fundraising community. I am particularly pleased that > my predecessor as chair, Mark Astarita, is being honoured by the institute for > his outstanding contribution to fundraising.” As well as commitment to fundraising, Fellowship also acknowledges these individuals’ voluntary support of the Institute in the development of the profession of fundraising. ## Mark Astarita OBE Mark Astarita joined the British Red Cross as Director of Fundraising in 2003, moving from The National Deaf Children’s Society where he held the position of Deputy Chief Executive. He has over 20 years’ experience of fundraising in the voluntary sector and during his eleven years at the British Red Cross, he has been responsible for launching over 60 emergency appeals, including appeals for the 2011 Japan Tsunami, the 2005 London Bombings, the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan appeal and most recently the Ebola Appeal. He is widely known in the voluntary sector, often utilising his experience through his involvement in a variety of charities and public bodies. In 2008 he became a trustee of IoF and was its chair between 2011 and 2014. He is now a trustee on the board of his local hospice, St Joseph’s. He was [awarded an OBE for services to fundraising](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/2015/06/13/obe-for-mark-astarita-british-red-cross-director-of-fundraising/) in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. ## Eric Grounds Eric Grounds was Director of Fundraising at Sue Ryder for five years until the end of March 2010, during which time he recognised that the charity needed to create a strong regional fundraising presence to support 12 hospices and neurological centres. He created fundraising manager positions at each centre and specialisms including corporate, trusts, individual giving and legacies. In addition to his day job, he has been a consultant in the voluntary sector for 23 years at Eric Grounds Fundraising Associates and was previously director of national appeals at Marie Curie Cancer Care. A former magistrate, Grounds also held the title of High Sheriff of Northumberland between April 2006 and April 2007. ## Liz Monks ![liz-monks](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/files/images/news/ liz-monks-348x250.jpg) Liz Monks has been a professional fundraiser for almost 20 years. Her career has spanned the sector and touched a number of causes, including Terrence Higgins Trust, Action on Hearing Loss, Shelter, Action for Children, Breast Cancer Campaign and Alzheimer’s Society. She has raised hundreds of millions over this time, enabling the transformation of the charities she has served along the way. Liz has also supported, developed and guided other fundraisers to do the same, encouraging best practice and the advancement of the profession. Between 2012 and 2014 she volunteered her time as Chair of the National Fundraising Convention Board. Working with the Institute and the 25-strong board of senior fundraisers she helped develop Convention further, achieving a sold-out event in 2014. ## Dr Claire Routley Dr Claire Routley has worked in fundraising for ten years for charities ranging from a local hospice to Age UK. She is a full member of the Institute of Fundraising and a Chartered Marketer. She is also a tutor and examiner on the Institute of Fundraising’s certificate and diploma courses. She hold’s the world’s first PhD in Legacy Marketing. Her thesis discussed how people’s life experiences have contributed to their legacy decision making, and how they want to be remembered in the future. She has spoken on legacies at academic and practitioner conferences nationally and internationally. ## Bruce Tait Bruce Tait has worked as a fundraiser for over 25 years, holding Director level posts at several Scottish charities. As a consultant he has worked for numerous charities throughout Europe and in North America. He is a former Chair of IoF Scotland and a Trustee of the Macrobert Art Centre, Developing World Health, Falkirk Football Community Foundation, and Scottish Outdoor Education Centres. In 2007 he set up Bruce Tait Associates, the voluntary sector recruitment agency for Scotland. * **[IoF calls for papers on digital and innovation in fundraising](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/03/14/iof-calls-papers-digital-innovation-fundraising/)**( 14 March 2016) * **[IoF seeks Fellows nominations for 2016](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/03/30/iof-seeks-fellows-nominations-2016/)**( 30 March 2016) * **[National Fundraising Awards 2016 open for entries](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/05/25/national-fundraising-awards-2016-open-entries/)**( 25 May 2016)