Obituary: Gill Wootton MInstF
Simon George | 14 November 2016 | Blogs
Gill Wootton, who died on 10 November 2016, was a life-long fundraiser with a passion for good causes. She first made her mark in community fundraising and later in consulting, becoming a trustee of the IoF and later chairing the Institute’s Midlands region.
Originally from Sutton Coldfield, Gill lived much of her life in Staffordshire and entered fundraising in 1984. She worked for several well known causes, including the Muscular Dystrophy campaign, before joining Simon George in 1998 in setting up Wootton George Consulting, where she specialised in difficult causes. She particularly relished helped to turn around struggling organisations and helped to rescue several charities.
Gill gained a reputation as someone who got things done, while her sometimes tough demeanour hid a softer side and those who knew her appreciated her great sense of humour.
In her private life, Gill and her husband Michael faced two tragedies in losing their daughter Charlotte aged 8 and then in 2007, their soldier son Tom aged 28. Typically for Gill, she threw herself into making something positive out of this second blow, raising funds for the Soldier’s Charity as her way of grieving.
She retired in 2010, although sadly, her retirement was marred by poor health. Gill is survived by her husband Michael and daughter Rebecca. She will be fondly remembered and missed by the Midlands fundraising community.
Her funeral will be held at 12.30 on November 22nd at Church Eaton parish church in Staffordshire.
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About Simon George
Simon George, BSc (hons) FInstF (dip) FRSA is a Director of Wootton George Consulting and has been fundraising since 1987. He has special interests in fundraising strategy, legacies and charitable trusts. A longstanding member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, he founded its Trusts and Statutory Special Interest Group in 1999 and was also the first Chair of the IoF’s West Midlands region. He has written two e-books on legacies and grant fundraising, published by SPMFundessentials and has achieved the Diploma in Fundraising Management. In 2010 he was made a Fellow of the Institute of Fundraising. Today he manages a team of 20 fundraising consultants around the UK.