# Amanda Bringans is to be new Chair of the Institute of Fundraising

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/04/20/amanda-bringans-new-chair-institute-fundraising/
- Published: 2017-04-20T11:24:12+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Amanda Bringans, Director of Fundraising at the British Heart Foundation, will
be the next Chair of the Institute of Fundraising. She will take over from Richard
Taylor when he stands down at the end of his three-year term in July at the Institute’s
AGM.**

Bringans joined the British Heart Foundation as Director of Fundraising in December
2015. Before that she was Director of Global Fundraising and Communications at VSO,
and spent 16 years at Macmillan Cancer Support where [she became Director of Fundraising](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/09/09/new-director-fundraising-macmillan-cancer-support/).

She has also held senior roles with Leonard Cheshire Disability and Battersea Dogs&
Cats Home.

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She takes over the voluntary role of Chair following two immensely challenging years
for the fundraising profession, during which the Institute, other sector bodies 
and individual charities have responded to criticism of some fundraising practices
by some charities and their agencies. Some of these challenges are yet to play out:
these include understanding of the implications for prospect research, for example,
of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the implementation of the 
Fundraising Preference Service (or whatever it might be renamed).

The implications of [Brexit on statutory funding](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/07/06/brexit-means-fundraising-charity-sector/)
and individual giving, political challenges to the UK’s overseas aid funding, and
[reports of declining trust](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/01/17/can-charities-learn-2017-edelman-trust-barometer/)
in charities and other civic bodies add to the challenges faced by the Institute
and the fundraising sector over the next three years.

The [vacancy for a new Chair was](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/01/25/institute-fundraising-seeks-new-chair/)
advertised in January 2017.

## Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor, Chair of the IoF, welcomed Bringans’ appointment. He said that she
takes over when “we have a bold new strategy in place which is all about representing
and championing the fundraising profession so that we can all achieve high levels
of excellent fundraising across the UK.”

He added: “I know Amanda will relish the opportunity to lead us in delivering our
ambitions, and those of our members and fundraisers, so that charities can raise
even more money to make the world a better place. Amanda will be an excellent Chair
and someone that our members will be able to look to for leadership and inspiration.”

“It has been a huge privilege for me to be Chair of the Institute of Fundraising
and I wish Amanda all the best in the role. I know that she will have the full support
of an amazing community of fundraisers behind her.”

Bringans herself emphasised the breadth of the fundraising sector when she described
her appointment as Chair-elect as a “huge privilege”.

She said: “I know how important the IoF is to so many fundraisers and charities 
across the UK. Whether it is providing support for the sole fundraiser in a small
local charity or a specialised fundraising team in a large international charity,
the IoF has an important role to play in training, representing and championing 
fundraisers.”

> Best news I've heard in changes. Congratulations [@amandabringans](https://twitter.com/AmandaBringans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> and [@ioftweets](https://twitter.com/IoFtweets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Whoop whoop!
> [https://t.co/s5b4a6hMjy](https://t.co/s5b4a6hMjy)
> — Beth Upton (@Beth_Upton) [April 20, 2017](https://twitter.com/Beth_Upton/status/854990817815080960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

## Focus of Chair-elect

Bringans said she saw her role as including:

 * ensuring that the Institute continues to demand the highest standards from all
   its members
 * maintaining the trust and confidence of the public in the way charities raise
   funds for the good causes they care about

Acknowledging recent and current challenges, she said:

“The past few years have been difficult for the fundraising community, but with 
each other’s support we were able to come through better and stronger. That is what
I think is at the heart of the IoF – our members’ passion and willingness to share
insights and knowledge as we push each other to be the best we can be. Fundraising
is a unique profession in that respect, and I’m looking forward to meeting with 
fundraisers across the UK to hear their stories and champion their achievements 
as Chair.”

She paid tribute to the work of Richard Taylor who [chose to complete his three-year term](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/07/02/richard-taylor-to-stay-on-as-iof-chair-and-at-cruk/)
on being offered a non-fundraising role when the scale of the challenge to the profession
emerged.

She said: “Richard Taylor has led the IoF superbly through tumultuous times to a
position of strength on which I want to build. Fundraisers across the UK owe him
a huge vote of thanks for the time, passion and commitment he has dedicated to us
and to the IoF.”

You can [follow @AmandaBringans](https://twitter.com/AmandaBringans) on Twitter.

## Previous Chairs of the Institute of Fundraising

 * Nick Lowe, Barnardo’s (1983)
 * George Medley (1984)
 * Anthony Clay
 * Giles Pegram
 * Andrew Ross
 * Ian Ventham
 * Kim Maxwell
 * Brian Roberts-Wray
 * David Ford
 * [John Kingston](https://fundraising.co.uk/2002/12/10/new-chair-institute-fundraising/)(
   2000)
 * Simon Burne (2003)
 * Joe Saxton (2005)
 * [Paul Amadi](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/01/30/paul-amadi-be-new-chair-institute-fundraising/)(
   2008)
 * Alan Gosschalk (2010)
 * [Mark Astarita](https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/05/03/mark-astarita-new-chair-institute-fundraising/)(
   2011)
 * [Richard Taylor](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/06/22/richard-taylor-succeed-mark-astarita-chair-institute-fundraising/)(
   2014)

##  ⏎ WATCH: IoF Fundraising Convention 2017 – network with your peers

_Editor’s note 1 January 2022_

_Amanda Bringans recieved an OBE for her services to charity and fundraising in 
the 2022 New Year’s Honours List:_

> Flabbergasted and humbled to get an OBE for services to charity in the Queen’s
> NY Honours. THANK YOU and I dedicate it wholeheartedly to the causes I’ve raised
> money for, [@macmillancancer](https://twitter.com/macmillancancer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [@TheBHF](https://twitter.com/TheBHF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@Battersea_](https://twitter.com/Battersea_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> and also to all fundraisers, this one’s for you, you ROCK. 💜
> — Amanda Bringans OBE (@AmandaBringans) [January 1, 2022](https://twitter.com/AmandaBringans/status/1477197910915825666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 * **[Personalised video campaign results in 14% uplift in donations for BHF](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/08/16/personalised-video-campaign-results-14-uplift-donations-bhf/)**(
   16 August 2017)
 * **[Miquita Oliver lends her support to BHF, & other celebrity charity news snippets](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/05/25/miquita-oliver-lends-her-support-to-bhf-other-celebrity-charity-news-snippets/)**(
   25 May 2021)
 * **[BHF appeals to retailers & textiles brands to make more sustainable choices](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/10/26/bhf-appeals-to-retailers-textiles-brands-to-make-more-sustainable-choices/)**(
   26 October 2021)
