The Other Side

Cold outreach can feel like shouting into the void, especially when you’re under pressure to hit ambitious fundraising targets. That’s why this conversation with Michelle Benson lands so well: she’s been a fundraiser, she’s been a funder, and she’s built a thriving business by turning visibility into income. Michelle shares what she learned after moving from charity roles into a trust fund environ...

Your job can give you purpose, structure, and a handy answer to “what do you do?” but what happens when that label no longer fits? I’m joined by Ceri Sunu, an accidental fundraiser turned entrepreneur and CEO of Brabble, an inclusion consultancy serving arts, culture, heritage, and creative organisations. Ceri shares the real story behind leaving the charity sector, building a portfolio career, an...

What if redundancy wasn’t a setback but your invitation to design work on your terms? We sit down with Bethany Helliwell-Smith, a former fundraiser who turned crisis into clarity, building a coaching practice that helps freelancers and fundraisers do good and be well.  We explore the habits that transfer from fundraising to freelancing, diving into the mindset work that frees many charity professi...

Ready to design work that fits your brain, your values, and your life? Jane sits down with Rebs, a digital communications and fundraising specialist who left senior charity roles to build a flexible consultancy. We unpack the practical steps behind a smooth transition: testing services as a side hustle, building a client base before quitting, and shaping a week that blends strategic work with hand...

Thinking about trading a senior charity post for a life with fewer meetings and more meaning? We sit down with fundraiser-turned-freelancer Analiese Doctrove to map a path that balances family, focus, and real sector impact.  We get practical about the move: lining up early clients through warm contacts, announcing the shift on LinkedIn, and joining supportive communities that value collaboration...

We sit down with Craig Linton, co-founder of Thread Fundraising and co-author of Donors for Life, drawing out practical steps for a low-risk move into consulting. Across this candid chat, we dig into the skills that transfer directly from fundraising to business ownership: clear storytelling, supporter care reimagined as client care, and evidence-led decisions. We also grapple with pricing: where...

Ready to turn a solid charity career into a resilient, human-centred freelance practice? Jane sits down with leadership coach and My Emotional Work Life host, Jen McCanna, to explore how she moved from events fundraising to learning and development and built a coaching business that lasts. Jen shares the underrated skills that still pay off, and how they translate into confident facilitation and t...

In Episode 8 of The Other Side, Simon Scriver shares how two failed ventures shaped a thriving, accessible training community for fundraisers.  From street fundraising to global virtual events, Simon breaks down luck vs grit, why boring work matters and how to stop under-pricing your services.  We also discuss hiring fears, building a supportive community without burning out and whether the charit...

What if the top job isn’t the right job? Jenny Perez spent 30 years in the charity sector, rose to a national CEO role, and discovered that the work she loved most had been buried under daily operations and admin. Her path back to energising work runs through redundancy, a freelance contract in mentoring, and a master’s degree completed while solo parenting. The lesson is not about grit for its ow...

Ready to trade a single job title for a life that actually fits? Jane sits down with former grants fundraiser Rosie Milsom to map her rewarding shift from sector employment to a flexible, purpose-led portfolio career. It starts with side projects and a LinkedIn post, winds through a deeply personal fertility journey, and lands on a simple insight with big consequences: self-worth powers everything...

Ready to trade one-off wins for lasting momentum? Bright Spot founder Rob Woods joins us to unpack how charity professionals can build a sustainable, values-led business without burning out or getting lost in feast-or-famine cycles. Rob shares the pivotal moment he moved from training days to the Bright Spot Members Club, creating an environment where fundraisers stay inspired, practise proven tec...

This week Jane sits down with former small charity chief exec turned consultant, trainer, and social enterprise co-founder, Vic Hancock Fell. They unpack the power of a long runway, a clear offer, and a values-led business model.  Vic shares how a master’s degree exposed the gap in sector support for small charities, and how that insight grew into two distinct paths: a personal consultancy of one-...

Jane sits down with Lesley Pinder, founder of Compass, her start up company that explores how charities can make generosity feel great by designing experiences that reflect human behaviour, not tidy funnels.  We unpack the moment Lesley chose to leave the 9-5, why specialisation is key, and how “you don’t need a map, you need a compass” became the north star for her consultancy. We talk practicali...

What happens when a scientist trades lab notes for writing stories that move donors to act? Richard Berks traces his path from research to charity communications to a sustainable freelance career, and the surprising tweet that sparked a community trusted by thousands for connection and clarity. Richard shares the lesson many of us learn too late: offering everything is not a strategy. He breaks do...

What if you could build a six-figure consulting business while still having time for the life you want? Cindy Wagman takes us on her fascinating journey from charity professional to thriving business coach who's helped over 100 nonprofit consultants create profitable, values-driven practices. Cindy shares how she became an "accidental consultant" during maternity leave when her ment...