The Institute of Fundraising is calling on fundraisers to dig deep to support junior colleagues
The shoe is on the other foot for fundraisers as they are being asked to put their hand in their pocket to support colleagues from BAME, LGBT and disability backgrounds develop their skills.
The Institute of Fundraising is aiming to create a more diverse fundraising community and has put out an appeal to fundraisers to contribute to a bursary fund to help upcoming fundraisers from under-represented groups attend its London convention.
The institute is hoping to raise £10,000 to help fundraisers from BAME, LGBT+ and disability backgrounds develop skills and experience at the Fundraising Convention in London this July.
Last year fundraisers helped support twenty three people attend the convention who would have otherwise missed out.
One recipient said: “Being able to attend the Fundraising Convention was absolutely fantastic and an opportunity I shall remain ever so grateful for. It has done wonders for the charity I work for and ultimately, raised more money to support our beneficiaries.”
The instittue will invite fundraisers who self-identify as BAME, LGBT+, or disabled to apply from 2 April 2019.
Amanda Bringans, chair of the IoF, said: “Our community currently lacks the real diversity it needs to fulfil its potential to support the causes we all care about.
“This is not only unacceptable but means that we are missing out on so much talent. That’s why we are asking for donations to support the Diversity Access Fund, an early step for us to achieve our ambition of a more equal, diverse and inclusive profession. “
Since the Access Fund was set up by the Expert Advisory Panel on Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, the panel has gone on to establish the #ChangeCollective, a sector movement to improve diversity in fundraising.
