Mentoring
Partnership-building can feel lonely and overwhelming, so sometimes it helps to have an accomplice in your corner. Together we'll create opportunities, navigate challenges, and aim beyond becoming "Well-Funded" towards a more joyful and sustainable target of being "Well & Funded”.
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“Beyond helping one define how best to approach and structure fundraising, Craig instills confidence into one's capability to fundraise - especially for those of us who sit within the African continent - where one of the key worries tends to be; 'where do I begin?”
- Tidah Adhiambo, African Leadership University (Kenya)
How does mentoring work?
Our individual mentoring (or group mentoring with boards and teams) will open new creative and strategic headspaces and conversations that begin to shift thinking, ambitions, and funding results. Our mentoring journey will be grounded in trust and shared values. We will find our steady pace as this work fits and flexes with your other priorities.
I'm not Yoda. This will not be about me imparting wisdom. This will be about blending and focusing our respective expertises. You're the expert on your organisation, people, partners and reality. I bring three decades of first-hand and second-hand global nonprofit and leadership experience - distilled into your go-to source of global partnership-building expertise and your day-to-day sounding board.
Together we'll create a safe space for you to think clearly, to nurture your ideas, and bring your plans to life. I'll walk alongside and offer guidance so you can navigate opportunities and challenges with confidence - this will be a bridge from your current reality to your future impact and legacy.
What else can you expect from our work together?
Confidence when approaching donors, navigating internal dynamics, or making big decisions.
Clarity and focus on where you're going and how to get there.
Fast and frank assessments of the true issues and pathways forward.
Creative ideas and practical guidance to make them happen.
An "objective expert" which can be a handy tool for broadening understanding and ownership.
New knowledge, strategic frameworks, tools and tactics to navigate high-value partnerships.
A broad global perspective and examples of what works elsewhere.
Feeling more capable to lead and steer your organisation.
Comfort and clarity in the value you bring to your organisation.
Stronger connections with your champions and partners.
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"I needed someone to challenge me and ask us hard questions. You’ve done this with kindness and so much more, you’ve inspired me and pushed the whole EY Foundation. Working with you has been brilliant and inspiring, it has been the highlight of my three years at EY Foundation. Thank you so much!”
Katie Rabone, former Head of Income,EY Foundation, UK
How will this work?
Our mentoring will involve the following steps:
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Chemistry Check
A relaxed no-commitment 30-minute introductory chat to check the fit and chemistry and if our values, expectations, and goals align.
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Setting Expectations
We’ll consider where you are now, explore what you’re aiming to achieve, understand the opportunities and challenges ahead, then navigate these together.
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Regular Meetings
Every two weeks, we’ll have a 60-minute meeting to dive deeply into your challenges, progress, and ideas.
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Between-Session Support:
You can reach out anytime via email for quick advice, feedback, or help to navigate live issues and opportunities.
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Tools & Resources:
I’ll share practical tools and templates that you can start using right away.
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Training Materials
Let me know if there are specific areas of knowledge you would like to build and I'll give you free access to any relevant recorded webinars.
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Tracking Progress
We’ll keep an eye on your wins and any roadblocks to make sure you stay on track.
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Flexible Approach
If things shift, we’ll adjust the schedule or focus of our sessions to meet your changing needs.
Testimonials
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"Craig, I learned so much from your guidance and counsel when I was running the British Institute for the Study of Iraq. It all stayed with me and I can honestly say that I could not have raised the £11 million donation at UCL without that guidance and understanding - you shared with me how fundraising really works."
- Professor Eleanor Robson, former Head of History, University College London (UK)
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"Craig, your careful counsel of the trustees of CARA helped us all to travel together, we covered a long distance in a relatively short space of time. Your expertise and practical approach steered us to collectively lead and contribute to the fundraising process. As a direct result, CARA's income is now a multiple of what it was four years ago. Thank you."
- Anne Lonsdale CBE, former Chair of CARA (Global)
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"I can draw a very clear line from your mentoring, which equipped me to raise the funding for the research project, which we used to advocate successfully for a USD120 million increase in Zimbabwe's maternal and child health budget."
- Kuda, Former National Nutrition Coordinator, Zimbabwe
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“Craig's guidance and mentoring has enhanced my ability to effectively communicate the importance of nutrition initiatives and to secure funding. It has been instrumental in shaping my fundraising journey, enabling me to articulate compelling arguments and strategies that resonate with stakeholders and supporters alike.”
- Danish, Nutrition International, Pakistan
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“The mentoring sessions have been valuable. For example, just the simple realisation that it is okay to ask a donor for another donation. Just that one piece of learning helped me turn one donation of $5,000 into three donations worth more than $135,000. All from one wealthy individual here in Sri Lanka."
- Dilka, UN World Food Programme, Sri Lanka
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"Craig is always supportive and encouraging with me, he believes that I can do this, even when I don't ... and he gives the best practical advice in a way that makes everything clear and possible!"
- Thi An, Vietnam Country Director, HealthBridge Foundation of Canada
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"Craig is so supportive and generous with his knowledge, I have learned so much during the past years and raised many donations and built new partnerships, including major unrestricted donations and corporate partnerships."
- Emily, Acting Director for Asia, IIRR