Contributors

I’m Jonathan Ashton. I’ve worked in the bid writing field since 1990 – but I’m still learning! As well as a LOT of trust fundraising, I’ve done specialisms in Lottery fundraising, statutory tenders, lots of different niches. I have also assessed for seven different funders. I’m currently also developing a 100-page “advanced practice” website, targeting experienced trust fundraisers interested in hearing hundreds of ideas to develop their knowledge of advanced and innovative practices.

My web site is based not just on my decades of experience but also on over 100 books I’ve read and series of professional podcasts I’ve listened to, in related fields that bid writers don’t normally consider. Reviews by expert fundraisers of my drafts have been enthusiastic, so: here’s hoping!

I have also trained groups of trust fundraisers for the Small Charities Coalition and individual charities. I have mentored over two dozen trust fundraisers.

If you want to know my motivation for the site: I’ve spent over a year on retreat, which has left me with a strong desire to make the world a better place. For years it’s frustrated me that discussion of trust fundraising by very experienced people often seemed quite basic and only to talk about parts of our job. The site is my response.

Rachel Crawford photo

Rachel Crawford biog

Sophie Jones photo

Sophie Jones biog

Jenni Willows moved into fundraising in 2004, the perfect way to combine her financial administrative experience with a lifelong passion for the arts and is currently Development Manager at HOME, a large multi-art centre in Manchester that combines film, theatre and visual art with extensive engagement and talent development programmes.  With particular experience in securing statutory, corporate and grant funding, Jenni also undertakes occasional freelance work with a wide range of smaller arts organisations, is a Trustee of Proud & Loud Arts and on the board of Small Things Creative Projects CIC.

Robyn McAllister is a passionate fundraiser. She is currently the Head of Major Giving at national youth charity Street League, having previously worked for organisations including Girlguiding and Phoenix Futures.  She specialises in high-value fundraising and loves nothing more than supporters seeing first-hand the difference their gift has made.  She is Trustee of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and was previously Co-Chair of Trustees of a local mental health charity.

Mustafe Adan is one of the most generous and community-minded people that Jonathan knows. As a volunteer, he helped develop two different charities for Somali young people, one of which grew to have a six figure income.

Mustafe generously drew on his in-depth knowledge of web site development to create, for free, the prototype web site that Good Grant Fundraising is based on.