Peter Lewis has joined the Institute at an undeniably challenging time for the sector but he remains optimistic about the future of giving in the UK

Members of the Institute and readers of The Fundraiser won’t need me to tell them that this is a critical time for fundraising. With our current economic difficulties and many causes struggling to find new sources of income to deliver the services they provide, budgets are greatly stretched.

Many donors, and potential donors, are experiencing a fall in their disposable incomes, while technical advances, and the speed of communication they engender, have enabled individuals to become increasingly selective about which charities to support. The need for professional standards alongside creative and insightful communication has never been greater.

Despite it looking challenging on the face of it, I believe this is a time of real opportunity for fundraisers – the lifeblood of any charity. It is also an exciting time for me to take on leadership of the Institute. The Institute has a crucial role to play in representing all of the causes we count among our membership, as well as in speaking up for the activity of fundraisers across the UK.

Supporting giving

As a strategic partner of government the Institute is already delivering practical training to a range of charities, both large and small. It will ensure expertise is shared across the voluntary sector, particularly as its reach and influence is growing all the time. We have over 5,000 individual fundraisers in membership (more than ever before) and over 300 organisational members (including 19 out of the UK’s top 20 charities). But it needs to reach further. It needs to provide better training and support, and more of it, while ensuring that the external environment is as conducive as possible to giving

Fundraising is a tough role. I’ve worked with some of the UK’s top fundraisers and led organisations that rely on fundraisers to deliver crucial income. I am acutely aware of the vital work that fundraisers do. I know that if they weren’t out there performing the tough task of raising support and cash, that charities would soon grind to a halt. In any organisation it is very difficult to meet your strategic objectives or help your beneficiaries without cold, hard cash.

I’m ambitious for the future and I’d like to see fundraising step up its development. The Institute has a big role to play in this; by supporting, training, advising and advocating on behalf of fundraisers across the UK.

With a difficult economic climate, geographically diverse membership and a government looking at its strategic partners to deliver ever more, I know there is a lot for me and my team to do. But I am up for the challenge. I’ve successfully led individual and organisational membership organisations, growing them in the quality and range of support they provide, and increasing their impact and influence. The lessons I’ve learned in these roles, and working within government, equip me well for my job as chief executive of the Institute.

In order for me, my team and the Institute to best do its job we need to hear from you. I am looking forward to meeting many of the Institute’s members over the coming months, and hope you will let me know how you’re finding fundraising at the moment, and, most importantly, how the Institute can help. In the meantime if you have any thoughts about what we should be doing please do drop me a line at peter@institute-of-fundraising.org.uk

About the author: Peter Lewis is chief executive of the Institute of Fundraising

This article first appeared in The Fundraiser, Issue 11, November 2011