International Fundraising Consultancy
In 1984 after five years with Oxfam, John Baguley started working for Voluntary & Christian Service (Cecil Jackson Cole’s core charity that developed Oxfam, Action Aid, Anchor Housing etc.) as a fundraiser seconded into other organisations with a challenging target to raise for each one. His first assignment was the 40th Anniversary Appeal of the United Nations Association, and his next in India raising funds for Lok Kalyan Samiti in Delhi; where his innovative approaches were so successful the General Secretary Mr K S Gupta was able to declare his organisation financially self-sufficient.
After stints as Director of Fundraising for Friends of the Earth, Director of the Soil Association and Director of Fundraising for Amnesty International UK, John became a full-time consultant with Amnesty’s International Secretariat as his main customer. As their first Director of International Fundraising he brought fundraising expertise to their Sections worldwide in North and South America, Europe, Eastern Europe and Asia including Japan. He also organised workshops in Hong Kong, Manila, Nepal, Czech Republic, Holland and the UK with his colleagues in the Fundraising Working Group. Other clients included HelpAge International for whom he developed a fundraising strategy to raise funds in Zimbabwe and the Global Health Council in USA where he developed a US membership marketing strategy.
In 1999 John met with fellow Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture fundraisers Jasvir Kaur and Chris Small in the Bengal Lancers, Kentish Town and they formalised the International Fundraising Consultancy; which was registered as a company in 2000 with equal share ownership. Chris later left the company to pursue other interests, leaving John and Jaz as co-owners and directors.
John was soon joined by Senior Consultant, Mena Gainpaulsingh (also a Medical Foundation fundraiser) and the organisation grew steadily with a large number of UK clients with very diverse requirements. Overseas work came from such countries as Cameroon, Turkey, Ukraine, South Africa and the USA. Indeed, the IFC gained a special relationship with the development of fundraising in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, working with the Centre of Philanthropy in Kiev to manage the first annual international fundraising workshops in Ukraine; which draw participants from all over the former Soviet Union. This led to the establishment of the Institute of Professional Fundraising in Ukraine with John as a Board member. The Institute now runs professional fundraising courses to a European wide standard, and John’s book “Successful Fundraising” is the first comprehensive fundraising guide published in Russian with local examples.By 2008 the company had expanded to include consultants Nancy Childerhouse, Mandy MacKeown and PA Helen Ives-Rose with a number of professional Associates offering a wide variety of skills as well as discrete IFC Units such as the IFC’s Small Charity, Direct Marketing, Management and Communications Units providing specific areas of expertise.
Through 2009 the IFC developed its First Friday programme, allowing fundraisers to meet its staff and consultants, ask questions, network and develop ideas, innovations and best practice. These sessions are held at The Hub, Kings Cross, 34b York Way, London from 2.00 to 5.00 in the Glass Room on the first Friday of each month. You are always welcome to join us.
Towards the end of 2009 the team increased again when Amara Clark joined as a consultant bringing her particular experience in Major Donor fundraising..
Further expansion continues with the setting up of IFC offices in Switzerland and Italy.