Consultancy
More intensive consultancy support?
Sometimes even the UK’s most intensive arts and culture fundraising programme isn’t enough. You may need more focussed support to deliver a specific project, to review and approach, to tackle a challenging target. The good news we can help with that too.
We have two dedicated teams who can help you: a fundraising consultancy team, including specialist prospect researchers, and one focussed on management consultancy.
Fundraising Consultancy
The fundraising consultancy team brings significant experience in working with museums, archives, galleries, theatres, orchestras, and arts centres in the UK and internationally. We can help you whatever the challenge – to change your funding portfolio, coach a development board, build an effective online presence, or develop a new campaign.
We’re the leading UK experts in major donor fundraising, capital campaigns and strategy development, helping charities to raise £1m – £250m. Some projects include:
- working with Scottish Book Trust to develop new streams through major donors and legacies
- building a strategic fundraising plan for Southbank Centre to deliver a significant increase in private income.
- helping the Science Museum research and engage with major donors
We work with a wide range of UK and international organisations including UNICEF, Amnesty, RNIB and MIND.
To find out how we can help with consultancy contact Bernard Ross, Director at bernardross@mc.consulting
(Photo: Th Clwyd, Dick Whittington. Photo by Sam Taylor.)
Prospect Research
If you need to identify sources who might support your work – either domestically or internationally – we have a team of specialist researchers led by our dedicated researcher Matt Ide and his Giving Insight team. The team have access to all the latest research tools.
The team can identify potential sources in the UK or internationally, produce prospect lists for HNWI, corprations or foundations and deliver detailed studies to back up any major project you plan to undertake.
We can also produce detailed reports on key individuals and decision makers.
Projects have included:
- Identifying prospects in New York for Manchester International Festival
- Creating a research set for Gulf State donors to support the work of UNAIDS
- Helping Absolutely Cultured, Hull Culture City legacy agency to secure sustainable support
To find out how we can help with prospect research contact Bernard Ross, Director at bernardross@mc.consulting
(Photo: Free Radical, Beatfreaks. Photo by Paul Stringer.)
Management Consultancy
Fundraising solutions aren’t always enough. Sometimes you need to address more complex or systemic challenges.
Our team of management consultants can help you develop a strategic plan, develop commercial awareness, build a business case, identify innovative ways to deliver your creative activities, and handle major change.
For over 30 years we’ve worked with government departments, local authorities, charities and arts and cultural organisations to deliver change, innovation and strategy.
Among our projects:
- helped the National Theatre and East Lindsay District Council develop commercial awareness programmes to increase earned income
- built a strategic plan for the British Film Institute education department
- worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company to create a more inclusive and proactive culture
To find out how we can help with management consultancy contact Bernard Ross, Director at bernardross@mc.consulting
(Photo: NoFit State Circus. Photo by Thomas Arran.)
Our outstanding consultants
Bernard Ross
Director
Bernard Ross is Director of The National Arts Fundraising School. For over 20 years, he has acted as a fundraising consultant to a wide range of bodies in the arts and cultural world, including Scottish Opera, BFI and Southbank Centre. He regularly consults on major fundraising projects for leading organisations such as UNICEF, NSPCC and CRUK.
An international expert on decision science, he has written eight best selling books on fundraising including The Influential Fundraiser– a top five non-profit book in the New York Times Online.
Jules Bellingham
Deputy Director
Jules Bellingham is Deputy Director of the School. She originally came from a commercial background in sales with a major multinational. She was then Deputy Director for Fundraising at one of the UK’s largest children’s charities, Action for Children.
She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in fundraising and specialises in foundations, sponsorship and communication skills.
Her current clients range from Marie Curie to the Museums Development Network.