Case studies: Fundraiser: Ed

Ed volunteered with Oxfam while studying politics and international relations. He is now a fundraiser for a major international charity.

While I was a student I worked in a bar, was a museum assistant, a sales assistant and I spent eight months teaching English in Spain. I also volunteered for Oxfam and was a regional manager and marketing officer for their Oxjam music festival.

After university I had to move back home because I was running out of money. I started to look for work as soon as I graduated, while continuing to organise the Oxjam festival.

I spent the next six months doing various temporary jobs until January 2010 when I was offered a long-term temporary role with a recruitment agency. I knew I didn’t want to work in recruitment forever so I joined the agency but continued to look for jobs and attend interviews at the same time. Four months later I was finally offered my current role on the strength of my previous fundraising experience and I joined the charity in May 2010. I’ve now been here for nine months and love every minute.

I’m responsible for generating income to support the work of the charity in the UK and overseas so I recruit people to participate in fundraising activities, manage events, prepare grant applications applying for funding from trusts and local companies, work with volunteer fundraising groups and support international appeals by facilitating donations at a local level.

I love that my job is hugely varied, fast paced and relevant. I also care passionately about the work the charity is doing, which gives me an enormous sense of satisfaction every day. On the downside the job carries a great deal of responsibility, which can be stressful at times.

I would like to establish a successful fundraising department in this area for my current charity. Ultimately I would like to work for a range of different charities to gain experience of different working environments and the different fundraising challenges faced in each organisation.

It’s very hard at the moment, but there are jobs out there. My advice is:

• Stay strong, keep going, expect rejection and possibly lower your expectations!
• Be creative in your approach and remember that there are thousands of other graduates who have done a three year course and have worked in a bar.
• Above all, remember there ARE jobs out there, despite all the doom and gloom, and if you’re qualified you’ll find one in the end.