Senior Fundraiser: Claire Palmer

I have worked at Ambitious about Autism for nearly eight years and started at a time when staff working for the wider organisation were based on a separate site to those working directly for TreeHouse School. I joined when there was just one full time member of the fundraising team and the national charity was a pipe dream!

Working in the fundraising team is immensely rewarding. Having had the privilege of being part of a fast growing and changing team I have not only had the opportunity to work with some hugely creative and inspiring individuals but have also had the scope to work across several fundraising disciplines including direct marketing, community, events and corporate. 

At the moment I work part-time within the major donor fundraising team which for me is the most challenging and most rewarding area of fundraising. A typical day could start with a breakfast meeting with a long-term supporter in central London followed by researching new fundraising leads or submitting a proposal to a family foundation. At lunch I could be meeting a group of volunteers to discuss the prospect of a networking event to increase our Circle of Ambitious Friends (donors who commit an annual donation to our work). The end of the day could involve cultivating some potential supporters at a private dinner in a stately home!  I should add that not all elements of the job are as glamorous; I’ve done my fair share of bucket holding and banner raising in the pouring rain!

I feel one of the unique points about working in the fundraising department at Ambitious about Autism is that everyone’s a team player. It’s a highly charged environment and employees are very busy with their individual workloads. However, everyone is willing to lend a hand to help ensure that a corporate pitch is delivered to the highest standard or a community event has sufficient volunteers to make it a success. As a small team we make the best use of every individual’s skills and expertise.

The most rewarding experience about working here is seeing the amazing kids at TreeHouse School and meeting their incredible parents as well as many inspiring young people on the spectrum and their parents up and down the country. Knowing that the work we do will help impact their lives for the better is more than enough motivation to get me out of bed in the morning and commute ninety minutes!