MAKE A STEP CHANGE IN PHILANTHROPY

Former President for Europe of a global fundraising and strategy practice, with experience in building strategies and securing transformational funding. Prior to her work as a consultant, she was Director of Development for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), creating their first high-value fundraising programme and their first ethical gift acceptance policy and procedure. Earlier, she served as Director of Development at ARK and Head of Fundraising at the Cambridge University Development Office, where she led the fundraising team for the University’s historic 800th Anniversary Campaign, securing the first ever £1 billion campaign in the UK. Pam founded and subsequently taught the MBA Fundraising course at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and is a guest lecturer on strategic fundraising for the MPhil Conservation Leadership course at the Cambridge Conservation Campus. Current trusteeships include Saffron Hall Trust, TRAFFIC International, and the Food Ethics Council.

Founder of Compass Philanthropy Collective, working with regional, national, and international clients to transform their fundraising and increase the financial sustainability of their organisations. Formerly Vice-President of Europe at a global consultancy, her expertise is in helping organisations make a step change in their philanthropy. As a relationship manager she started out with the University of Cambridge more than 15 years ago, and has since worked with Manchester Camerata (first as Board member and now within the team as Deputy CEO), The University of Manchester, and the Royal Horticultural Society, personally securing significant transformational gifts both from the UK and internationally. 

Paula has been providing bespoke strategic and operational fund development advice and counsel to clients ranging from arts and education institutions, to environmental and international development organisations around the world, for nearly 20 years.  Her clients have increased philanthropic income, built stronger relationships with donors, and established focused, productive fund development teams.  Among the organisations she’s worked with are:  IFAW (The International Fund for Animal Welfare), US; University of London; RAND Europe; WWF International; The British Council; Wigmore Hall; University of Liverpool; University of Birmingham; Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity; Birmingham Royal Ballet; and The United Nations Foundation.

Prior to her consultancy, Paula headed trust and foundation fundraising for The London School of Economics & Political Science during the School’s first major capital campaign, which exceeded its £100 million goal.  She was the chief fundraising officer for the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, Michigan State University, where she was responsible for major, foundation, and annual giving, along with corporate sponsorship, liaison to the Center’s volunteer Advisory Council, and part of the Center’s executive management team, securing the Center’s single largest gift of seven-figures to that date.  She also fundraised for the University of Detroit, and Detroit Public Television.

In 2024, she joined Dr Pam Davis in teaching on the CCI Masters in Conservation Leadership fundraising unit.

With over twenty years’ experience in fundraising, Louise has personally secured over £30 million for a range of charitable causes, from grants, trusts and foundations, and major gifts. Louise has significant experience working in the charity sector and in Higher Education fundraising. She has secured six and seven figure gifts for capital appeals, arts projects, scholarships, medical research, scientific research and conservation work. Louise is experienced in philanthropic writing, case for support development and fundraising strategy and processes. She has helped lots of charities develop their fundraising sustainably, from those just starting out to those with complex income sources. Louise divides her time between consultancy and as Funding Development Manager at the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. Prior to this she was a Senior Philanthropy Manager at the University of Sheffield, where she built relationships with some of the largest foundations in the UK.