About Theresa

Fundraising consultant, adviser, author, trustee, donor

Theresa has been running her philanthropy consultancy for over 25 years, following a decade working as a senior director with Save the Children and ActionAid UK.

Her extensive list of clients have come from a number of sectors, with a major focus on the arts, heritage, health and higher education. In each case she has a personal affinity with the cause or a personal connection to those involved. In the arts and heritage field Theresa’s involvement has included devising capital campaigns for a range of organisations, from start-ups such as Handel House to global institutions such as Tate Modern. She has also offered consultancy on major strategic and business planning for The Wordsworth Trust and offered guidance on the potential for very significant donors for The National Trust. Theresa has provided mentoring support and strategic guidance for clients including The National Gallery, The British Museum, Streetwise Opera, The British Library and Lambeth Palace Library as well as a number of small and new institutions. Higher education clients have included Kings College London, the Warburg Institute and the History and Policy Unit within the University of London. Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital is among clients in the health sector. In international development, from 2006 Theresa worked for several years with Bioversity International on a range of issues related to the development of private sector fundraising.

From major national institutions to small niche organisations, Theresa applies the same commitment, rigour and empathy.

Alongside her consultancy work, Theresa became the founder director of Philanthropy UK in 2001, a post she held until 2004.

She was also the coordinator of the Pears Business Schools Partnership. This was a four-year (2009 – 2013) collaboration between London Business School, Cranfield School of Management and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. Its aim was to promote sustainable and responsible business in society by engaging and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Read what people say about Theresa.

Adviser

Theresa often acts as a mentor and sounding board for senior executives and trustees. She has also provided guidance to individual donors and their families. She advises on a wide range of areas including philanthropic strategy, governance and fundraising, with the aim of ensuring that organisations are in the best possible position to engage with those who are current and potential significant philanthropic partners.

Author

Theresa has carried out extensive research among philanthropists and organisations, leading to the publication of a number of books:

  • A Guide to Giving(first edition 2003)
  • Why Rich People Give(2004)
  • Cultural Giving(2006)
  • Richer lives: why rich people give(2013) (with Dr Beth Breeze)

She has written many articles and contributed to a wide range of reports and books on philanthropy – see Publications.

Trustee

Theresa has served on various boards and committees in the non-profit sector, including Sadler’s Wells, Care International UK, the Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign, the Young Vic, Bath University and the European Association for Philanthropy and Giving (now Philanthropy Impact). Committee memberships have included WaterAid, English National Opera, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Comic Relief. In 2019 she stepped down after 10 years as Trustee, and latterly Chair, of The Bonnart Trust.  At the end of 2019 she completed 2 terms as a Governor of Bath Spa University, where she also chaired the Development Strategy Group.  Currently Theresa is a Trustee of The Benedetti Foundation, a member of the Appeal Committee of the Arts Hub Project at Garsington Opera and Honorary Advisor to Lendwithcare.

Donor

In 1992, with her husband, Theresa set up a family charitable trust through which 10% of their income is channelled each year.

Theresa’s work in each of these roles is underpinned by her strong values and commitment to philanthropy. She sees philanthropy and the mutually supportive relationships it inspires as an essential element of a civilised society.