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The Institute's next CEO - fundraiser or newcomer?

Who will fill Lindsay Boswell's shoes?
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The Institute's next CEO - fundraiser or newcomer?3

Fundraising | Tania Mason | 14 Sep 2010

Lindsay Boswell is just a few yards from the finishing line in his marathon stretch as chief executive of the Institute of Fundraising.  The Institute’s trustees have received 28 applications from people keen to step into his shoes. The word on the street is that the board members fall broadly into two camps: those that support the appointment of an experienced fundraiser who is immersed in and understands the issues, challenges and opportunities facing the profession, and those that would prefer an outsider, someone with commercial experience in skills other than fundraising, who would bring an entirely fresh perspective and no baggage to the role.

Which would you prefer?

 

John Brady
Head of Fundraising
Sense Scotland
17 Sep 2010

Much agreement with Benita's views. When we have articles and in Fundraising and discussions at conferences and conventions about how few Directors and Heads of fundraising become CEOs of charities it would be a bit rich if we deliberately sought out someone with no fundraising experience.

Oh and don’t fundraisers have commercial skills and acumen?

Rarry Revan
Ranter
Rantingrules
16 Sep 2010

Remind me which camp Lindsay would fall into?

Benita McMahon
14 Sep 2010

There is no way that an individual with no fundraising experience can represent the needs and concerns of fundraisers.

Particularly as the profession is getting more specialised, we need to recognise the individual skills and environment fundraisers work within with a fundraiser at the top of our representative body.

It's yet another case of a profession-wide lack of self esteem to consider hiring a ring-in as our chief exec.

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Tania Mason

Tania Mason is group editor at Civil Society Media. She has been a journalist for 20-odd years and has specialised in the charity sector since 2003.

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