The Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s trustees have selected Claire Rowney from Macmillan as its chair elect.
Rowney, who is executive director of fundraising, marketing and communications at Macmillan Cancer Support, was the unanimous choice of the Institute’s trustees following an open recruitment process.
She will take over from Amanda Bringans when she stands down at the end of her three-year term in July at the Institute’s annual general meeting, which will take place during its virutal Fundraising Convention.
Rowney has over 20 years of fundraising and marketing experience and has been a trustee of the Institute since 2018, becoming vice chair last year.
She joined Macmillan Cancer Support in February 2019 from Save the Children where she was executive director of fundraising and marketing since early 2017. She spent 13 years at Cancer Research UK, leading Race for Life, the UK's largest fundraising event, Stand Up To Cancer, a televised fundraising campaign in collaboration with Channel 4.
Peter Lewis, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, said: “On behalf of the whole staff team I would like to congratulate Claire as she steps into the role of chair in a new era for both the fundraising community and the Chartered Institute. I look forward to working with her, and the trustees, to create a bright future for fundraising and the Institute.
“I would also like to pay tribute to everything Amanda has achieved through her clear and thoughtful leadership, leading us to achieve chartered status and prioritising our important work on equality, diversity and inclusion within the fundraising community."
Amanda Bringans, outgoing chair, said: “It has been a huge privilege to have led the Institute over the last three years, a period that has seen us grow in influence and in confidence.
She added: “I am personally very proud of the way the Institute has been able to set the agenda around equality, diversity and inclusion, with a genuine commitment to wanting our profession to be one where everyone should feel at home. We are at the start of this important journey and I know Claire will give it the prominence and attention it deserves and needs.”
Rowney said: “With so many things unknown I know that our voice, leadership and support is going to be needed more than ever before.
“As we start finding our own new normal as fundraisers, I am committed to making sure that what we do is always as relevant as it can be. We will continue to lead on changing our profession to one that reflects the communities we serve. We will continue to challenge poor behaviour wherever we see it and make sure we learn and improve as we go about it.”
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