1. ActionAid was founded in 1972 as the Christian Youth Appeal and was led by its eccentric founder Cecil Jackson Cole. It was originally called Action in Distress before being renamed ActionAid in 1980.
2. In the early years, ActionAid's international meetings were small affairs with predominantly British, white, wealthy male participants. However, over time it diversified its representation to include people from over 40 countries, with better gender and geographic balance.
3. ActionAid grew through effective direct marketing that was also honest, truthful, and decent. It gained loyal individual donors by maintaining a clear connection between donors and its work on the ground, keeping donors' "hearts and minds" through consistency and transparency.
6. Seven shining lights A presentation from history to ActionAid’s first ever General Assembly, Rome, 24 June 2009 By Ken Burnett Former UK director, director of fundraising, trustee and international chair.
13. ActionAid was started in 1972 as the Christian Youth Appeal. When I joined in 1977, it was called Action in Distress. Changed to ActionAid in 1980.
14. ActionAid was started in 1972 as the Christian Youth Appeal. When I joined in 1977, it was called Action in Distress. Changed to ActionAid in 1980.
15. ActionAid was started in 1972 as the Christian Youth Appeal. When I joined in 1977, it was called Action in Distress. Changed to ActionAid in 1980.
16. Cecil Jackson Cole 1901-1979 ActionAid’s Founder Rip Hodson, Overseas director Ian Kerr, General secretary Me, UK director Roger Lees, First chairman Harold Sumption Sir Leslie Kirkley CBE
17. Colin Williams Salil Shetty Ramesh Singh Gonzalo Crespi de Valldaura PeeBee Le Bas
18. ’… please stress for trustees the importance of making change happen in the heat and the dust on the ground, not just in the news cycle. … ActionAid no longer seems to be interested in programming for its own sake.’ Rip Hodson, former CEO
26. Individuals, at the grass roots, are our foundations. It’s why our supporters believe in us . 4 For our supporters, it’s the core of what we are…
27. There are many things our supporters could do with their money, other than give it to us… … they give it to ActionAid because they believe in what we are doing, because they can see and understand it .
28. ‘ If we have their hearts and minds, their wallets will follow.’ Harold Sumption 5 The best fundraising advice ever…
29. We get – and keep – their hearts and minds only when they can consistently see we are doing the right thing. 5
30. ‘ If we lose their hearts and minds, we’ll lose their money too.’ If we lose the individual link, in time we’ll lose our donors. 5
31. If we are loyal to our donors, they will be loyal to us. 6 The truth about donor loyalty…
33. Now, it’s harder to recruit new supporters. But existing supporters will give more, if asked. In UK, supporters giving more = shortfalls from attrition plus more costly recruitment. 6 From Richard Turner, ActionAid UK
34. Noerine Kaleeba’s very important recent message about Unity and collective responsibility ‘ That’s the thing about internationalisation – you get all the flavours!’ Sriprapha 7
35. Surprisingly, ActionAid’s history has not always been characterised by board unity. 7 The absolute core of effective governance… Nor, always, by harmony with management.
36.
37. One tradition we must carry forward into this General Assembly... 7 Finally…
38. Poor and marginalised people Our supporters Our colleagues and former colleagues, everywhere Our absent guests…
39. So, here’s to a future even more impressive than our past.
40. Cheers! Here’s to the next 35 years. Though we all sincerely hope that, for most people, poverty will be a thing of the past, long before then.
