This speech introduces the first Partners in Fundraising Awards (PIFAs) which recognize excellence among organizations that support charities' fundraising efforts. It discusses how partnerships have transformed fundraising over the years, with agencies pioneering new techniques and technologies like events, direct marketing, digital fundraising, and face-to-face fundraising. While mistakes have been made, the speaker says entrepreneurs who innovate need support, not criticism, as competition drives progress. In conclusion, the speaker thanks partners for their success and looks forward to celebrating more at the awards ceremony.

1. Speech V1
Ladies and gentleman,
Welcome to the first ever Partners in Fundraising Awards yes it is the (PIFAs)
which later on in the evening is going to be a lot harder to say.
Seriously this is an immensely exciting evening for the Institute. We have
introduced these new awards specifically to give you our partners the sectorwide recognition you deserve for the great work you do. You are exceptional
fundraising collaborators, supporters and service providers, and with your
support charities are able to raise more money for good causes. You all
make it possible for people rich or not to give a little of themselves. It is a
marvellous act of kindness which we enable day in day out which gives
pleasure to millions and makes the world a better place for us all.
The awards recognise and reward the very best in the sector, and everyone
here on the short list is making a significant successful contribution to the
sector - and you should be proud that you’re here tonight.
Nominations in the 13 award categories were short listed by our senior panel
of seven judges representing the sector at the highest levels. Our members
have used their breadth of experience to vote on and select the winners –
singling out and putting the spotlight on the truly great partners in fundraising.
The PIFA awards are a fantastic opportunity to bring colleagues together to
celebrate success – and I want to thank you all for getting behind the event
and making this first ever, Partners in Fundraising Awards something to
remember.
I was reflecting before this evening on the importance of partners and
agencies in my day to day life. In truth I would not be standing here today if it
were not for the amazing companies I have worked with over the years that
have transformed the fundraising landscape.
I was there in the very early 90’s at the very birth of Skyline that great events
company which I think both Dominic and Siobhan give me a little credit for. At
one time or another I was responsible for chucking more people out of
aeroplanes than anyone else... well no it was not me it was Skyline and
without them it would never have happened.

2. I recall my first TV advert we did at NDCS getting people to do a sponsored
parachute jump which we created with a then young Alan Clayton and a
slightly odd agency he worked for in Reading. The agency may be long gone
but Alan certainly isn’t.
Back then Pawson media and I were buying adverts in the Sun and without
the call handling to take a 1000 calls in an hour the project would never have
got off the ground and the supporters up in the air.
It was Classic Tours that pioneered overseas bikes rides and made charities
like mine back in the day millions. It was Pawson Media who put Cycle Cuba
on the front page of the Times & Guardian. Just as it was Mediacom who
woke Boxing day morning and worked the day to get my adverts post
Tsunami in every paper the next day as they had done the year before for the
earthquake in Iran.
What we might take for granted today was pioneered by brave people willing
to put sometimes their very houses on the line to make companies and ideas
become fundraising mainstream today.
Brillant Direct Marketers such as Pidgon, Burnett, Smith and the great Harold
Sumption showed us the art of writing and advertising for a cause, changing
the world from the end of a pen.
It was wonderful professional fundraising agencies that Cathy Sullivan started
standing in canteens, knocking on companies doors, kneeling at office desks
that drove payroll giving in the first place and who will lead transformational
change tomorrow. Personally I am delighted that the government intends to
bring a dose of private sector flair and investment to the payroll giving market.
One day I will be able to tell the story of how I played a small part in changing
the status quo.
It was not charities that made face to face and door to door what it is today it
was the likes of wonderful guys at Appco and Fundraising Initiatives who took
the risk that we back then would have run a mile from. Some of the agencies
that laid those foundations like PFP are no longer here, demonstrating the
real risk that our colleagues take day in day out in their businesses.
The use of the telephone brought here by Factor Fox from the US but
developed by Pell and Bales and PTF and grown further by the GoGens of
this world to what it is today... literally millions of calls every year exist
because they made it happen. They helped us drive up standards and
increase value and they filled a demand we had to talk to people.

3. In the digital space Just Giving revolutionised the sponsored event and
VirginGiving gave us choice while Raisers edge gave us more than a few
heart aches. Fundraising databases transformed direct marketing yesterday
while insight teams today using rocket science technology will transform it
again tomorrow.
I started this bit of my speech by reflecting that I would not be standing here
today if it were not for the amazing fundraising partners I have had the
privilege to work with over the years. I fear that some sections of the media
and even maybe in the sector took some pleasure in the fate recently of TAG.
Well I for one took no delight in 40 people losing their jobs.
Yes mistakes were made but destroying a company is a cruel outcome which
no one should be pleased with. We need more entrepreneurs willing to
innovate alongside us, driving up standards and reaching out to those that
don’t yet enjoy the experience of giving. We need more competition not less.
Competition is good for us it keeps prices keen and restricts monopolies.
If as has happened before every time anyone who is willing to bet their house
on a fundraising idea and commercialise it is then pilloried in the press for
doing well, other will see that and we will not be the go to place but the no go
space. We need to attract more businesses, more innovators and risk takers
to work with us not less…. heck surely we need all the help we can get.
Fair prices for fair work and we all win not least those we all help.
Don’t let this vibrant social economy we all work in be bereft of the
entrepreneurial spirit of enterprise we need so badly to drive innovation,
efficiency and scale.
I have no problem and nor should anyone else with charities working with
companies large and small who should be able to make a reasonable return
from their endeavours and who through their efforts and risk taking help me to
help save lives.
Today the Red Cross raises more than ever before because of the wonderful
companies we work with. Without them we would not be growing as we have
done throughout the recession. To all of you thank you for making my job so
much easier.
Professional fundraising in the UK today is second to none in the world in
great part due to some of the amazing people and companies in this room
today.

4. So without further ado I am very much looking forward to sharing these
remarkable fundraising successes with you and your fundraising colleagues
tonight. For me you are all winners!
Have a great evening.