Fundraising Institute hires campaigning chief
The Institute of Fundraising has hired former Computer Aid International chief executive Louise Richards as its policy and campaigns director.
Richards (pictured) will take responsibility in the newly created role for leading on the charity fundraising membership body’s lobbying and campaigning work, currently focused on helping members survive the recession and getting changes to the gift aid system.
In addition to CAI, she has also been chief executive at aid campaigning organisation War on Want and spent 20 years working for public sector trade union Unison, where she was latterly head of international relations.
Richards says she is “proud” to be given the opportunity to make a difference for charity fundraisers “who do an amazing job.”
Various surveys have shown people are considering cutting back on charity donations as they seek to tighten their belts in response to the recession. The economic crisis has exacerbated pressure on some fundraisers who rely on public donations in particular as they grapple with falling response rates to direct mail and tele-marketing methods.