Wealth Shared: A Radical Act of Giving

David Clarke’s inspiration stemmed from his struggle to reconcile his privilege with the inequalities he saw around him. As he explains in a document titled Wealth Shared:

"Like a lot of people in my generation, I’ve struggled to reconcile the privilege I have with an awareness of the need that exists around me. I’m in a particularly fortunate position financially because of the money I have inherited. I therefore resolved to give most of it away.”

But Clarke wanted to do more than simply donate. Influenced by participatory grant-making principles, where communities decide how funds are allocated, he asked: “What if those who benefit from the funds also determine their purpose?”

This question sparked the creation of Wealth Shared, an experiment in democratic philanthropy.

A Community-Driven Approach

In his hometown of Liverpool, Clarke sent letters to 600 randomly selected households in the L8 postcode, an area with significant social challenges. Of the 38 people who responded, he chose 12 to take part in the project.

Over four facilitated sessions, the group was given the task of deciding how to allocate the £100,000. Clarke set two rules: the money couldn’t benefit the participants directly, and they couldn’t have any involvement with it after the project concluded.

The Deliberation and Decision

The discussions, described by Clarke as “lively at times” and “gripping to watch,” produced a long list of potential recipients. Ultimately, the group decided to focus on causes within their own community.

After careful deliberation, the money was divided equally among four local organisations addressing poverty and inequality:

• The Florrie community centre

• The Dingle, Granby and Toxteth Collaborative, a network of schools

• Team Oasis, a children’s charity

• Granby and Toxteth Development Trust

Clarke praised the participants’ commitment, saying: “The twelve participants tackled the question of how to use funds to make the world better with depth and sophistication. I was surprised by how much they committed to it. I can think of very few things I might have done with the money that would have given me the same level of satisfaction.”

A Growing Movement Towards Democratic Philanthropy

Clarke hopes that Wealth Shared will inspire others to embrace participatory approaches to giving. As he puts it, “This is an attempt to create a practical example of wealth redistribution in action and to allocate money in a way that is truly democratic.”

It seems the idea is already catching on.

Earlier this year, Austrian heiress Marlene Engelhorn launched her own version of participatory grant-making. With a €25 million inheritance, she formed a “Good Council for Redistribution” by inviting 10,000 Austrians to take part. From this pool, she selected 50 participants who reflected Austria’s demographics.

After six weeks of deliberation, the group distributed the funds to 77 causes, including The Austrian Society for Nature Conservation and Neunerhaus, an organisation supporting the homeless.

Engelhorn expressed her satisfaction with the process, saying: “A large part of my inherited wealth, which elevated me to a position of power simply by virtue of my birth, has now been redistributed in accordance with democratic values.”

Looking for a Fundraiser?

We can help you make an impact. Call us on 020 3880 6655 or email contactus@ferntalent.com to get started.

Why Donor Fatigue Might Be a Myth

What Is Donor Fatigue?

Oxford Reference defines it as “a reluctance to commit to voluntary donations of resources or altruistic behaviour in light of repeated demands.”

It sounds logical enough, but is it backed by evidence?

The science suggests otherwise.

When we give to charity or help someone in need, our mid-brain lights up, releasing endorphins and serotonin—the chemicals that make us feel happy. It’s the same biological process that explains why we crave sugar, exercise, and other serotonin-boosting activities. Giving feels good, and our brains know it.

This idea is reinforced by data. In 2017, during a year of unprecedented natural disasters and tragedies in the US, fundraisers feared donor fatigue. With events like Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Maria, and multiple school shootings, they worried people would stop giving.

But research from #GivingTuesday showed otherwise. Donations spiked after each disaster and returned to normal levels afterward. There was no evidence of “fatigue,” only responsiveness to immediate need.

So, if donors aren’t “tired of giving,” what’s really going on when organisations lose support?

The Real Issue: Donor Apathy

According to Simone Joyaux in Nonprofit Quarterly, “Donor fatigue is an excuse fundraisers use to compensate for poor fundraising. Lousy fundraising and poorly informed fundraisers make donors frustrated, angry, and fatigued by that particular organisation.”

Similarly, fundraising consultants Alexander Haas argue that “donor fatigue is a myth, but donor apathy is a reality.” When donors lose interest in an organisation, it’s often because they haven’t been properly engaged. The issue isn’t that they’re tired of giving—it’s that they don’t feel connected to the cause.

How to Keep Donors Engaged

If your organisation is losing donors, it’s a sign that something needs to change. Here are some tried-and-tested ways to build stronger connections with your supporters:

1. Show Genuine Gratitude
   A generic “thank you” isn’t enough. Personalise your acknowledgements to show donors that their contributions matter. A heartfelt email a few days after their donation can go a long way in making them feel valued.

2. Make Donations Tangible
   Giving can feel abstract without context. Help donors understand the impact of their contributions. For example, explain that £30 provides a hostel room for a night or £50 funds a literacy programme for a week. Concrete examples make giving more meaningful.

3. Involve Donors in Your Mission
   When people feel invested, they’re more likely to stay engaged. Invite donors to participate in decision-making, like choosing new fundraising initiatives or providing feedback on ongoing projects. They’ll appreciate being part of the journey.

4. Save “Urgent” for Genuine Emergencies
   Overusing urgency in appeals can desensitise donors. Instead, balance your messaging by sharing good news—success stories, project updates, and the tangible outcomes of their support. Evidence of impact is one of the most effective ways to maintain engagement.

Final Thoughts

Whether or not “donor fatigue” exists, the real key to donor retention is meaningful engagement. By making supporters feel appreciated, connected, and involved, you can strengthen their loyalty to your cause and ensure long-term success.

Got a fundraising vacancy? Let us help you find the right talent. Call us on 020 3880 6655 or email contactus@ferntalent.com to get started.

Unlocking the Potential of Payroll Giving

Payroll Giving, also known as Give As You Earn (GAYE), has been quietly powering charitable causes across the UK since 1987, raising over £2 billion. This scheme allows employees to make tax-efficient donations directly from their salaries, providing charities with a steady flow of unrestricted income. Yet despite its long history, Payroll Giving remains an underutilised opportunity for many organisations—one that could be pivotal in navigating today’s challenging fundraising landscape.

How to Boost Your Payroll Giving Income

Raise awareness among your supporters
Integrate Payroll Giving into your supporter communications. Promote it on your website, through email campaigns, and on social media. Signpost schemes like CAF Give As You Earn and encourage your supporters to speak to their employers about setting one up if one doesn’t already exist.

Work with corporate partners
Engage your corporate partners and encourage them to implement Payroll Giving schemes. Highlight the benefits for employees and the company’s CSR strategy. When pitching new partnerships, include Payroll Giving as part of your proposal—it’s an accessible, impactful way to kickstart a relationship.

Payroll Giving may not be a perfect system, but it offers significant potential for consistent income. In a competitive fundraising landscape, it’s a tool no charity should overlook.

If you’d like support finding fundraising talent to strengthen your team, contact Fern at contactus@ferntalent.com or call 0203 880 6655.

Identifying bias in your interviews

Recruiting a fundraiser?

You need to be fair, objective, and unbiased if you want to secure the best person for the job.

But this is easier said than done.

Why? Because, much like every other human on the planet, you’re subject to unconscious biases—stereotypes you hold about other people that you aren’t consciously aware of.

And falling foul of them can skew your judgement and result in a bad hire.

How bias shows up in the interview room

Interviews can be a hotbed for many types of bias.

Here are five to watch out for, along with some tips to ensure they don’t derail your hiring decisions.

1. Affinity bias

Affinity bias arises when you unconsciously favour a candidate who feels similar to you.

It happens because it’s easier to connect with people you relate to.

Whether it’s shared hobbies, a sense of humour, past experiences, or values, any perceived similarity can trigger affinity bias.

You might also unconsciously favour candidates who are similar to your current team under the guise of ‘cultural fit.’ But this limits diversity.

To avoid it, take note of the similarities you share with candidates and distinguish between qualities that cloud your judgment and those that would truly add value to your team culture.

2. Confirmation bias

Confirmation bias occurs when you form an initial perception of a candidate (positive or negative) and spend the interview looking for evidence to confirm it while ignoring contradictory information.

For instance, if a candidate’s CV stood out, you might ask questions that play to their strengths while avoiding ones that challenge them.

To tackle this, stick to the script. Ask every candidate the same questions in the same order. This ensures fair assessment.

3. Anchoring bias

Anchoring bias involves fixating on an idea or piece of information as a reference point for your decisions.

For example, you might compare candidates to a beloved former team member or an idealised version of the role.

This can prevent you from recognising the value a fresh perspective could bring to the team.

Instead, approach each interview with an open mind.

4. Intuition bias

Intuition bias kicks in when your brain picks up subtle signals from a candidate and associates them with certain qualities or past experiences.

This activates your gut instinct, which, while helpful in some scenarios, can cloud objective judgement.

Your instincts shouldn’t be ignored entirely but should always be balanced against the candidate’s skills, experience, and potential.

5. Contrast effect

The contrast effect happens when you compare candidates to one another rather than evaluating them individually.

For instance, if one candidate is nervous and hesitant while the next is confident and articulate, you might assume the latter is more qualified.

But confidence in an interview doesn’t always equate to competence on the job.

Judge each candidate against the job description, not against each other.

Tips for tackling interview bias

• Analyse your behaviour: After each interview, reflect on whether any biases influenced your thinking. Awareness is the first step to fair decision-making.

• Prioritise culture add over culture fit: A diverse fundraising team is a strong fundraising team. While shared values are essential, diversity in experience and background brings fresh perspectives.

• Conduct panel interviews: Having multiple interviewers reduces the risk of unconscious bias skewing the process.

Want to avoid unconscious bias in your recruitment process? Outsource it to us.

Give us a call on 020 3880 6655 or email contactus@ferntalent.com to get the ball rolling.

The death of Facebook fundrasing

Is your charity based in the European Economic Area (EEA)?

Do you rely on Facebook and Instagram for online donations?

If the answer to both is yes, it’s time to rethink your social media fundraising strategy.

From the end of June, Meta is discontinuing all charity fundraising tools across Europe.

In a statement, Meta announced that starting July 1st, charities will need to redirect users to their own websites for donations. Features like Facebook Donate ads, fundraiser APIs, and PayPal Giving Fund Ireland will no longer be available.

Not only that, but charities will lose access to all past fundraising data from Meta platforms, including supporter lists.

And there’s another immediate change to be aware of: between now and June 30th, only donors with a history of using e-money accounts will be able to contribute via Meta’s platforms. First-time donors won’t be able to create or support fundraisers at all.

Why is this happening?

Meta cites ‘regulatory requirements’ for the changes but hasn’t gone into specifics. What we do know is that they’re promising a new approach to charity support.

According to their Social Impact team, this includes encouraging nonprofits to use the ‘donate’ button to drive users directly to their own websites. While Meta claims this will help charities reach more donors, it’s clear that the convenience of on-platform fundraising is coming to an end.

What does this mean for your charity?

If your organisation relies on Facebook and Instagram for donations, you need to act now. While UK charities aren’t affected yet, the chances of similar changes being rolled out here are high.

Here’s how you can future-proof your fundraising strategy:

1. Invest in your website
   Your donation page needs to be robust, easy to use, and ready to handle increased traffic. A clunky experience could cost you valuable supporters.

2. Broaden your fundraising efforts
   Relying on one channel is risky. Explore email marketing, crowdfunding platforms, and community events to diversify your approach.

3. Look into alternative platforms
   Platforms like JustGiving and Enthuse can help fill the gap. Make sure it’s as seamless as possible for potential donors to move from a Facebook ad to your chosen donation platform.

4. Test new campaigns
   Encourage fundraisers to use third-party platforms for their campaigns and track how it affects donor retention and the volume of donations.

The end of Meta’s fundraising tools doesn’t mean the end of digital fundraising—it just means adapting to a new landscape.

Need help navigating the changes?

Give us a call on 020 3880 6655 or email contactus@ferntalent.com to get the ball rolling.