IFC Wins Best Consultancy of the Year at Better Society Awards
We are delighted to announce that once again, the International Fundraising Consultancy has won Best Consultancy of the Year at the Better Society Awards 2023. The awards celebrate commercial companies who are helping create a better, more equal, ethical and sustainable world for all.
The awards were presented at a gala event in London by comedian Maisie Adam. This is the 3rd year our of four that we have been recognised with this award. We were chosen because of our consultancy work with the WHO Foundation.
The WHO Foundation
The WHO Foundation is a new global foundation, launched in January 2021 to mobilise private capital and partnerships to advance the mission of the World Health Organisation. The International Fundraising Consultancy was appointed to advise on its fundraising strategy in the months preceding the launch and continued work on the Foundation’s fundraising programme until late 2022. An organisation that mobilized over $70M in its first 2 years, the WHO Foundation scaled up operations, developed its donor pipeline, started running fundraising campaigns and built a portfolio of partnerships during this time.
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Key to the WHO Foundation’s vision was the development of a truly globally representative organisation. This was reflected in the composition of its Board, the recruitment of its staff and the development of its donor networks. IFC was asked to develop a fundraising strategy that enabled this vision. Our challenge was to think boldly and creatively about how to bring new, non-traditional global health donors into the space. We hope that our work and thinking helped set the Foundation up for success.
There is now a staff team of 40 amazing people and a strong, effective fundraising programme. Our small plug here is for their latest health emergency campaign which was launched at the beginning of May in response to the escalating violence in Sudan, which is having a devastating humanitarian and health impact.
Better Society Awards
Our UK Director, Sarah Gray had the privilege of attending the Better Society Awards with Stefanie Verdorfer. Stefanie is a Senior Philanthropy Consultant at the WHO Foundation who worked with Sarah in the first foundational months of the WHO Foundation.
Stefanie commented: “I was delighted to see the International Fundraising Consultancy receive the Better Society award for Consultancy of the Year. I had the pleasure of working with Sarah Gray and IFC at the beginning of the WHO Foundation’s journey. The Foundation started their fundraising from scratch – it had no pipeline, strategy or donor collaterals. IFC developed the department in partnership with a small staff base under challenging circumstances (due to Covid no in person meetings or events were possible) and managed to close important early gifts and secure vital income. Sarah not only brought her skills and experience to the Foundation but impressed with her commitment and dedication to the cause. It’s hard to build a global fundraising department from scratch and it takes a lot of tenacity, vision and resilience. I was inspired by Sarah and IFC’s work and congratulate them on their well-deserved award.”
