YAF runs a year-round programme of networking events, platform conversations, Q&As and interactive workshops, as well as a flagship mentoring programme, Evolve, in partnership with RAISE and the Cultural Sector Network.
All activity is designed to support the professional development of individuals in the first five years of fundraising. Our mission is to equip fundraisers with the appropriate skills, mentoring and support networks that will enable them, and the sector, to thrive.
YAF is a non-profit organisation led by four Directors, who are supported by a group of ten Board Members. New Directors are recruited every two years, with previous leadership staying on in an advisory capacity for a third year.
Based in Chichester, Emma has always been a champion of the arts. Beginning her career working within the live music industry, Emma moved over to work in the charity sector. With experience in managing event portfolios to event development & public fundraising roles. As a music lover Emma is a drummer & guitarist, though with a keen passion for spoken word, Emma is a Trustee for the Chichester based spoken word charitable trust – Words Out Loud.
Originally from New Zealand, and with over nine years’ experience in the education sector, Analiese is currently the Senior Stewardship Manager at London Business School. Her career has expanded across roles in communications, marketing, and donor engagement. Analiese has always found herself drawn to roles where she has been surrounded by artistic and creative talent. Previous roles include Supporter Engagement Manager at the Royal Academy of Music, Senior Communications Manager at St Cuthbert’s College in Auckland, New Zealand, and Communications and Content Manager at Media Design School. Analiese is especially passionate about creating compelling content that resonates with donors and supporters in a way that is authentic and engaging.
Tabitha has worked at several arts venues in the South East of England, fundraising across all income streams, but with a focus on Individual Giving and Events. She recently moved to Wales and is now based in Cardiff. Tabitha joined YAF in January 2020 as part of the National Development team before moving over to Professional Development in 2022. She is passionate about signposting fundraising as a career and ensuring there are learning opportunities in the cultural sector to retain and upskill fundraisers.
Olivia has been fundraising in various capacities since 2013, most recently specialising in grants fundraising. With experience across visual arts, archives, museums, theatre companies and arts in health, she currently works at The Horniman and is a Community Representative Board Member for Lewisham's Creative Enterprise Zone. She has a particular interest in developing creative projects for and with young people.
After an early career in the publishing and communications sectors, Ilaria has worked in arts fundraising for over nine years, with particular focus on theatre companies and performing arts venues. Originally from Italy, she is passionate about inclusivity in the creative sector and in fundraising as a profession, as well as in the power of the arts as agent for change. She joined YAF in 2021 as Board Member in the Communications team.
Lucy joins Young Arts Fundraisers with over 4 years experience in the visual arts sector. She is currently Programmes and Development Coordinator at Cause4 – previous roles include Digital Marketing Manager at The Shirley Sherwood Collection (The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), Art Researcher at Artelier Arts Consultancy and Creative Producer at Creative Youth Network. Prior to this, Lucy gained a First Class honours degree in Liberal Arts from The University of Bristol. She has acted as a Young Ambassador for The Royal West of England Academy, Young Advisor for Visual Arts South West and Young Advisory Board Member for Creative Youth Network. She has a vested interest in access and inclusivity in the creative sector, and this informs many of her professional goals.
Zeeta is based in the Midlands and qualified as dentist in 2013. While she comes from a scientific background, she has always been an ardent supporter of the arts, advocating for Midlands-based galleries and museums. She is currently working with The Arts Society, Victoria in social media and marketing and she is a Trustee of Walsall Museums and Art Galleries Development Trust. Zeeta is very passionate about fundraising and increasing accessibility to the arts for all.
Lauren is based in Manchester and has worked in various administrative and marketing roles in the arts sector, before moving into fundraising in 2021. She focuses on trusts and foundations, corporate giving and delivering events. Lauren has worked with Manchester International Festival, Macclesfield Barnaby Festival and The Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme, and has an MA in Arts Management Policy and Practice from the University of Manchester. She joined YAF in October 2022.
Previously a trained contemporary dancer performing around and the UK and internationally, Alex is now based in Manchester and has worked in a variety of arts organisations for the last 5 years. Alex now works within individual, regular and public giving and between 2021-2022 Alex was a part of the Creative UK advisory board. Alex joins the YAF National Development board from October 2022.
As a producer and fundraiser, Hannah works across theatre and live performance, film, audio, digital arts and games, with a focus on impact producing. At the heart of all of her projects is an urgent or timely contemporary social or political issue. She is a Trustee for Imagine If Theatre Company, a Churchill Fellow for the arts and social justice, an RSA Fellow, and an alumnus of The Clore Emerging Leaders Course. As a previous YAF x RAISE mentee herself, she was eager to join YAF’s Board in 2021 to support the further growth and development of our mentoring programme.
Natalie is an arts fundraiser and producer from Hong Kong. Currently as General Manager for Creative Youth, she has won the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy’s Giving Tuesday Competition for the charity. Recently, she received a professional development and education grant to travel all the way to Orlando, Florida to attend the International Ticketing Association's INTIX Conference, she was also a participant in 101 Outdoor Arts' Green Production Lab. Other highlights include working with BFI Network to deliver fundraising workshops and producing Dumbledore Is So Gay which won the VAULT Festival’s Origins Award 2020. She joined YAF in January 2021.
Lauren is based in London and has been working in the arts and culture sector for five years. She has experience working across cultural events production and operations, curating, supporter engagement and Trust Foundation fundraising. Lauren is also a Trustee at ArtBox London, a charity dedicated to improving the wellbeing of people with learning disabilities and autism, while raising the profile of their artwork in the wider art world.
Rebecca is based in Hampshire and has over ten years experience across the arts, culture, and fundraising, specialising in events and individual giving. Her background is in museums and galleries, and her experience also includes community fundraising, managing volunteers, and digital marketing. Rebecca is passionate about improving accessibility to arts and culture. She joined YAF in summer 2022 and is looking forward to connecting with fundraisers from across the sector.
YAF works with a number of partners across the sector to promote and deliver our work and to ensure that the voices and priorities of early-career fundraisers are heard in the wider sector.
Part of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, RAISE: Arts, Culture & Heritage supports access to professional development opportunities for arts, culture and heritage fundraisers across England through networking events, mentoring, professional development and bursaries. The projects aims to:
As an Arts Council England funded five-year programme, Young Arts Fundraisers partners with the project to deliver a rolling programme of events and mentoring opportunities.
The JGA Group is a well-established independent training provider, with a vision to empower people to develop their futures. We are delighted to have partnered with JGA to highlight their new Fundraising apprenticeship, designed to advance the practice of those working full-time or part-time in fundraising.
The programme has been developed and is delivered by fundraisers who have decades of experience in practical and strategic fundraising for small and large charities. Interactive online seminars led by expert tutors are combined with research tasks and individual study, as well as real-time workplace activities and regular skills coaching.
Please get in touch with us to receive an exclusive referral code to highlight your association to YAF when applying.
