Posted on

Community Leader: Henry

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I have been working in the events industry for ten years. I have worked in partnership with charities and non-profit organisations as well as music festivals and television production. I have a real passion for music so in my spare time I’m making it or dancing to it. Living in Bristol has been a real joy and has allowed me to discover some fantastic organisations and social causes.

Why did you decide to become a Chuffed.org ambassador?

I wanted to become an ambassador because there are so many inspiring projects I know of that could benefit from the support and expertise that Chuffed.org offers. Becoming an ambassador seemed like the best way for me to offer support to causes I care about.

How did your crowdfunding journey begin?

knew people who had raised money and awareness for their organisation through crowdfunding. I overheard that a local non-profit organisation was going through some financial troubles, so I offered to help start a campaign. A friend sent me an advert for a Chuffed.org crowdfunding workshop happening nearby and thats where it all started.

What social cause are passionate about and why?

I am really passionate about causes that support the homeless and those going through drug and alcohol rehabilitation. This is because they are challenges that are having a huge impact in the area I live and only stand to get worse if governmental cuts continue as planned.

What relevant fundraising or other experience do you have that you can share with participants in the workshop?

I am currently working as the Event Coordinator for a CIC (Community Interest Company) in Bristol. As well as my work in events, I have assisted several startup organisations with marketing, branding and event promotion over the last few years. I have assisted in the setup of a crowdfunding campaign earlier this year and am now consulting two other organisations with their campaigns. I will be able to share any learnings from these experiences!

 

Posted on

Community Leader: Lucy

Meet Lucy Graham, Chuffed.org’s Community Leader from Brisbane. For Lucy, crowdfunding is the perfect way to combine her love of the outdoors and physical challenges, with her desire to build a community for a better world. Read on to see where her journey has taken her so far…

Tell us a bit about yourself and your career (or life) so far.

I’m passionate about the planet and people and a better world. I worked in outdoor education for many years before pursuing a career in sustainability and social science. I now work as a community organiser; training people in how to build movements and to campaign for a better world. In my spare time I volunteer to create change that I think is important. I am currently crowdfunding with Chuffed.org to raise money for marine debris programs and ocean protection.

How did your crowdfunding journey begin? 

The first time I crowdfunded was to raise money for cancer research in 2011. I was participating in a charity kayak, originally for the physical challenge. I soon realised how truly powerful crowdfunding is. It not only funds important projects, but also creates conversations and an informed community.

What is a social cause you are passionate about and why? 

Too many to put into words! Right now my big focus is marine debris and pollution –  mainly plastics. The aim is to reduce consumption, demand, and irresponsible use of plastic.

What do you love most about the Chuffed.org community? 

The support, the passion and the shared desire for a better world that motivates so many of us!

Why did you decide to become a Chuffed.org community leader? 

I want to meet like-minded people, and to inspire and empower people to believe in themselves and their ability to make change. More than anything, I would like to share and to learn from collective experience.

What advice would you give to someone starting crowdfunding today? 

Just do it. Start. Learn as you go. Make mistakes, learn from them, but more than anything – get in and do it!

What social cause project or campaign on Chuffed will the funds raised through the workshop support?

I’m campaigning to raise funds for ocean cleanup – read more about it here.

Posted on

Community Leader: Heiko

Heiko Community Leader

Meet Heiko Plange-Korndoerfer, Chuffed.org’s first ever star Community Leader, based in Perth. Heiko is a Senior Philanthropy Advisor with twenty years experience in fundraising. Read on to see what other experience he brings to the Chuffed.org community….

Tell us a bit about yourself and your career (or life) so far.

I graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1994 with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in management and marketing. As one of the top students in my year, I was awarded the Challenge Bank Prize for Strategic Marketing in 1993.

Over the past twenty years, I have gained an extensive background in developing, implementing and managing strategic fundraising and corporate partnership programs. I have worked in senior leadership roles managing PR & marketing, community engagement and fundraising staff within health, medical research, education, and community organisations across Australia.

Taking a three-year break from fundraising, I broadened my business acumen managing a successful start-up business servicing the Western Australian mining and construction industries. In 2006, I also completed a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance Investment with the Financial Services Institute of Australia.

In 2011, I was awarded a Qantas scholarship to undertake further study in the inaugural Certificate of Social Impact program at the UWA Business School. This program has expanded my interest in contemporary philanthropic trends and fundraising practice including venture philanthropy, social impact investing and crowd-funding.

I’m a Fellow of the Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA) and represented Western Australia on the State Executive. I also teach the FIA Certificate in Fundraising and speak regularly on fundraising and philanthropy at conferences.

My achievements and contribution to the fundraising industry were recognised internationally with the fundraising certification of CFRE in 2015.

Why did you decide to become a Chuffed.org community leader?

I am passionate about ‘democratising philanthropy’. Far too often I hear people say that philanthropy is limited to the rich and famous. We all know that this is not true. Crowdfunding is a wonderful way to invite people to give to a cause you are passionate about and feel part of a ‘tribe’ that is making a real difference!

How did your crowdfunding journey begin?

I first became interested in crowdfunding when our local Primary School approached me to help them raise $40,000 to install a Climbing Dome on the school oval. Please check out our successful campaign here. 

What social cause are passionate about and why?

I am currently as the Senior Philanthropy Advisor at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. Perkins focuses on Cancer, Heart Disease and Diabetes. I lost my mother at a young age to cancer and I am very passionate about contributing to make a difference in this area of research.

What relevant fundraising or other experience do you have that you can share with participants in the workshop?

Early in my fundraising journey I was taught three things:

1. If you follow a process – probability will favour success.
2. People do not fund needy causes, they fund causes that meet people’s needs.
3. In real estate it is all about location, location, location – well in fundraising it is is all about leadership, leadership, leadership.

I am looking forward to sharing my learning’s across these three truisms with you at the next Chuffed workshop.

What social cause project or campaign on Chuffed will the funds raised through the workshop support? 

I am participating in the 2017 MACA Ride to Conquer Cancer in support of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. 100% of the proceeds from my workshops go towards my fundraising goal of $2,500.00. For more information please click here. 

Heiko’s next Crowdfunding for Social Causes Workshop is on the 15th of August at Spacecubed! Register here.