Director
Caroline Danks
Caroline is an expert in trusts and foundations, major gifts and capital appeals and has raised millions for good causes over a twenty year career. Caroline runs LarkOwl with her partner Tony an income generation consultancy working with charities on everything from high value and commercial fundraising expertise, to planning, scoping and feasibility work.
In addition, Caroline writes the Nest Egg, a reader supported publication / newsletter / online hub of resources for over 3,500 fundraisers and non profit leaders, where she shares practical advice about navigating income generation in the For Impact sector. She has developed two online fundraising training courses and is a regular speaker for the Bright Spot Members Club. Her writing has been featured in Fundraising Magazine.
Caroline is a trustee for Gifted Women, a small but mighty charity supporting women who are rebuilding their lives after substance misuse, homelessness and contact with the criminal justice system, with fresh starts and pathways into the world of work.
When not working, Caroline can be found walking and wild swimming with her scrappy but adorable Spaniel, camping with her family or growing obscenely shaped vegetables on her allotment.
My Upcoming Events
Thursday 11th December 2025 @ 12:00 GMT
Trusts and Major Donors Conference 2025
Are you a trusts, grants, or major donor fundraiser that’s looking for a way to define success, increase your impact, and reduce your workload? The Trusts and Major Donor conference is back for another year of shared learning, case studies, and best practice to help you focus on the areas that will help you succeed.
My Previous Events
Authentic Cultivation and Stewardship
This session will dive into the intricacies of building genuine relationships with donors and the essential practices for effective stewardship.
Philanthropy Therapy: Making the best out of a tough situation
Join Kevin, Kitty and Caroline – three people, right in the thick of it, to discover how they’re coping in the current environment, what’s working for them as well as how they’re equipping themselves for the road ahead.
Trusts and Major Donors Conference 2024
Are you a trusts, grants, or major donor fundraiser that’s looking for a way to define success, increase your impact, and reduce your workload? The Trusts and Major Donor conference is back for another year of shared learning, case studies, and best practice to help you focus on the areas that will help you succeed.
Fundraising during an economic and political catastrophe
This session is a journey from anger to hope. It’s a (short) rant about the state of the world followed by some practical advice for continuing a successful fundraising practice, despite the challenges in the world around us. It’s for tired fundraisers, who still have the spark of a flame inside them and want to do the best they can with what they have.
Being master of your own destiny: Stewardship for the self through proper targetsetting
Caroline will lead us in a practical session, teaching us how to create a 12 month calendar of approaches to trusts and foundations and how to set a target which is a) realistic and b) won’t have you burn out in the process.