Gary Kernahan

Gary is an award-winning fundraising leader. He has an excellent track record of developing and delivering diverse, cost effective, income generation activities to achieve growth in sustainable income, underpinned by high levels of supporter care and engagement.

His career began in community fundraising at Cancer Research UK before moving into regional management – firstly at CRUK and then at the National Autistic Society. Between 2009 and 2017, Gary transformed the UK-wide regional income generation and central supporter care functions at Muscular Dystrophy UK. As Director of Fundraising and Business Development at Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity, Gary reshaped the function and, despite the COVID19 pandemic, successfully grew voluntary income.

As Executive Director at THINK, Gary delivers a range of consultancy projects including strategy development and portfolio reviews, facilitates several THINK Forums and leads THINK Interim our interim management service.
Key to Gary’s success is his thoughtful and inquisitive approach, his focus on supporter care and effective engagement, an ability for product development built on strong audience insight, and his collaborative approach to cross function working. He also boasts strong experience in strategic planning, including conducting portfolio reviews, departmental audits and developing multi-year plans for the fundraising directorate of development.

Gary is also Trustee of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, a former Trustee of the Thistle Foundation and former Chair of the Scottish fundraising conference.