Steven Dodds
Managing Director
Steven is an experienced researcher and communication strategist with 25 years in the field, the last 15 of which have been working primarily with charities in the UK, Europe and Australia.
Prior to Beautiful Insights, he worked extensively in communication agencies, helping guide the development of successful campaigns and brands. Central to this role was understanding the use of research in the creative and innovation process, and how brands can build strong emotional connections with audiences. He also worked client-side, with senior fundraising roles in Australia and the UK.
Based in Bristol, he is a trained qualitative researcher and cultural analyst and former chair of the Institute of Fundraising’s Insight Committee.
My Previous Events
Catching feels: what emotion really does for donor retention
What emotions really drive donor retention — and how the SAFE Index helps charities spot lapse risk before it ever shows up in the income data.
On Demand
Legacy and In-Memory Fundraising Conference 2026
Ready to grow your legacy and in-memory fundraising? Watch our Legacy and In-Memory Fundraising Conference and learn from global experts how to boost gifts in wills and in-memory income. Whether you’re new or seasoned, discover strategies to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.
Five insights we’ve learned from successful legacy propositions
Five things Beautiful Insights have discovered from speaking directly to the people that legacy campaigns are built for.
On Demand
Individual Giving Conference 2025
Join us at the Individual Giving Conference for the vital tools and insights you need to supercharge donor acquisition, boost retention, and gain clarity on the future of individual giving.
Champions! How Starlight scored #1 for supporter engagement (and you can too)
If you’re ready to improve supporter relationships and move beyond transactional communication, this session is for you.
Supporters who feel good give more: insights from the SAFE Index supporter experience benchmark
This session will share the results of pioneering pilot study of Beautiful Insight’s SAFE Index (Satisfaction and Future Engagement) involving donors to eight well-known UK universities and charities (including the University of Bristol, The King’s Trust (formerly The Prince’s Trust), and Starlight Children’s Foundation).
How to hear what your donors are really saying
This session will examine the measurement challenge, helping fundraisers understand what to measure and how. Looking beyond ROI, contact rates and NPS.
On Demand
Supporter Experience Conference 2025
The Supporter Experience Conference — the only place you’ll learn how to crack the code to supporter engagement and create memorable experiences!
On Demand
Supporter Experience Conference
Invest in your supporter relationships and get results!
Fundraising in a perma-crisis: the view from supporters
Beautiful Insights have provided market research to charities for over a decade and have been tracking donor reactions to the cost-of-living crisis since it started in 2022. This session will provide the latest insights to help keep donors motivated and willing to give.