Tessa is currently Director of Fundraising for Curve Theatre in Leicester, having previously been Director of Fundraising for Kiln Theatre in London. Before this she worked as a major gift fundraiser for Exeter College at the University of Oxford and for the international development NGO Farm Africa.

Tessa also works freelance, supporting charities with fundraising, fundraising strategy, training and mentoring. In her spare time she is the volunteer fundraising coordinator for a small charity providing summer holidays for young people with learning disabilities.

Tessa is passionate about great stewardship and meaningful impact. She is increasingly concerned with interrogating sources of wealth and the imbalances of power between donors and recipients. She also strongly believes that an organisation’s values can and should be lived out in the way that it raises funds.

Tessa has recently completed an MA in Philanthropic Studies at the University of Kent.