
What Makes a Great Telephone Fundraiser?
Unlimited access from £25.00 / month
Become a member to gain unlimited access to our extensive content library, packed with valuable resources and insights on fundraising. Plus, stay ahead of the curve with free entry to all our upcoming events.
Talk Details
In this session, we’ll explore the real drivers behind great fundraising calls — and it all starts with the fundraiser. We’ll unpack the qualities and instincts that make some fundraisers exceptional, and what can (and can’t) be taught. From natural empathy and conversational confidence to resilience and active listening, we’ll dive into the key traits that matter most on the phone.
We’ll also share practical insights into how to recruit, train, and retain brilliant callers — including how to keep teams motivated, engaged, and continuously growing in their role. Whether you run a calling team or partner with an agency, this session will give you a fresh perspective on what makes a good call truly great.
Key learnings from this session:
- A great call doesn’t start with a script — it starts with a great fundraiser
- What should you look out for when recruiting a new fundraiser
- What skills and behaviors should you nurture and develop
Speakers

Bethan Francis
Managing Director
Related Talks

FE Accelerator: DIY Charity Film
Make Your First Fundraising Film in 3 Hours

Q+A: Behind the Everyone Hates Elon Campaign
In Q+A, we speak to the activists behind the campaign (anonymously, of course). How did it come together? How did they move so quickly? And what impact did it have—not just on Musk’s image, but on culture, media, and even fundraising?

2026: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for UK Fundraisers
What will it take to find new donors in 2026? In this session, Blue State’s Anjali Bewtra, Senior Director, Strategy & Insight, and Nathalie Ormrod, Senior Director of Global Media, will draw on audience research and campaign results to answer that question.

On Demand
Why companies give (in their own words)
In this session, we’ll reveal the findings from in-depth interviews with 20 people inside companies —from shareholders to marketing assistants—on why their company gives, and just as importantly, why they stop.