The Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy programme has been delivering the Fellowship for 11 years, and has offered support, mentoring and training to an alumni of 124 fundraising practitioners in the cultural sector.
Thanks to ongoing funding from Arts Council England, for 2025, a further ten senior Professional Fundraising Fellows have been recruited from across England.
Senior Fundraising Fellowship Programme 2025-26
We are thrilled to announce the 2025/26 cohort for the Fundraising Fellowship programme, in partnership with the University of Leeds.
The 12-month Fellowship programme supports senior arts and cultural professionals to become more confident, skilled and entrepreneurial in their fundraising practice. Fellows will also gain a post-graduate qualification from the University of Leeds upon completion of the programme.
A huge congratulations to the cohort, we’re excited to see them grow over the coming year and beyond.
Anna Jefferson, Co-Director New Writing South
Chris Bailkoski, Creative Director, Cromer Artspace CIO
Dienka Hines, Chief Executive Officer, Travelling Light Theatre Company
Jennifer Holyhead, Executive Director, RicNic
Laura Hensser, Executive Director, Metal Culture
Lucy Ellis-Howell, Head of Fundraising, The Music Works
Natalie Armitage, Head of Business Services, British Ceramics Biennial
Peter Craik, Philanthropy Director, English Folk Dance and Song Society
Ruth Harvey, Capital Campaign Manager, Wolverhampton Arts Centre
Victor Fung, Artistic Director and Joint CEO, Pavillion Dance South West
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Develop high-level fundraising and enterprise insight
Fellows will take part in the Arts Fundraising & Leadership Intensive residential event delivered by the University of Leeds in September 2024 and in subsequent online seminars and tutorials as part of a hybrid Post-Graduate programme.
There will also be face-to-face residentials led by Cause4 in December 2024 and April 2025 with a focus on fundraising and income generation. Sessions will offer a mixed model of training, covering practically applied knowledge and academic theory.
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Exchange ideas and experience, upskilling their knowledge
The year will be enhanced by a series of breakfast webinars, where Fellows connect with and hear from professionals that are leading change in their organisations.
Fellows come together a final time for facilitated reflection and sharing; reflecting on their learning and developing future plans for individual development and collaborations, as well as an organisational plan.
As a baseline accreditation pathway, Fellows will complete a Post-Graduate Certificate at the University of Leeds. The pathway offers optional progression onto further study programmes at the University of Leeds at Masters level and beyond.
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Grow networks and peer support
Our Fellows often talk about the connection they make with each other as part of the programme, as being of huge value. Alongside this, the Fellowship offers access to a wide range of cultural sector professionals, policy makers and funders.
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