This week I’m joined by Suzie Rees, a fundraising consultant specialising in trusts and foundations, who shares how she gradually transitioned from in-house fundraising to self-employment. If you’re a charity professional considering going freelance, you’ll hear exactly what the work and your week can look like in practice.

This episode goes deep on sustainability, but we also go off on a tangent into hobbies and portfolio careers, including how an AI-fuelled wobble nudged Suzie back towards dry stone walling. Along the way we unpack productivity culture, the pressure to grow endlessly, and how to set expectations with clients so your boundaries hold firm.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a colleague who might be thinking about their own freelance journey, or leave us a review. And if you haven't already, do subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes.

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You can connect with Suzie on LinkedIn, check out her website and find her on Substack.

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Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Retreat.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports well over 100 charity sector freelancers to replace their in house salary without working 24/7 through a group mastermind programme, charity freelancing course and 1:1 work.

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Burnout can sneak up even when you love the mission, and the charity sector sees many people keep pushing until they crash. Jane sits down with Matt Middler, a fundraiser turned transformative coach, to unpack what happens when doing good starts making you question whether traditional roles could ever fit your energy and working style.

We talk about making the move without a big leap: going part-time, training while still employed, and lowering outgoings can all aid a gradual transition. He explains why fundraising is surprisingly good training for business ownership, from storytelling and creativity, to relationship-first growth where client experience becomes your marketing.

Matt introduces his Coaching for Impact research. Coaching is often treated like a luxury in the sector, and we explore what it can unlock for charity leaders, and what needs to change to drive better retention and healthier leadership. You can leave us a review, subscribe for more conversations like this, and share this episode with someone pondering their next step.

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You can download Matt's Coaching for Impact research on his website, and you can connect with him on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.

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Send us Fan Mail

Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Retreat.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports well over 100 charity sector freelancers to replace their in house salary without working 24/7 through a group mastermind programme, charity freelancing course and 1:1 work.

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This week we catch up with Alex Fearon on how she moved from charity generalist work to running Maybe Later, a specialist email marketing business for charities. If you’ve ever wondered whether email is “done”, Alex makes a strong case that charities have barely scratched the surface.

We also talk about the less glamorous foundations that stabilise self-employment including revenue planning, setting realistic targets that respect seasons, keeping a tax pot, and having a monthly money date. Alex explains how she protects her energy with a four-day week, having no calls for one week each month, and planning her schedule so deep work happens when it’s easiest.

Subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations, share this with a colleague who’s curious about freelancing, and leave a review to help more charity professionals find the show.

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You can connect with Alex on LinkedIn or head to her website at maybelater.uk

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Send us Fan Mail

Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Retreat.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports well over 100 charity sector freelancers to replace their in house salary without working 24/7 through a group mastermind programme, charity freelancing course and 1:1 work.

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Website