Cold outreach can feel like shouting into the void, especially when you’re under pressure to hit ambitious fundraising targets. That’s why this conversation with Michelle Benson lands so well: she’s been a fundraiser, she’s been a funder, and she’s built a thriving business by turning visibility into income.

Michelle shares what she learned after moving from charity roles into a trust fund environment. We unpack what happens when charities keep pushing one-to-one tactics while funders build pipelines through research, referrals, and signals of credibility. The result is a gap many fundraisers feel every day: you’re told to raise more money faster, yet the route to decision makers gets less straightforward.

We get practical about LinkedIn strategy as Michelle explains her “digital twin” approach, why a one-to-many platform changes the game, and how she uses data to refine what works. We also talk about building a LinkedIn-friendly case for support, improving your profile so you’re easier to trust, and staying consistent so your marketing doesn’t disappear when client work gets busy.

Please subscribe, share, and leave a review so more charity professionals can find their way to the other side.

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You can connect with Michelle via LinkedIn, or head to her website.

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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 Movement.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity.

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Your job can give you purpose, structure, and a handy answer to “what do you do?” but what happens when that label no longer fits? I’m joined by Ceri Sunu, an accidental fundraiser turned entrepreneur and CEO of Brabble, an inclusion consultancy serving arts, culture, heritage, and creative organisations. Ceri shares the real story behind leaving the charity sector, building a portfolio career, and learning how to “master my own time” without letting work take over her identity.

She opens up about time poverty, unexpected outcomes, and why creating from rest matters more than forcing productivity. Ceri explains why one-off diversity and inclusion initiatives don't lead to embedded inclusion, why inclusive recruitment needs a repeatable strategy, and how better business modelling and more commercial practices can help charities survive.

Subscribe so you don't miss future conversations, and if this resonates please share and leave us a review. What's the one boundary you need to protect to make freelancing sustainable?

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You can find more details about The Recruitment Reboot on the Brabble website.

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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 Movement.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity.

Connect here:

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What if redundancy wasn’t a setback but your invitation to design work on your terms? We sit down with Bethany Helliwell-Smith, a former fundraiser who turned crisis into clarity, building a coaching practice that helps freelancers and fundraisers do good and be well.

We explore the habits that transfer from fundraising to freelancing, diving into the mindset work that frees many charity professionals: deprogramming nine-to-five thinking, moving from time-based pricing to output-based value, and holding boundaries so other people’s urgency doesn’t run your week. Expect practical tips on building community online and offline, protecting your energy from compassion fatigue, and planning your year around rhythms so you can thrive without burning out.

Enjoy the conversation, then subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

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Keep in touch with Bethany via LinkedIn, Instagram, or her website.

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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 Movement.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity.

Connect here:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Ready to design work that fits your brain, your values, and your life? Jane sits down with Rebs, a digital communications and fundraising specialist who left senior charity roles to build a flexible consultancy. We unpack the practical steps behind a smooth transition: testing services as a side hustle, building a client base before quitting, and shaping a week that blends strategic work with hands-on delivery.

Rebs shares how being autistic led them to rethink productivity and energy. We talk candidly about feast-and-famine cycles, why a financial buffer beats bravado, and the one safeguard too many freelancers skip. Rebs also explains the unique value of bridging fundraising with digital comms, especially when social platforms shift under our feet and charities need both quick wins and sustainable systems.

Community plays a starring role. From Slack groups to local fundraisers’ meetups and outdoor networking, we explore how to stay connected, visible, and supported. And we look ahead at AI in the charity sector: where it helps, where it risks harm, and why transparent AI policies will soon be standard in contracts and training.

Enjoyed the conversation? Subscribe, share it with a colleague who’s freelance-curious, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Got a question or a story about your own leap? Message us on LinkedIn or sign up to the Charity Freelancing course.

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Visit Rebs' website or connect with them on LinkedIn.

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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 Movement.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity.

Connect here:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Thinking about trading a senior charity post for a life with fewer meetings and more meaning? We sit down with fundraiser-turned-freelancer Analiese Doctrove to map a path that balances family, focus, and real sector impact.

We get practical about the move: lining up early clients through warm contacts, announcing the shift on LinkedIn, and joining supportive communities that value collaboration over competition. Analiese shares how core fundraising skills translate seamlessly to consulting, while self-promotion needs a fresh mindset.

You’ll hear what the first month really feels like: quiet mornings without Slack pings, deep work that finishes on time, and the strange urge to fill every free minute. We unpack how to handle peaks and troughs, when to say no, and why capacity-led planning beats wishful thinking.

If you’re a charity professional eyeing up the freelance route, this conversation offers a clear view of what’s possible. Subscribe, share this with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review to help more charity professionals design work that serves their lives and their purpose.

Head to Analiese's website to find out more about her work.

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 Movement.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity.

Connect here:

LinkedIn

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Facebook

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We sit down with Craig Linton, co-founder of Thread Fundraising and co-author of Donors for Life, drawing out practical steps for a low-risk move into consulting.

Across this candid chat, we dig into the skills that transfer directly from fundraising to business ownership: clear storytelling, supporter care reimagined as client care, and evidence-led decisions. We also grapple with pricing: where generosity meets boundaries, and why working for free can undercut your impact.

Craig explains how to build private AI brains from your proven frameworks, using a “critical friend” prompt to catch blindspots, and turning blank pages into first drafts without losing the human aspect that wins trust.

Enjoyed this conversation? Subscribe, share with a colleague who’s considering the leap, and leave us a review. Your feedback helps more charity professionals find a path to meaningful, independent work.

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You can connect with Craig on LinkedIn, or check out the Thread Fundraising website.

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 Movement.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity.

Connect here:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Ready to turn a solid charity career into a resilient, human-centred freelance practice? Jane sits down with leadership coach and My Emotional Work Life host, Jen McCanna, to explore how she moved from events fundraising to learning and development and built a coaching business that lasts. Jen shares the underrated skills that still pay off, and how they translate into confident facilitation and trusted delivery.

We dig into energy management as strategy, not self-care fluff: the rhythm of client days and desk days, the power of social energy, and the telltale sign she watches for as a cue to reset. If you’re juggling big roles, tough stakeholders, or a leap into freelancing, her tools for noticing early and adjusting fast will help you protect your capacity to lead.

We also get practical about finding clients and staying booked. Expect thoughtful insights on designing work around life, shedding old rules, and building a business that feels energising, not draining.

Check out My Emotional Work Life here, and you can connect with Jen on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Subscribe for more conversations on freelancing, leadership, and meaningful work. If this sparked something for you, share it with a colleague, leave a review, and tell us: what skill from your past role will you leverage first?

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 Movement.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity.

Connect here:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Website

In Episode 8 of The Other Side, Simon Scriver shares how two failed ventures shaped a thriving, accessible training community for fundraisers. From street fundraising to global virtual events, Simon breaks down luck vs grit, why boring work matters and how to stop under-pricing your services.

We also discuss hiring fears, building a supportive community without burning out and whether the charity sector is ready for the growth in freelance and consultant services.

One of my fave episodes to date, listen on all your usual platforms and at the link below.

You can connect with Simon on LinkedIn and at https://www.fundraisingeverywhere.com/

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 Movement.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports over 100 charity sector freelancers to build businesses that make more money with joy and integrity.

Connect here:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Website