Ryan Valasapali’s Journey Through Fundraising, Failure, and Finding Purpose

Welcome to the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast, today, we’ve got something a little bit different for you. To celebrate our upcoming recruitment and careers conference coming up on Thursday 20th November, we’ve decided to hand the mic over to our guest host Rory White in this special series of episodes called 'It Started On The Street'. Rory will be chatting to some brilliant leaders in the charity sector and beyond about their journeys since they started their careers as dialogue fundraisers. "Charlotte Forest began her fundraising career with Push, a well-known agency at the very start of face-to-face fundraising in the UK. After that, she moved to Gift, where she built a long and varied career — starting out as a fundraiser, then stepping up to team leader, and eventually managing multiple regions across the country. This gave her an incredible breadth of experience before she transitioned into the charity sector when Gift closed. Today, she’s Director of Income Generation at a hospice in Swindon. In our conversation, Charlotte shares how the resilience and skills she developed on the street shaped her career, and how those lessons continue to influence her work today. It’s a really insightful and enjoyable discussion — I think you’ll get a lot from it." You can learn more about our upcoming Fundraising Recruitment and Careers Conference happening on Thursday 20th November here If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Welcome to the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast, today, we’ve got something a little bit different for you. To celebrate our upcoming recruitment and careers conference coming up on Thursday 20th November, we’ve decided to hand the mic over to our guest host Rory White in this special series of episodes called 'It Started On The Street'. Rory will be chatting to some brilliant leaders in the charity sector and beyond about their journeys since they started their careers as dialogue fundraisers. "Jen Suter has a wealth of experience in face-to-face fundraising. She spent years working with Real and then a long stint at Urban Leaf, and she’s always been deeply passionate about the face-to-face market and the people in it. She’s now Head of Direct Engagement at Save the Children, where she works closely with a variety of agency partners, and she’s also recently taken on a role as Head of Charities at a new startup called Oddogo — all at the same time. Jen is a truly positive, inspiring person to talk to, and she’s a real advocate for everything face-to-face fundraising stands for. I really enjoyed this conversation, and I think you will too" You can learn more about our upcoming Fundraising Recruitment and Careers Conference happening on Thursday 20th November here If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Welcome to the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast, today, we’ve got something a little bit different for you. To celebrate our upcoming recruitment and careers conference coming up on Thursday 20th November, we’ve decided to hand the mic over to our guest host Rory White in this special series of episodes called 'It Started On The Street'. Rory will be chatting to some brilliant leaders in the charity sector and beyond about their journeys since they started their careers as dialogue fundraisers. "Ryan Valasapali’s story is a fascinating one. He came to Sheffield from India to study for an MBA — and when he arrived, the whole city was covered in snow. He’d never seen snow before, and it was quite a shock! Just three months into his new life in Sheffield, his dad — who had been helping support him financially — told him over the phone, ‘That’s it, son. No more money. You’re on your own now.’ So Ryan went out to find work, and that’s how he ended up joining Home Fundraising. His first week was tough, and he was ready to quit. In fact, he was on his last door of the day, planning to hand in his kit after that… but that final door completely changed everything for him. Seventeen years later, Ryan is back in India, living in Bangalore, working as a director at one of the country’s major fundraising agencies. I really enjoyed hearing his story — how that one pivotal moment shaped his whole career — and I think you will too." You can learn more about our upcoming Fundraising Recruitment and Careers Conference happening on Thursday 20th November here If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Welcome to the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast, today, we’ve got something a little bit different for you. To celebrate our upcoming recruitment and careers conference coming up on Thursday 20th November, we’ve decided to hand the mic over to our guest host Rory White in this special series of episodes called 'It Started On The Street'. Rory will be chatting to some brilliant leaders in the charity sector and beyond about their journeys since they started their careers as dialogue fundraisers. "This was a really interesting one. I first spoke with Sally Wynter, who started in face-to-face fundraising at just 18. In her first week, she hadn’t managed to get any sign-ups, and she was on the verge of losing her job — but her team rallied around her, and her manager decided to give her another chance. That turned out to be the right decision, because Sally went on to become a brilliant street fundraiser and, as you’ll hear, eventually an entrepreneur. Then, about a week later, I happened to speak with Dave Morris — and it dawned on me that he was actually the manager who made that call to keep Sally on all those years ago. I thought it would be fascinating to bring them back together for a conversation: to reminisce about those early days, and to talk about how their careers have evolved since then. Dave has gone on to have a hugely successful career in the charity sector, with more achievements still to come. I really enjoyed this one — hearing their perspectives on each other, on fundraising, and on what they’ve both learned along the way. I hope you enjoy it too" You can learn more about our upcoming Fundraising Recruitment and Careers Conference happening on Thursday 20th November here If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Welcome to the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast, today, we’ve got something a little bit different for you. To celebrate our upcoming recruitment and careers conference coming up on Thursday 20th November, we’ve decided to hand the mic over to our guest host Rory White in this special series of episodes called 'It Started On The Street'. Rory will be chatting to some brilliant leaders in the charity sector and beyond about their journeys since they started their careers as dialogue fundraisers. "I first met Kiah Nicolas when she joined the British Red Cross — one of our Flow Caritas clients at the time. She started her career as a street fundraiser and quickly stood out, rising through the ranks with incredible speed. During her time there, she took on major responsibilities: leading and managing teams, overseeing forecasting, budgeting, and everything that comes with running a high-performing fundraising operation. Now, just a few years later, Kiah is Head of Fundraising at the PEP Foundation — a testament to her drive, her talent, and her work ethic. Join us as we talk about her journey, the lessons she learned on the street, and how those early experiences shaped the brilliant fundraiser she is today." You can learn more about our upcoming Fundraising Recruitment and Careers Conference happening on Thursday 20th November here If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Welcome to the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast, today, we’ve got something a little bit different for you. To celebrate our upcoming recruitment and careers conference coming up on Thursday 20th November, we’ve decided to hand the mic over to our guest host Rory White in this special series of episodes called 'It Started On The Street'. Rory will be chatting to some brilliant leaders in the charity sector and beyond about their journeys since they started their careers as dialogue fundraisers. "It was such a pleasure talking with Alf Cowan. In fact, our conversation went on so long we had to restart the Zoom because we ran out of time — I think we ended up talking for a couple of hours! Alf is a really thoughtful guy. After university — where he studied business — he unexpectedly found himself working in face-to-face fundraising, which was a real revelation for him at the time. From there he moved into the charity sector, working directly for charities on their face-to-face programs, before transitioning into more of a data and analytics focus. Today, Alf is Head of Charities at MediaLab, but he still draws heavily on his early face-to-face experience. He regularly visits frontline teams to stay connected to that perspective, and it really informs the campaigns he creates for clients. He’s insightful, reflective, and a genuinely nice person to talk to. I think you’ll really enjoy this conversation with Alf Cowan" You can learn more about our upcoming Fundraising Recruitment and Careers Conference happening on Thursday 20th November here If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Welcome to the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast, today, we’ve got something a little bit different for you. To celebrate our upcoming recruitment and careers conference coming up on Thursday 20th November, we’ve decided to hand the mic over to our guest host Rory White in this special series of episodes called 'It Started On The Street'. Rory will be chatting to some brilliant leaders in the charity sector and beyond about their journeys since they started their careers as dialogue fundraisers. "I was really intrigued when I first spoke to Seth Piper. He’s someone who started his career in face-to-face fundraising in the UK, before moving over to Scandinavia, where his path took an unexpected turn. Seth went on to work with Greenpeace, playing a key role in establishing their face-to-face operations in Scandinavia.Now, he’s brought that wealth of experience into the world of politics and grassroots activism — training campaigners and organisers on how to engage with people effectively. I found that crossover from face-to-face fundraising to political and grassroots work absolutely fascinating. It’s not something I’d come across before, and I think it offers a lot of insights for anyone working in engagement, campaigning, or advocacy. So, I hope you enjoy this conversation with Seth Piper" You can learn more about our upcoming Fundraising Recruitment and Careers Conference happening on Thursday 20th November here If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Join digital fundraising expert Vicky Reeves, in this insightful session, revealing how charities can significantly boost their online donations in today’s competitive landscape. Through practical examples drawn from goDonate’s work with some of the UK’s leading charities—including NSPCC, Marie Curie, Battersea and The Royal British Legion – Vicky will share best practices, learnings and actionable advice to help your organisation increase donor engagement and optimise each stage of the online donation journey. With focus on the improvement of online donations, and from keeping abreast of latest trends, Vicky will also offer insight and advice on how charities can stay relevant within the continuing evolution of online giving. From digital wallets to cryptocurrency donations, Vicky remains current with technological trends and developments in the e-commerce world ensuring they are suitably applied to the charity sector. From this session you’ll discover how to increase your average donation value, encourage regular giving, improve marketing consent rates, and create more successful campaigns; all through carefully crafted online donation experiences. With real-life success stories and hands-on tips, you’ll leave equipped with ideas and techniques to elevate your digital fundraising efforts, creating a more compelling journey for your supporters and maximising income for your cause. Key learnings from this session: 1. Optimise the Online Donation Journey Learn actionable strategies to enhance every stage of the online donation process, including increasing donor engagement, improving user experiences, and maximising average donation values. 2. Boost Regular Giving and Consent Rates Discover techniques to encourage recurring donations and improve marketing consent rates, ensuring sustainable and impactful growth in your charity’s digital fundraising efforts. 3. Leverage Real-Life Success Stories for Practical Insights Gain valuable insights from goDonate’s work with leading charities like NSPCC, Marie Curie, Battersea, and The Royal British Legion, offering proven practices and innovative ideas that can be tailored to your organisation. Click here to subscribe to our email list for exclusive fundraising resources, early access to training, special discounts and more If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Join Angie Turner, Patty Da Silva and Kitty Hazell as they explore the power of long-term relationships in fundraising. This session delves into the support fundraisers receive and provide—within their teams and from their organisations—and how this creates a foundation of trust, collaboration, and stability that strengthens donor connections. The panel discusses practical strategies for engaging and re-engaging donors, emphasising trust-building, personal interactions, and aligning communication with donor preferences. They share insights on maintaining detailed CRM records, effective stewardship planning for major donors, and the unique value of prospect surgeries for idea-sharing. By focusing on relationships over transactions, this session highlights how fostering authentic connections can create magic in donor relationships, ultimately driving income generation and long-term success. Click here to subscribe to our email list for exclusive fundraising resources, early access to training, special discounts and more If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

In this episode of the Fundraising Everywhere podcast, host Simon Scriver, is joined by Jo McGuinness, Senior Recruitment Manager at Think Recruitment for an honest and insightful conversation about recruitment and careers in the nonprofit sector. Jo shares her journey from community fundraiser to sector consultant, and offers practical advice for both job seekers and hiring managers on how to create a more transparent, supportive, and effective recruitment process. They discuss common pitfalls in charity recruitment, the importance of showing salary ranges, providing feedback to candidates, and how organisations can attract and retain top talent- even in a competitive market. Jo also previews the upcoming Fundraising, Recruitment and Careers Conference, where these topics will be explored in even greater depth. Read Jo McGuinness' blog here Learn more about Fundraising, Recruitment and Careers Conference, happening on Thursday, 20th November Click here to subscribe to our email list for exclusive fundraising resources, early access to training, special discounts and more If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.