Giving back to the community that shaped my career
Meet Anita Connolly
After almost two decades as part of the Insight in Fundraising community, Anita Connolly has gone from attending events and building her professional network to helping shape opportunities for the next generation of insight professionals. She reflects on the people, experiences and sense of community that have made volunteering so rewarding.
From participant to volunteer
What inspired you to give up your time?
I first started attending Insight in Fundraising Special Interest Group events in around 2007 after being introduced to them by my friend Anne Carter, who I worked with at Barnardo’s- That probably makes us both some of the longest-standing members of the Insight in Fundraising Special Interest Group.
I quickly came to value the Insight SIG because it provided me with a supportive professional community of data and insight practitioners who were always willing to share their knowledge and experience. I went to the annual conference yearly. I did the various Excel, Campaign Testing & Legacy courses, went to the Data events above the pub and any other events that they did.
It helped me build a strong network of contacts who I am still in regularly connect with over LinkedIn.
What I love most about groups such as the Insight SIG is that they encourage us to be peers rather than competitors.
We come together to share ideas, learn from one another and develop better insight that ultimately helps improve fundraising & customer experience for the causes we work for.
The support and encouragement I received from the Insight SIG community inspired me really to want to give something back and to be part of the conversation when developing future activities for my community. Following an initial false start in 2013, I became a fully-fledged committee member in late 2014 when Janet Sneddon, the then Chair, invited me to rejoin the committee.
Seeing the difference volunteering can make
What’s been the most rewarding part of volunteering?
There have been so many rewarding aspects to volunteering with the Insight SIG. First and foremost, the Insight Sig Committee is an amazing group of people who generously give their time, expertise and passion year after year. One of the things I value most is the opportunity to work alongside such talented peers. As many of us work in the very organisations we are seeking to support, we have a strong understanding of the challenges our stakeholders face and the skills and resources they need to succeed.
It is also incredibly rewarding to see the impact our conferences, training courses, mentoring programme and events have on the insight community. Hearing how these initiatives help people develop their skills, expand their networks and progress their careers makes all the hard work worthwhile.
This year, I have also had the privilege of helping to launch the Insight Skills Access Fund. I hope it will enable us to reach an even wider audience and support individuals who might not otherwise have access to professional development opportunities. It is particularly exciting to think that we can help talented people build successful careers in charity insight and fundraising, regardless of the resources available to them, while strengthening the future of our profession at the same time.
Why volunteer?
If you had to explain in one sentence why you volunteer, what would you say?
I volunteer because I want to give back to a community that has supported, inspired and shaped my 21-year career in charity insight, and helped me grow both professionally and personally.
Dinosaurs, awards and widening access
Any memorable moments?
There have been many memorable moments over the years. One that particularly stands out is helping to organise Insightful Bytes at the Natural History Museum. It was great fun and, somehow, we managed to combine dinosaurs with fundraising insight. Everyone including speakers fully embraced the theme, weaving dinosaur-inspired imagery and plenty of dino puns throughout the marketing campaign and presentation materials. It was a creative and enjoyable experience that was enthusiastically received by both speakers and delegates.
More recently, serving as Vice Chair for the last two years has been a real privilege, and I’ve been fortunate to work alongside an incredibly dedicated committee. One of the highlights of my volunteering journey has been seeing what we have been able to achieve together for the insight community. Receiving the Outstanding Contribution to the Insight in Fundraising Group Award this year, after being nominated by my peers, was an unexpected and humbling moment, particularly because it reflects the work of so many volunteers who generously contribute their time, expertise and energy to the group.
Finally, after many years of volunteering with the conference, it was particularly rewarding to help announce the launch of the Insight Skills Access Fund. Seeing the positive reaction from the audience and enthusiasm for widening access to professional development opportunities was a real highlight.
“Don’t be afraid to sign up”
What advice would you give to someone who’s interested in becoming a volunteer – whether for the CIOF or another organisation?
My advice would be simple: don’t be afraid to sign up. Volunteer groups are always looking for new people with fresh perspectives, ideas and experiences to bring to the table.
Once you join, throw yourself into it & have fun.
That might mean helping out with an event, taking on a small project, or identifying a gap where your skills could make a real difference. The more you get involved, the more you’ll get out of the experience. You will also never be alone as everyone supports everyone.
You may even discover talents you didn’t know you had. For me, that was stepping into the role of Communications Lead despite having no formal marketing experience. It challenged me to learn new skills, broaden my experience and contribute to the group in ways I hadn’t expected. It has also introduced me to many brilliant people across the CIOF who have supported our work over the years.