Gem Spotlight with Peter Copp from Social Ventures Australia (SVA)
Peter shares his transition from Trade to Fundraising plus career highlights, advice and a funny donor story.
Peter delivers fundraising success with loads of energy, enthusiasm and expertise. He is also an active volunteer and newly appointed Director of Northern Health Foundation.
Gembridge placed Peter in his current role as Director, Partnerships at SVA.
How did you get into the NFP sector / fundraising?
After completing an Events and Project management course, I secured an Event Manager role for a disability service provider where I managed a diverse calendar which included multiple fundraising events. This was my introduction to NFP and more specifically fundraising, and though my focus on event’s has changed, I have never looked back.
What was your previous career/s and why did you move into the NFP sector?
As so many of my not-for-profit alumni, I too was previously in another industry, though mine was not the common corporate/NFP transition. Previously I was wearing the blue trade pants as a plumber.
What is the most interesting, bizarre or funny question you have been asked by a donor?
I do have a good list of stories for Friday drinks, though one of the quirkier:
I was leading a capital campaign for an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within our hospital’s latest expansion. After months of planning, practice, and networking I finally secured a meeting with a funder I had hoped would be my principal funder. Given the nature of this potential funder and their profile, I invited one of my Directors. The conversation started out well, we got to know more about this funder, their history and drivers, though I was waiting for the right moment to pivot into the business conversation, and out of nowhere, the funder said with a plain straight face, ‘do you, see, you? Because I.C.U’ …. and after a moment (or three) of disbelief, we seamlessly shifted into pitch mode. On leaving, the funder said, ‘you’ll take organisations far if you manage challenges like that!’.
Fundraising is hard. How do you stay focussed, motivated and driven?
I believe it is challenging, but I also believe fundraising is what you make it, as are many things. You could simply communicate with a handful of funders and stay well within your comfort zone, though, why? You don’t enter this sector to be comfortable, you are confronted with challenges, emotion and cracks within society where people may have fallen through, and your job is to empower people to make a real difference and reduce disadvantage. My motivation comes from both sides of the ‘coin’, the driver for a funder to give to the cause and the beneficiaries, who receive life changing moments because you enabled the resources.
What is your proudest accomplishment or career highlight? (Personal or prof)
I have a few ‘never forget’ moments, but the first moment I will remember forever, was me taking two guys from country Victoria on a plane for the first time, all because their electric wheelchairs were ‘a challenge’ for the airline industry. Whilst the highlight could have been the donor given trip, yet it became memorable when the now Governor-General welcomed us to his estate and hosted lunch, which was followed by a skywalk in Sydney’s CBD.
What is the best career advice you’ve received?
You spend more time at work than anywhere else, ensure you love what you do, and make sure what you do does good!
What is the key career advice you give?
I now have the privilege of holding several positions which provide different viewpoints. My advice is do something you enjoy and something that challenges you. Why get up each morning to do something that doesn’t tick both of those boxes?
What did you dream of being when you were a child?
When I was a teenager, all I wanted to do was host the largest party, plan major festivals, and do that all over the world. Whilst I pursed events, I feel the avenue I decided to take shaped a better person with a wide lens on life.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? In Lockdown 2.) and with complete freedom.
If I could go anywhere, I would really like to join a community eye camp in Nepal and see the moment people open their eyes and see for the first time. I worked from a brilliant eye organisation and Nepal is one country I have longed to go too, and these are moments I feel I could watch forever!
Outside of this, lockdown has really made me want to go camping!
What is your favourite music?
For those who know me well, know I have the most diverse set of playlists. My creative writing is completed late at night with classic music in my ears, my business reports are done to techno or house in the early morning and emails are usually replied to with Aussie pub songs on repeat.