Q&A WITH Ross Anderson, The Alfred Foundation
Ross shares his career highlights in this month's Gem Spotlight. He is a Gifts in Wills expert, FIA Fellow and next year’s FIA Conference Chair who will embrace the challenges of the changing landscape and inspire a best practice program.
Ross is a Scottish-Australian with a curious mind, big heart, wicked sense of humour and commitment to make a difference.
Gembridge placed Ross in his current role as Gifts in Wills Manager at The Alfred Foundation.
How did you get into the Not for profit Sector?
It was a question of alignment with my values. I’ve always wanted to be involved with something with a clear, positive purpose. After graduating, I worked for a few years at the Department of Environment in the UK public service. When I was looking to change roles, I visited a recruitment consultancy that specialised in the for-purpose sector to get advice and help me to make the transition.
They advised me to test the waters in the charity sector. After completing a few temporary contracts with a variety of different charities, I was approached by the same consultant that had initially given me their advice to join their recruitment consultancy to help grow their business amongst the charity sector. I started out interviewing candidates, understanding their motivations and identifying charities that might meet their needs.
Over time, this developed into me recruiting more specialist roles and more senior positions. I worked in for-purpose recruitment for over seven years, ending-up conducting executive head hunting and searches for CEOs, Directors and Senior Managers for many UK charities. I then worked for the UK’s biggest charity, Cancer Research UK as part of their internal HR / Organisational Development team of over 90 people – the department was larger than the entire workforce of most charities than I’d worked for!
When I emigrated to Melbourne 12 years ago, I integrated my relationship management skills, business development experience and passion for charities and focused on fundraising.
Why did you choose to specialise in Gifts in Wills?
Lots of people ask me why I’ve chosen to specialise in one of the least understood areas of fundraising – Gifts in Wills. But for me the appeal is because it IS one of the least well-understood areas of fundraising! There is SO much potential to shine a light and bring a common sense, contemporary approach to Gifts in Wills fundraising. It’s a powerful, values-driven and often underestimated area. Over the last decade there seems to have been an awakening or renaissance for Gifts in Wills - it’s about time!
Many charities have sadly no or limited investment in this area and have forgotten to inspire donors to consider supporting their charity in this way. The development that has taken place in this area has accelerated and investment levels have leap-frogged over many other fundraising activities. There’s a wealth of research, knowledge and experience emerging and amazing insight into WHY people choose to remember their favourite causes in this very special way.
What is the most interesting, bizarre or funny question you have been asked by a donor?
One of the wonderful things about Gifts in Wills fundraising is that inevitably you end up building long-term relationships with older Australians. We take an active interest in people’s lives and spend time understanding their personal values and final wishes. You get very close to your supporters and get the occasional invitation to visit, attend family festivities and celebrations, sometimes in the remotest places in Australia. An invitation to a supporter’s wedding in far north Queensland was lovely to receive, but not an offer that I could accept!
What is your proudest accomplishment or career highlight?
I’m a firm believer in the charity sector being greater than the sum of its parts. So I’ve always found ways to give back and do something beyond the confines of my own role to help move the for-purpose sector forward. I’ve volunteered throughout my career and dedicated time to supporting the activities of the Fundraising Institute Australia. Being nominated for and becoming a Fellow of the FIA was pretty special. I find that working collaboratively with amazing people really inspiring and energising. I have also loved my six years on the Board of the ‘Include a Charity’ campaign – it combined my passion for Gifts in Wills and supporting the sector. It’s wonderful to see this campaign go from strength-to-strength and more and more interest emerge in their work.
What is the best career advice you've received?
Be inquisitive, keep learning and share your discoveries with others.
What is your key piece of career advice to up and coming fundraisers?
Get involved with sector-wide initiatives, collaborate with your peers, share your knowledge and the lessons you’ve learnt along the way with your colleagues – we’re all in this together!
What did you dream of being when you were a child?
I had my head buried in mystery novels and Scottish detective books – I felt sure that I was destined for a life of being a crime-busting super-sleuth, investigative journalist or forensic scientist!
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
Right at the moment, given the restrictions on movement we have here in Melbourne, I’d love to visit my family back in UK and US, even just for a day!
What is your favourite movie or book?
I’m more cinema than literature. I can’t go passed a classic Alfred Hitchcock film – Vertigo is my favourite.