Overview 

Melanie has twenty years experience as a Development professional. Following seven years as an advertising account executive, her fundraising career began in the USA, working with a consultancy specialising in the cultural, charity and political sectors.

 

In 1994, Melanie began her UK fundraising career with the Royal Academy of Arts, and in 1997 joined the Natural History Museum as Head of Charitable Giving. She subsequently became Deputy Head of Development, raising in excess of £15 million for capital projects, education, conservation, exhibition and scientific research programmes.

 

Melanie  formed a fundraising consultancy in 2004 with the Natural History Museum’s former Development Director, working with the Science Museum, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Barbican Centre and the London Children’s Museum. Melanie has since developed Stoutzker Fundraising Partnership, with a small team of expert associates, and led projects with a number of clients.

 

Personal expertise and support 

Melanie takes a bespoke and personal approach with organisations, and aims to help them develop successful long term philanthropic relationships. Often combining strategic guidance with hands-on work for clients, Melanie has helped to meet the demand for support during capital, revenue and endowment campaigns, large projects, growth and development, staff change or transition. Following recommendations from her fundraising assessments, audits, consultations and feasibility studies, clients have often utilised her consultancy to guide them through the initial stages of their implementation.

 

Current and recent projects 

Stoutzker Fundraising Partnership is currently working with the Sutton Trust to develop high value philanthropic support for long term sustainabililty. She recently completed a capital campaign feasibility study with Chelsea & Westminster Hospital Charity (CW+) working closely with the Chief Executive, board of Trustees and hospital leadership. This follows capital campaign feasibility studies on behalf of the National Portrait Gallery, Christ's Hospital School and Cockpit Arts, a Social Enterprise organisation and the UK’s only creative business incubator for designer-maker businesses.

 

Melanie worked with associate BrandmeetsBrand to develop sponsorship and major giving support for the Calvert 22 Foundation, an organisation dedicated to building cultural bridges between Russia, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet republics and the rest of the world.

 

Melanie worked with the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) to secure funds for its international touring programme, and conducted her third project with the Barbican Centre, helping to generate revenue for key projects in the artistic programme.

 

A seven month assignment with the Victoria & Albert Museum focused on providing major gift fundraising support, strategic guidance and direction to the Individual Giving Team across capital, endowment and revenue fundraising during a period of transition. She continues to work with the Southbank Centre, providing solicitation and strategic guidance for the recently announced Festival Wing capital campaign; this follows a long term project with the Centre when Melanie led the implementation of recommendations from her strategic review of its Individual Major and Regular Giving programmes.

 

With an associate, she implemented a capital campaign feasibility study for the Energy Institute, a non-profit organisation representing the energy industry.

 

Following her major gift solicitation training session for CLIC Sargent, a charity that offers support for child cancer sufferers and their families, Melanie was invited to work with the team to develop their major giving programme for revenue and capital projects during the recruitment of a Head of Major Giving.

 

Melanie worked closely with Hofesh Shechter Company, a small and highly regarded performing arts company, to guide Board development, solicitation planning and the recruitment of their first professional fundraiser.

 

With an associate, she undertook the development of a capital campaign strategy and first stage implementation for the South Georgia Heritage Trust, which conserves the heritage and wildlife of the Antarctic island of South Georgia. 

 

Melanie has worked with DASH ARTS, a performing-arts organisation, to support the artistic programme, and with the soon to open Jewish Community Centre for its capital campaign.

 

Key areas of consultancy

  • Lead consultant and project manager for the following clients:
  • The Southbank Centre
  • The Royal Academy of Engineering
  • The Barbican Centre
  • National Museum of Science and Industry
  • South Georgia Heritage Trust
  • The London Children’s Museum
  • CLIC Sargent

 

Her work for these clients includes:

  • revenue and capital fundraising programme planning and implementation support  major gift programmes and best practice in solicitation of high net worth individuals
  • audits and reviews of organisational fundraising needs
  • individual giving programme development
  • case for support development
  • prospect research management
  • designing and conducting feasibility studies
  • building effective volunteer leadership and management
  • staff and board level solicitation training
  • fundraising team building, recruitment and training
  • guidance on effective fundraising resource and facilitation of successful long term fundraising.