Story

After almost 30 extraordinary years in fundraising, I’m passionate about leadership, driving change and the potential to embed philanthropy in unexpected places - to cultivate, nurture and grow something amazing, however infertile the ground might seem. I am uniquely positioned to provide consultancy, coaching and insight to those seeking a way to creatively embed philanthropy in their institutions, including in the statutory sector, where such transformational change very often seems impossible.

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I graduated with a 1st Class degree in Psychology and I began my fundraising career by working on a £27m capital campaign at Birmingham Children's Hospital, before becoming a Corporate Fundraising Manager and Regional Campaign Manager for the NSPCC's £250m Full Stop Campaign. In 2010, I became Director of Development at The Royal Latin School in Buckingham, a 600 year old outstanding but underfunded state school. Here I established the development function and initiated a multi-phase capital campaign - the 600 Campaign – creating a £5m Discovery Centre, £1m refurbished 6th Form Study Centre, £3m Sports Campus, and initiated the feasibility stage for a final capital campaign phase (likely to be a £10m campaign, for a Theatre/Arts Centre). I also led the delivery of the Royal Latin’s remarkable 600th anniversary celebrations in 2023, with tributes ranging from a newly commissioned book about the school, monthly special events and reunions, creation of a 2023 Charter of pledges to the community including thousands of volunteering hours, and much more - including a Red Arrows flypast.

So, I’m fresh from the heart (and heat!) of a live, multi-phase, multi-million pound capital campaign, allowing an authentic and realistic perspective of development and philanthropy in action. In 2024, I’ll be making a long-planned move to the beautiful West Wales coast, and will be offering my consultancy services from there to clients across the UK and beyond.

Whether you’re a charity trustee, headteacher, governor, volunteer board member or a fellow fundraising or development professional in education or the wider not for profit sector, please take a look at my portfolio to see how I can help you. If you’d like to know more, then please say hello – I’d love to hear your story. 

Perhaps we can grow something amazing, together.

Jo Ballantine
jo@philanthropytree.com 


Experienced in:

  • Capital campaign strategy

  • Major gift solicitation

  • Corporate partnerships

  • Volunteer leadership

  • Event management

  • Regular giving

  • Trust applications

  • Case for support writing & storytelling

  • Statutory bid writing

  • Media relations, branding & communications

  • Anniversary planning, delivery & impact reporting