Understand where you are
Clarify the current position, challenges, opportunities, internal capacity and the story your organisation needs to tell.
UK-based international fundraising consultancy
Inspiring, Building, Transforming Charities and Schools
We are a UK-based international fundraising consultancy that provides specialised services for schools, charities and nonprofits to help strengthen their fundraising strategies to expand their reach, impact and teams.
25+ years of experience
UK-based, international perspective
Charities, schools and nonprofits
StrategyConsultancy
Coaching
Our approach
Strategic thinking combined with practical delivery.
Support designed around your organisation, your people and your ambitions.
Strategy
Clear priorities, stronger cases for support and sustainable income plans.
Consultancy
Specialist guidance across major donors, research, policy and team development.
Coaching
Practical support for senior leaders, trustees, governors, heads and bursars.
Clarity before complexity.
Practical support shaped around the realities of busy organisations.
About Shirfield Consulting
A trusted partner for organisations with a social purpose.
Established in 2025, Shirfield Consulting helps charities and schools strengthen income, strategy and impact through strategic thinking, practical sector-led experience and an informed outside perspective.
We work closely with CEOs, heads, governors and trustees to understand what makes an organisation distinctive, sharpen its narrative and create fundraising strategies and teams that support sustainable growth.
Our approach is collaborative and tailored. We work alongside you to understand where you are, where you want to go and what will make the biggest difference.
Fundraising strategy
Income diversification
Team development
Major donors
Leadership coaching
Services
Focused support where it can create lasting value.
From fundraising strategy and feasibility through to specialist consultancy and leadership coaching, every engagement is shaped around your mission, objectives and internal capacity.
01
Strategy & Feasibility Studies
Build a clear fundraising direction, test ambition, assess readiness and identify practical steps towards sustainable growth.
02Consultancy
Specialist advice across major donors, prospect research, fundraising policy, processes, team design and organisational capacity.
03Coaching
Give senior leaders greater clarity, confidence and strategic insight when leading fundraising and development activity.
Strategy & Feasibility Studies
A fundraising strategy people can understand and act on.
A strong strategy helps direct time, finances and staff towards the areas most likely to increase impact and organisational sustainability. It also makes it easier to communicate purpose and value to donors and funders.
Where useful, a feasibility study provides an objective external assessment of your fundraising goals before major investment or change.
Sector benchmarking
Donor pipeline development
Donor capacity assessment
Case for support feedback
Organisational readiness review
Clear strategic recommendations
Consultancy
Deep fundraising expertise, applied to the challenge in front of you.
Drawing on over 25 years of experience leading, advising and training fundraising, advancement, development and alumni relations teams across the UK, Australia, USA, Canada and Asia, Shirfield Consulting provides expert strategic guidance to strengthen philanthropy, grow sustainable income and maximise organisational value and impact.
Major Donors
- Building a new Major Donor Programme
- Major Donor Strategy Development
- Prospect Research
- Case for Support Creation
- Cultivation Planning
- Solicitation Support
- Stewardship Planning
- Pipeline Development
- Internal Capacity Building
- Donor Events and Engagement Opportunities
- Insight and Analytics
Prospect Research
- Prospect Identification and Qualification
- Wealth and Philanthropic Profiling
- Data Analysis and Segmentation
- Donor Pipeline Development
- Due Diligence and Risk Assessment
- Portfolio Reviews and Strategy Support
- Benchmarking and Sector Scanning
Fundraising Policies, Processes and Procedures
- Fundraising Policy development
- Donor Data Management Procedures
- Gift Acceptance and Management Protocols
- Compliance and Ethical Standards
Building the Right Team
- Determining and defining the right role
- Job Description development
- Candidate profiling
- Interview preparation and support
- Appointment Support
Practical expertise
Strategic guidance shaped around your organisation, your people and your fundraising ambitions.
Coaching
Coaching for Trustees, Senior Leaders, School Governors, Heads and Bursars.
These sessions equip senior leaders within schools and charities with the clarity, confidence and strategic insight to lead high-performing fundraising and development teams, building the relationships needed to secure transformational philanthropic income.
Sessions are designed to reflect on challenges, unlock new opportunities and hone leadership in key areas including:
Leading and motivating fundraising and development teams
Building strong relationships with trustees, donors and funders
Developing and communicating compelling cases for support
Navigating internal dynamics and organisational change
Strengthening skills in making the ask and stewarding major donors
How we work
Clear thinking, close collaboration and practical next steps.
We do not believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. The work begins with your context, then focuses effort where it can have the greatest impact.
Define where you want to go
Shape priorities, fundraising direction, team requirements and realistic ambitions around your mission and long-term objectives.
Turn strategy into action
Create practical recommendations, strengthen skills and help teams build the confidence to carry the work forward.
Clients & Partners
Working alongside organisations and sector specialists.
Shirfield Consulting works directly with purpose-led organisations and collaborates with trusted specialist partners where this adds value.
LMSClient
MayfieldClient
Fundraising ConsultantsClient
Fern TalentPartner
Longhouse HQPartner
Frequently asked questions
A few useful starting points.
Every organisation is different, so the best way to understand fit is usually a conversation about your current priorities.
Who does Shirfield Consulting work with?
We work with charities, schools and nonprofits, including CEOs, heads, governors, trustees and senior leaders who want to strengthen fundraising, income strategy, teams and organisational impact.
What can a fundraising feasibility study include?
A feasibility study can include sector benchmarking, donor pipeline development, donor capacity assessment, case for support feedback, organisational readiness review and clear recommendations on fundraising strategy and next steps.
Can you help us build or strengthen a major donor programme?
Yes. Support can include major donor strategy, prospect research, case for support creation, cultivation planning, solicitation support, stewardship planning, pipeline development, donor engagement, insight and internal capacity building.
Can Shirfield Consulting support international fundraising?
Yes. Shirfield Consulting is UK-based and brings experience across the UK, Australia, USA, Canada and Asia, supporting organisations that need an international perspective on philanthropy and fundraising.
Contact
Start with a conversation.
If you are looking to grow your fundraising, develop your strategy or strengthen your team, we would love to hear from you.
Based in
Henfield, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Reach
UK-based, working internationally
LinkedIn
Connect with Amba Shirfield
Based in Henfield, West Sussex
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