DOCWRA PARTNERSHIP

DOCWRA PARTNERSHIP
Freelance Fundraisers

With a successful track-record in a wide variety of fundraising techniques – and specialising in the needs of smaller charities – Docwra Partnership can offer a cost-effective solution to your fundraising requirements.

With no minimum time requirement and a flexible daily rate for services, at Docwra Partnership we aim to keep our costs to smaller charities as low as we can.

Contact us today for an informal phone chat or to arrange a no-obligation meeting to explore whether we can help you.

Customers reviews

What people say

“We have used the Docwra Partnership for over 10 years and they have managed to raise in excess of £1M for us. Dan and Karen understand the fundraising landscape and have shown real skill in tailoring our fundraising strategy to suit the changing needs of our business.”

Stephen Small

Director, St Andrew’s Children’s Society

“Dan and Karen are an absolute pleasure to work with and I couldn’t recommend them more highly. They bring a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of fundraising activity and strategy from individual and corporate giving through to trusts and events. Their focus on meticulous research and careful preparation and planning ensures fundraising activities are delivered effectively on time and to plan. They communicate well both verbally and in writing ensuring that the charity’s cause is well understood by potential supporters.”

Grant Sugden

CEO, Waverley Care

About Us

The team at Docwra Partnership consists of Dan and Karen

Dan Docwra

Dan has been working as a freelance fundraiser since 2000 following a career in airport management which, latterly, involved establishing and operating a community trust on behalf of BAA Edinburgh Airport. Dan’s specialist area is fundraising from trusts and foundations and he has extensive experience in raising funds for both capital and revenue projects.

Karen Docwra

Karen recently moved to working with Docwra Partnership following a 27 year long career with Waverley Care as part of a small but highly successful fundraising team, including as Fundraising Manager. She has extensive experience in a wide range of fundraising techniques including trusts and foundations, corporate fundraising, individual giving, community fundraising and event fundraising from small events to black tie dinners. Karen is a passionate believer in relationship fundraising.

Karen sits on the Board of Love Music Productions, an Edinburgh-based charity music which, as part of its remit, runs both Love Music Community Choir and Love Music Junior Choir.

Current Docwra Partnership clients include St Andrew’s Children’s Society, Kindred Advocacy, Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre – Lothian, Dunedin School, Pregnancy Counselling and Care Scotland and Waverley Care.

Previous clients include: Traverse Theatre, Visible Fictions Theatre Company, Jubilee Scotland, Puppet Animation Scotland, The MGA Foundation, LGBT Youth Scotland, Boys & Girls Clubs of Scotland.

Dan and Karen also undertake pro bono fundraising on behalf of Granton Parish Church, where they are members.

Our services

At Docwra Partnership, we have been offering fundraising solutions for over 15 years, working with a wide variety of charities in the following areas:

Trust & Foundations Fundraising

This is our area of specialisation and our work here involves getting to know your organisation and what you are requiring funding for; researching potential sources of funding; preparing bespoke funding applications, tailored to the needs of each funder; working with you to ensure funding and reporting requirements are met.

Trusts and Foundations Research

Ideal for smaller charities who have the capacity to write applications but not to undertake the research needed to identify targeted lists of trusts.

Case for Support

Working with charity staff, boards and stakeholders to develop a robust case for support document.

Event Fundraising

Support with planning and implementation of events, from local community events to black tie dinners.

Community Fundraising

Helping you identify community groups that might support your cause and supporting you as you take the first steps to building long-term relationships.

Strategic Planning for Fundraising

We can help smaller charities to draw up a fundraising strategy, identifying areas of fundraising which will bring the best return on investment.

Support with Fundraiser Recruitment

Especially for small charities with no existing fundraising function considering a first-time appointment, we can help with the development of a job description, application pack, shortlisting and the interview process.

Training

Bespoke training designed for charities which need to fundraise but are not in a position to employ a fundraiser or use our services on a continuing basis. Our training courses give a broad overview of different areas of fundraising to help you define where to put your energies. This can be followed by occasional follow-up mentoring and support.

“Karen & Dan have been fundraising for Dunedin School for around 15 years. During that time their fundraising has been invaluable. Initially they helped raise the money the school needed to refurbish Liberton Bank House, turning it into suitable premises for the school. Without their help, the school would have struggled to raise the amount of money needed for the project. Since the school moved into Liberton Bank House in 2007, Dan and Karen have continued to fundraising for different projects, for example fitting out the IT suite and ensuring it stays up to date, purchasing laptops for both staff and pupils, building a garden shelter, funding an annual residential trip for the pupils and providing access to music tuition. During this time they have got to know the staff and pupils very well and without their help we would not have been able to offer the pupils the opportunity of these many projects and resources.”

Rosie Galloway

Administrator, Dunedin School