An interim deputy director of development for The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), a highly unusual organisation with a distinctive approach to fundraising

Client

The Institute of Cancer Research leads the world in isolating cancer-related genes and discovering new, targeted cancer drugs. As a college of the University of London, partner of The Royal Marsden hospital and charity, it needed a fundraiser who was prepared to engage in and respond to its unique set of challenges.

Brief

To provide a deputy who would help the recently appointed development director bed in a new fundraising structure, recruit new people and get internal processes and systems working.

Project dates
2011 to 2013

Lara Jukes, Director of Development, says:
“I’d been recruited in 2009 to do a major restructuring of ICR fundraising. The goal was to create a fully professional development office, reflective of the ICR’s world-class stature – with major gifts at its heart. More Partnership came in and gave excellent support, initially one person on a four-day-per-week basis.

“We worked together on staffing up, putting systems in place and building a pipeline of donors. Our reputation as a department rose internally as a result of the professionalisation and income started to grow. Our Chief Executive also wanted to understand the feasibility of building an endowment, so More Partnership wrote an excellent paper on that.

“As our development team established itself, More Partnership gradually eased out. But their team stayed in touch and was always my first port of call for strategic advice and help with recruitment.

“Two things stand out in my memory of that time. The first is the collective market intelligence of More Partnership. It’s second to none. And the other is that the consultants always remained grounded and realistic with their advice – mindful that I had to deliver! I think they’re a consultancy with a difference.”