About Us
Created by practitioners,
for practitioners
The Philanthropy Fellowship was founded by three people who have spent their careers in principal gifts, advancement leadership and the development of senior fundraisers, and who believe the profession’s most demanding work deserves more deliberate preparation.
Why we created the Fellowship
Between us, we have led advancement teams, worked on gifts of £100 million and more, and coached senior fundraisers through the moments that test them most. Again and again, we have seen talented professionals reach the edge of what their training had prepared them for.
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The capabilities that principal gifts demand develop through deliberate practice, expert guidance and reflection. Yet experienced fundraisers rarely have the chance to build them in a sustained, integrated way. We created the Fellowship to provide it.
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We created the Fellowship to provide it.
KIRSTY MACDONALD
Founding Partner
Kirsty has 30 years of advancement experience. As Deputy Principal (Advancement) at the Royal Academy of Music, she has overseen a tenfold increase in philanthropic income, led the Academy’s £100 million campaign and secured the largest gift ever made to a conservatoire outside the United States.
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She has held senior advancement roles at the universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh and Oxford, has served as Chair of the CASE Europe Trust and is a trustee of Crisis.
CHRISTOPHER WHITNEY
Founding Partner
Christopher has 30 years of international experience in major and principal gifts. He led principal gifts during the University of Cambridge’s £2.2 billion campaign, and was a Senior Fundraiser during the University of British Columbia's $1.5 billion campaign. He has personally led or advised on multiple philanthropic commitments of £100 million or more.
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He continues to work on transformational philanthropy with institutions and philanthropists across the UK, Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.
TESS NIXON SPILLER
Founding Partner
Tess combines 20 years of frontline major and principal gifts experience with specialist expertise in coaching. She has been Head of Philanthropy at Cancer Research UK and Head of Major Gifts at the University of Exeter.
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An ICF-certified coach, she has designed and delivered philanthropy training programmes for many organisations, and is an experienced facilitator and conference speaker.
What we believe
Experienced professionals grow most when they are challenged as well as supported.
Judgement develops through practice and reflection, not instruction alone.
Confidence grows by testing yourself, hearing honest feedback and trying again.
The best development changes not only what you know, but how you think, engage and lead.