Caroline’s first job after graduating from the University of Bristol was at London’s Royal Academy of Arts, where working alongside artists sparked her lifelong passion for the arts. Decades later, in 2024, the RA came full circle, returning to her life as a client of Philanthropy Company. In between, a move to Sydney in 1987 saw Caroline join the founding team of the Museum of Contemporary Art, where, as Director of Marketing and Development, she worked with both Aboriginal and international artists whose influence continues to shape her perspective today.

Back in the UK in 1997, Caroline joined Arts&Business, where she worked to build corporate support for the arts under the patronage of HRH Prince Charles—now King Charles III. She later moved to the Royal Court Theatre, chaired at the time by barrister, dramatist, and author Sir John Mortimer, to lead fundraising for its first major capital campaign and one of London’s earliest theatre namings. Shifting from the performing arts into higher education, Caroline became the founding Director of Development at the University of the Arts London.

Working closely with philanthropists, membership bodies, and high-profile trustees, Caroline saw a clear and growing need for expert fundraising support across the arts and education sectors. In response, she founded Philanthropy Company in 2002.

One of our first major campaign leadership roles was Transforming the Southbank (2003–2007), a £100 million+ initiative chaired by Lord Hollick to redevelop the iconic cultural venue and upgrade the Royal Festival Hall for new and diverse audiences.

Client work steadily expanded throughout the early 2000s, a time marked by new fundraising approaches such as regular giving and telephone appeals. Caroline was one of the founders of the CASE Spring Institute which has now helped to develop many university fundraisers.
Philanthropy Company began with a strong focus on the cultural sector and on capital campaigns but our work quickly expanded into the university and charity sectors. Along the way, we’ve had the privilege of working with some of Britain’s most talented fundraisers—as both consultants and clients.

In 2008, inspired by Save the Children’s leadership and commitment to children and families, Caroline took on a sector-first role as Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships. Working under the patronage of HRH The Princess Royal and the chairmanship of Sir Alan Parker, she built and led a team of 80 fundraisers focused on business and philanthropic engagement. During her tenure, the charity tripled its high-value income and spearheaded a global fundraising initiative. Caroline had the privilege of witnessing life-changing work firsthand—in communities across Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Westminster, and the UK—meeting humanitarians and families striving together to create lasting change.

In 2012 Caroline was invited by former UK Prime Minister Sir John Major to lead fundraising for The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, a new charity which had been established to raise £100m+ to create a lasting legacy for the late Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee through empowering young leaders and ending avoidable blindness.

In 2013 Caroline undertook a review and then interim leadership of the Social Sciences Division at the University of Oxford as part of its extraordinary Oxford Thinking campaign which achieved £2 billion in philanthropic gifts.

Philanthropy Company continued to deliver expert advice and support to a range of clients during these years, including leading universities, cultural institutions, health charities, and independent schools.

In 2016, Caroline was commissioned by the then Mayor of London, The Rt Hon Boris Johnson, alongside John Nickson, to help shape the vision for transforming the Olympic Park in Stratford into a cultural, community, and educational hub. Their work assessed the potential for philanthropic investment in the area’s regeneration. This led to the creation of the Foundation for FutureLondon and, crucially, secured the first major government investments in cultural development—now totalling over £1 billion. Caroline served as the Foundation’s founding CEO.

In 2017, Caroline was invited to Windsor Castle to receive an OBE for services to charity from Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Not only was this recognition inspiring and rewarding for Caroline and her family but it was also widely considered to be one of the first honours for a professional fundraiser and much valued by the profession.

Caroline has always volunteered alongside her executive roles including as Vice Chair of UNICEF UK, Governor of the Dragon School Oxford and member of the Public Service Honours Committee.

When the pandemic struck, many of our clients were forced to close or furlough staff. Throughout this period, we continued our work and took on the leadership of fundraising for the National Emergencies Trust, which raised an extraordinary £97 million in just four months to support communities and families during lockdown. Caroline was Head of Fundraising for this short and impactful campaign.

In 2022, Philanthropy Company proudly celebrated its 20th anniversary —marking two decades of championing philanthropy and supporting a diverse range of clients to achieve transformational impact. 3 themes have run throughout our work – service through raising funds to achieve extraordinary visions; making a difference to diverse communities and in particular young people; engaging philanthropists with the brilliant impact made across the sector.

Today, Philanthropy Company is made up of talented and experienced fundraisers from across the arts, heritage, education, and charity sectors, bringing commitment and dedication to everything we do.
Our values have been a steady thread through our work since their adoption in 2002: integrity, innovation, and impact. Now, over two decades later, those values remain—but we express them through a renewed focus on collaboration, inclusivity, and measurable change.