News & Insight
23rd November 2017
Philanthropy Company grows University team
In January 2018, Kate Foley, currently Associate Director at the University of Exeter’s Global Advancement directorate, will join the Philanthropy Company as an Associate Director.
Kate brings over 15 years of senior level fundraising and development experience in prestigious Russell Group Universities including: Exeter, Aberdeen and the University of Oxford.
Making the announcement today Caroline Underwood, CEO of the Philanthropy Company said ‘We are delighted to be welcoming Kate to our team to work with our Higher Education clients. We have the privilege of working with the education sector as well as with the cultural, heritage and charity sectors to grow philanthropy in the UK. The addition of Kate to the team is a tribute to the impact and reputation we have built to date and we look forward to being able to extend our roster of University clients with Kate’s expertise.’
Kate said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Philanthropy Company. Caroline Underwood is an inspirational leader with an exciting vision for the Company’s development. It is a privilege to join the Company at this time and be part of that journey.”
Kate will continue her involvement with the University of Exeter and its donors through a new part-time role as ‘Head of Principal Gifts’ (UK and Asia).
Kate said: “The University of Exeter is a great institution and one that I am proud to be part of. I’m delighted to be able to continue to support the University in its mission to deliver ‘Making the Exceptional Happen’, the largest fundraising Campaign the University has ever undertaken.”
Kate joined the University of Exeter as Associate Director in 2014. Working closely with the Director of Global Advancement, Dr Shaun Curtis, Kate has been responsible for leading the team to deliver the Making the Exceptional Happen Campaign, from the private phase to the public launch and, most recently, achieving the milestone of surpassing 50% of the £60m target. While at Exeter, Kate also developed and implemented a new international fundraising and engagement strategy for the University, which has created a step change in levels of support from donors based overseas.
Prior to her role at Exeter, Kate was Director of Development at St Hugh’s College, Oxford over an eight-year period until 2014. As part of the College’s 125th Anniversary Campaign, (and the University’s Oxford Thinking Campaign), she led a small team to successfully build the alumni relations and regular giving programmes and deliver some very ambitious fundraising targets. The central goal of the Campaign was to raise the entire capital costs required to construct the Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre Building. Kate was responsible for developing and implementing the fundraising strategy, which successfully reached the fundraising target (securing the full building costs of £22m), prior to the opening of the Centre by HRH the Duke of Cambridge in September 2014. A particular achievement was working closely with the then Principal of the College, Sir Andrew Dilnot CBE, to secure a transformative gift of £10m from Hong Kong based philanthropist, Sir Dickson Poon in 2011 – the largest gift the College had ever received and a relationship which Kate managed from first meeting until the opening of the building in 2014.
Prior to her time at Oxford, Kate worked in a major gift capacity at the University of Aberdeen, during Phase II of the ambitious £150m Sixth Century Campaign.
About Philanthropy Company
Our mission is to increase philanthropic giving in the UK and beyond. We have earned a reputation for providing high quality, bespoke consultancy services in philanthropy and fundraising. From start-up development offices to multi-million pound campaigns, we help universities, schools and major institutions to create an environment in which philanthropic giving can flourish. Our full client list and some of our case studies are available on our website.
