Mentoring

'Evolve' is our annual year-long professional development programme, featuring a flagship mentoring scheme.

Overview

The free Evolve Programme aims to equip early-career arts fundraisers with the advice, networks and peer support that they need to succeed. Our aim is to help foster a resilient workforce equipped with the tools they need to build a strong and thriving sector for years to come.

Funded by Arts Council England, Evolve is delivered in partnership with Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s Cultural Sector Network and RAISE: Arts, Culture and Heritage programme.

Participants #YAF

Past mentors have included senior fundraisers from organisations such as the Barbican Centre, the British Library, Plymouth Music, Royal Opera House, National Theatre, The Lowry and the Science Museum. Meet some of our current Evolve mentees below:

Rosie Gitsham

I feel like my mentor really cares about my career development and really wants to help me make progress. She has been really generous in sharing her experiences and resources and her honesty has helped me make important decisions.

Sarah Jones

Being part of the YAF mentoring programme has made a huge difference to my career as a fundraiser. Having the support and advice of an experienced venue fundraiser has developed my confidence and given me a sense of direction within my career.

Testimonials #YAF

The YAF and RAISE Mentoring Scheme is a fantastic opportunity to improve and extend my fundraising skills, by receiving dedicated support from people who are very good at it. I've learned so much, so far!

I feel so much more confident and driven because of the support of my mentor, and much clearer on what I want from my fundraising career. I'd recommend the scheme to anyone!

Being part of the YAF mentoring programme has made a huge difference to my career as a fundraiser. Having the support and advice of an experienced venue fundraiser has developed my confidence and given me a sense of direction within my career.

I feel like my mentor really cares about my career development and really wants to help me make progress. She has been really generous in sharing her experiences and resources and her honesty has helped me make important decisions.

As part of the programme, participants benefit from:

Mentoring: being matched with a senior development professional from across England’s arts and cultural sector for six 1-2-1 mentoring sessions
Peer-to-peer support: you will be paired with another participant on the programme as ‘buddies’ to build long-term mutually supportive relationships amongst peers
Learning and networking opportunities: we will run six sessions amongst the cohort, using action learning and coaching methodologies
Speed mentoring opportunities throughout the year
Support as a programme alumni benefiting from networking and speaking / blog-writing opportunities at YAF

Application Materials

Applications for Evolve 2022-23 closed in June 2022. Stay tuned for news on upcoming openings soon.

Application Document
Apply directly here
More material
Check out events near you to hear more

What is it like to be a mentee on the programme?

If you are curious what it is like to be part of the mentoring programme, have a listen to our interview with one of our past mentees and a current member on the Young Arts Fundraisers committee, Rosie Gitsham. Rosie is an early-career fundraiser, and we asked her to share her experience of being part of the mentoring programme and about the impact that taking part in the scheme had on her career.

Listen to Rosie’s interview here

If you have any questions about the mentoring programme, please get in touch on mentoring@youngartsfundraisers.org