The Princess Project in Maidstone supports mums and their families with practical help, emotional encouragement, and a strong sense of community. Founder and CEO Emma Tanner had known about Funding for All’s Mentoring Programme for a while, but it was a chance meeting with our Charity Chief Officer, Kerry Donati, and hearing her speak passionately about the programme, that finally encouraged her to enquire.
Making space to think differently
Emma found that the mentoring process gave her something precious: time and structure to think intentionally about fundraising. Until then, fundraising had often been squeezed between the urgent demands of running a busy voluntary organisation.
Working with her mentor helped her:
- take a step back and look at the organisation’s overall fundraising strategy
- recognise areas where the team was already doing well
- identify gaps and growth opportunities
- gain practical tools to strengthen weaker areas
Life in the voluntary sector can be hectic, but her mentor was always flexible – shifting meeting times when unexpected issues arose or when preparation time just wasn’t possible.
A supportive match
Emma was paired with a mentor whose expertise closely aligned with The Princess Project’s focus. This made the sessions not only practical but deeply relevant. She valued being able to “pick the brains” of someone with significant experience in the sector, gaining objective insight into how her organisation was really performing.
Through this relationship, she left with:
- a clearer, more organised approach to managing grant applications
- fresh ideas for engaging individual donors
- greater confidence in planning and prioritising fundraising activity
A resource she would “recommend without reservation”
Emma describes the mentoring programme as a powerful resource for organisations across Kent and Medway, and one she believes many more charities could benefit from. Her advice for anyone considering applying?
“Be prepared to be open and honest. It can be uncomfortable to be vulnerable about strengths and weaknesses, but I think the more honest you are with yourself and your mentor, the easier it is to identify the areas to concentrate on in your mentoring sessions, and the more likely it is that you will come away with some clear positive outcomes for your organisation.”
Inspired by Emma’s story? Your organisation could achieve more with the right support behind you.
Discover how our Mentoring Programme can help you develop your fundraising and make an even bigger.
