Mike Britton is a fundraising consultant specialising in assisting environmental and community based groups. He is a member of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand and is working across all the major fundraising channels. He has worked with BirdLife International, the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust and the Environmental Defence Society as a fundraising consultant.
Prior to becoming a fundraising professional he was a senior conservation and resource manager with wide experience in both Government and the NGO sectors. Previously he was the Chief Executive of New Zealand’s largest community based conservation NGO, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society. During his eight and half year tenure he oversaw many conservation achievements and led the drive towards a stronger organisation with a more professionally run staff structure. Income rose from $2.8 million to $6.1 million, staff doubled to more than 40 and membership rose, reversing a long-term trend. It was overseeing the development of fundraising in Forest & Bird and the communication and marketing strategies that helped drive it, that drove his interest in fundraising for not-for-profits.
In an increasingly competitive environment, with more and more being pushed onto the voluntary sector, fundraising is essential for any voluntary or not for profit organisation to survive an prosper. Taking advantage of the `low hanging fruit’ available to any organisation and then growing the fundraising opportunities and channels to meet the needs is all part of the development of a fundraising and communications strategy.
Identifying these opportunities and developing them in a cost effective way is where Mike and Pelorus Jack Consultants can help.
Mike can also provide advocacy and volunteer support. As a conservation leader, Mike has championed collaboration with Iwi on environmental issues, including Treaty of Waitangi settlements. He is Deputy Chair of the Tongariro Taupo Conservation Board.
Mike was previously a member of the Global Council of BirdLife International and has a wide range of other government and associated experience including working as Executive Assistant to former Ministers of Conservation.