Episode 17:From fundraiser to freelancer with Bethany Helliwell-Smith
From Fundraiser to Freelancer: Surviving Burnout and Building Your Business
Have you ever quietly wondered: Could I go freelance?
For many fundraisers, freelancing can feel like the risky option. But what if stepping outside the org chart could actually bring more security, control and a more sustainable relationship with your work?
In this episode of Raise, Christine Neubeiser and Sian Wilkinson-Iles are joined by Bethany Helliwell-Smith, founder of Awen Coaching, to talk about her journey from in-house fundraiser to coach, facilitator and business owner.
After a career spanning telephone fundraising, Individual Giving, Major Gifts and Legacies, Bethany experienced burnout, furlough and three redundancies before the age of 30. But she hadn't fallen out of love with fundraising or the charity sector, she needed to find a different way to work within it.
We talk about the identity shift that comes with leaving the org chart, why the skills that make a great fundraiser can also make a great business owner, what you need to unlearn when you go freelance, and how to build a sustainable business without recreating the burnout you left behind.
And for anyone thinking about making the leap, Bethany has one particularly important message: Don't just recreate your employed life without the regular salary.
If you're considering freelancing, already building your own business, or simply wondering what else your fundraising career could look like, this episode is for you.
Find out more about Bethany and her work, including Freelancers for Good™, at awencoaching.co.uk
Drink: BYOB
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