Thos week we catch up with Alex Fearon on how she moved from charity generalist work to running Maybe Later, a specialist email marketing business for charities. If you’ve ever wondered whether email is “done”, Alex makes a strong case that charities have barely scratched the surface.

We also talk about the less glamorous foundations that stabilise self-employment including revenue planning, setting realistic targets that respect seasons, keeping a tax pot, and having a monthly money date. Alex explains how she protects her energy with a four-day week, having no calls for one week each month, and planning her schedule so deep work happens when it’s easiest.

Subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations, share this with a colleague who’s curious about freelancing, and leave a review to help more charity professionals find the show.

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You can connect with Alex on LinkedIn or head to her website at maybelater.uk

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Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Retreat.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports well over 100 charity sector freelancers to replace their in house salary without working 24/7.

Magic Money Coming Soon...

5 Days to make more money in your business and confidently charge what your services are worth. Untangle your money stuff, ditch the discounting & feel financially secure as a charity sector freelancer, consultant or coach.

28 September to 2 October 2026. Register here: https://www.janecurtisevents.com/magic-money

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You can be brilliant at fundraising and still feel stuck when it comes to going self-employed. I sit down with Michelle Stein, founder of Handmade Fundraising, to unpack what it really looks like to move from senior charity roles into a thriving fundraising consultancy.

We get into the practicalities of treating business development like major gift fundraising: setting clear income targets, planning out your pipeline, and focusing on the actions you can control. Michelle talks us through how she structures her time, why she keeps a dedicated day for sales and marketing activities, and how boundaries are essential to protect your energy and income.

We delve into the messy stuff: the fear of making the leap, the impact of a toxic work environment, and the mindset shift from being subcontracted to owning your positioning. Michelle shares a handy pricing resource she wishes she had from day one, including a method for setting a day rate based on real capacity and costs. Finally, we look into AI and what it could mean for nonprofit consultants, plus some ways to future-proof your work.

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe, share it with a colleague who's considering freelancing, and leave a review to help more charity professionals find the show.

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You can connect with Michelle on LinkedIn or head to her website at handmadefundraising.com.

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Send us Fan Mail

Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Retreat.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports well over 100 charity sector freelancers to replace their in house salary without working 24/7.

Magic Money Coming Soon...

5 Days to make more money in your business and confidently charge what your services are worth. Untangle your money stuff, ditch the discounting & feel financially secure as a charity sector freelancer, consultant or coach.

28 September to 2 October 2026. Register here: https://www.janecurtisevents.com/magic-money

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We talk with Dawn Newton about moving from charity comms roles into long-term freelancing, and what it takes to build a career that fits your brain, your life, and the impact you want to make. Her move didn't just change her workload, it changed how she thinks about impact, confidence, and sustainability in the charity sector.

We explore Dawn's “teach someone to fish” approach: coaching and mentoring comms staff, helping charities tailor messages to different audiences, and using an iterative cycle of testing and learning rather than chasing perfection.

Charity Meetup networking is a big part of Dawn’s story. We unpack how facilitation and play can make meeting new people feel safer, and also what it takes to keep sector events going when venues are expensive and budgets are tight. Along the way we tackle bigger themes of scarcity mindset, why optimism matters, and how LinkedIn can be a powerful place for human storytelling, and credibility building.

Subscribe for more conversations, share with a friend in the sector, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn

Find out more about Charity Meetups

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Send us Fan Mail

Jane Curtis, founder of The Charity Freelancing Course, host of The Other Side Podcast and Co-founder of The Rich & Restored Retreat.

Jane has spent 26 years in the charity sector, is a former events fundraiser, and now supports well over 100 charity sector freelancers to replace their in house salary without working 24/7.

Magic Money Coming Soon....

5 Days to make more money in your business and confidently charge what your services are worth. Untangle your money stuff, ditch the discounting & feel financially secure as a charity sector freelancer, consultant or coach.

28 September to 2 October 2026. Register here: https://www.janecurtisevents.com/magic-money

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Website