Spotlight On – Fi Harrison, Head of Fundraising and Communications at Birmingham Dogs Home

18^th March, 2024

Fi Harrison

Fi has been leading the fundraising and communications team at Birmingham Dogs Home for the last four years, combining her passion for both fundraising and animal welfare at this well-loved Midlands charity.

Fi has worked in various management roles in the charity sector over the years including Save the Children, Turning Point, St John Ambulance and the NSPCC as well as working as a fundraising consultant focussing on strategic income generation planning for a range of smaller charities.

Tell us a little bit about your business…

I’m very proud to work for one of the Midland’s oldest and best loved charities, serving the community, rescuing stray and abandoned dogs since 1892. We now have two centres to the North and South of Birmingham, rescuing around 2,000 homeless dogs every year, at a cost of over £3million.

How did you get into the industry?

I was lucky to get a job as a fundraiser at Save the Children as my first job after University which set me on my career pat. Although I have worked in the commercial sector in marketing roles along the way, fundraising has always been my passion and I was drawn back to working for the not for profit sector.

What are the biggest opportunities and challenges in your industry?

At the moment fundraising is really challenging because everyone is feeling the pinch with the rising costs of living and this hits donors so there has been a drop in donation levels across the third sector.

In the animal welfare sector specifically this challenge is exacerbatged because we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of stray dogs being brought into our rescue centres, reflecting tough economic times and with this our costs continue to increase.

How would you describe your leadership style?

Some “sweat equity” goes a long way, demonstrating to my team that I’m just as prepared to dig deep and roll my sleeves up to do what needs to be done when necessary, I don’t issue orders and sit back, we are in it together. I also like to think I’m a motivational leader – I’m driven and passionate and I take others on the journey with me.

How do you get the most out of the people who work for you?

I naturally employ a consultative style and like to give others the opportunity to express their views and make decisions and empower when possible. I also like to recognise and celebrate successes frequently – which leads to a supportive and enjoyable working environment.

What are the most crucial elements to your business running smoothly and being successful?

Operational procedures – we are responsible for the lives of dogs that come to us in distressing conditions, having systems and procedures in place is crucial to ensure we deliver the best possible care;
Supporting our staff – it’s an emotional and demanding environment and we need to support each other through the tough times;
Excellent internal communications especially through periods of change and development;
Keeping an eye on our “competitors” – we aim to “punch above our weight” competing with national brands whilst making the most of our local USP.

How has the past 12 months been for you?

From a fundraising point of view, we achieved our targets but it was hard work. However, we have expanded our team and invested in new product offers so it has been a positive period of development too.

What will the next 12 months look like for your business?

We are an ambitious charity, so we are always planning for new ways to improve the standards of care we provide to the dogs in our charge as well as generate more income to achieve this. We have plans for developing new services and new facilities in the pipeline and we have launched some new fundraising initiatives already this year which are proving popular. We are never idle and are always refreshing the way we work and what we can offer to all our stakeholders, supporters, adopters and service users. I am considering our brand positioning and undertaking a consultation exercise to ensure our brand continues to reflect our mission and values both for today and the future.

What are the highlights of your career so far?

I have been fortunate to travel and attend lots of fantastic sports events (when working for a TV production company in a previous life) so I have seen some amazing places and performances.

Closer to home, at Birmingham Dogs Home I was proud to deliver a successful capital build campaign in my first year to raise money for our on-site veterinary clinic. I was also proud to plan and delivery our charity’s 130^th celebrations in 2022, working with the wider team to involve as many of the staff as possible.

A memorable highlight however, that will always make me smile, is our enormous donated lime green “balloon dog” sculpture, which was kindly donated by a well-known artist. I love seeing people’s faces when they arrive at our rescue centre in Solihull and see “Buddy” playfully looming on the horizon.

What’s the biggest business mistake that you’ve learnt from?

Not trusting others to do things well enough. That’s the way to being a crazy workaholic!. I have learnt to let go and empower others and enjoy and appreciate the differences in how they deliver things.

I have also learnt to be confident in my own abilities and trust my own judgement – this comes with experience and by learning from my own mistakes and those of others along the way.