Are you ready to take your fundraising to the next level?

About Freeman Fundraising

Matt Freeman is a consultant with over 20 years’ experience in the arts sector. Prior to Freeman Fundraising he was Director of Development at Birmingham Royal Ballet, where he led a step change in fundraising, securing multi-million pound investment into new work and talent development, and doubling the organisation’s fundraised income. He has extensive experience in major gifts, campaign delivery, prospect research, corporate partnerships, bid writing and international fundraising. He has been a senior fundraiser at organisations including Royal Shakespeare Company (UK and USA), Southbank Centre, Leeds College of Music and Manchester Camerata and for numerous multi-million pound capital campaigns.

Clients

Factory Trust -

2Faced Dance -

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields -

Manchester Collective -

Birmingham REP -

Meadow Arts -

Back To Ours -

Hear Me Out -

Rose Bruford College -

One Tenth Human -

Fairbeats - The Hive -

ACE Dance and Music -

Factory Trust - 2Faced Dance - The Academy of St Martin in the Fields - Manchester Collective - Birmingham REP - Meadow Arts - Back To Ours - Hear Me Out - Rose Bruford College - One Tenth Human - Fairbeats - The Hive - ACE Dance and Music -

Matt's insight and support was invaluable as he helped us shape the team and its activities to realise fundraising potential.  He actively worked across all areas of giving: individual, corporate and trusts and foundations, holding events, writing applications, identifying and pursuing leads, always with consummate professionalism.

Rachael Thomas - Chief Executive, The Birmingham Rep

I so enjoying working with Matt. Matt supported us with prospect research and in-depth prospect engagement plans. He brought a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and energy to our team whilst delivering top quality work promptly. He's a great communicator with integrity in spades. If you want to light a fire under your fundraising, work with Matt.

Frankie Spickernell – Factory Trust, Manchester

Having previously joined group fundraising sessions, I invested in a 1:1 mentoring session with Matt Freeman, which was hugely beneficial. He helped to fill some knowledge gaps (eg social investment schemes) and covered all the bases comprehensively. Boosting my confidence without it feeling overwhelming. I felt that Matt had great knowledge across the full spectrum of fundraising tools and insights and it was great to get a full low-down in one comprehensive session, with accompanying notes. I have already recommended him to peers in the sector.

Clare Purcell - Executive Director, Meadow Arts

Services

  • Prospecting

    Whether you are a small rural arts organisation or an international juggernaut, prospecting is a vital component to uplifting current donors and securing new support. Services on offer include database screening, contact mapping and prospect engagement planning.

  • Campaigns

    Are you about to celebrate a milestone for your organisation or is there a project you need funding for but are stumped as to where to find the support? Across Matt’s career he has delivered a vast array of campaigns and worked on some of the biggest capital campaigns in the UK arts sector. Services on offer include campaign planning and delivery.

  • Strategic reviews

    Does your organisation need a strategic refresh or a new sense of direction for its fundraising? With a wealth of experience in this area, services include the creation of multi-year, project specific, and income stream specific strategies - including but not limited to individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships. digital fundraising and Trusts and Foundations.

  • Application writing

    Matt has an outstanding record in Trust and Foundations. At Birmingham Royal Ballet he secured a £2.3m grant towards new work and its BRB2 company, and several other six figure gifts. He was a major contributor to its £8m ACE National Portfolio Organisation bid and also secured one of the Weston Culture Fund’s largest 2021 grants. Services on offer include Trust and Foundation bid writing, strategy writing and portfolio creation.

  • Training and mentoring

    Matt has over a decade’s experience in managing and leading teams, mentoring and delivering training. Services on offer include training on how to ‘make the ask’, how to craft the best possible Trusts and Foundations application and how to pitch to corporates. Additional services include the delivery of board away days and flexible mentoring.

  • Corporate Partnerships

    Are you underselling you corporate offer? Matt has significant experience in structuring corporate partnerships and working with international sponsors. Services on offer include a comprehensive valuation of sponsorable assets, prospecting and the creation of bespoke Sponsorship Decs.