LarkOwl helps non profits to become more sustainable.
LarkOwl helps non profits to become more sustainable.
We see the challenges faced by charities and the difficult decisions leaders have to make on a daily basis.
We specialise in trusts, major gifts and commercial income and deliver our work through consultancy.
As well as done-for-you income generation activities, we work with charities to review their income streams and to plan for the future.
"We are confident that the direction set by Tony and Caroline gives us what we need to sustain our work over the long term. Working with them was most insightful. They were a pleasure to work with."
Exeter Historic Buildings Trust
Tony Richardson
Tony is a management consultant with experience in charities and non-profit organisations.
Prior to taking the leap into the non-profit world, he sharpened his skills in the retail, catering and hospitality sectors. In a moment of optimism he 'squeezed in' setting up a micro-brewery!
He has managed teams and is an expert in leadership and coaching. He believes that anyone can master a P&L with the right tools, an achievable budget and a supportive and nurturing environment. Tony has designed and delivered customer service training packages for multiple hospitality businesses (both for-profit and non-profit).
Tony has specific expertise in working with leadership teams to devise new strategies to help their charities become fit for the future, productive, streamlined and effective. He is experienced in developing new streams of commercial income and new businesses at new sites.
In recent years, Tony has worked with the Isle of Wight Youth Trust, the Cowdray Heritage Trust, Headway East London, Westbank, Age UK Croydon, Dillington House, Exeter Historic Buildings Trust, the Buckfastleigh Trust and the Lyme Regis Development Trust.
Prior to this, Tony spent nine years at the National Trust supporting catering businesses at properties across the South West. As well as ensuring the profitability of each of these businesses, Tony supported operational managers to produce and deliver budgets and to develop bespoke training for teams.
Tony has previously served as trustee for Hearts Together and as a volunteer for Gifted Women. He also works as a therapist at Horizon Counselling in Plymouth.
When free time permits, he puts his energies into freediving, scuba, mountain biking, climbing, coffee roasting, putting his carpentry skills to work in our house and garden and all aspects of being a Dad.
Email tony@larkowl.uk to talk through your project.
Tony
Richardson
Tony is a management consultant with experience
in charities and non-profit organisations.
Prior to taking the leap into the non-profit world, he sharpened his skills in the retail, catering and hospitality sectors. In a moment of optimism he 'squeezed in' setting up a micro-brewery!
He has managed teams and is an expert in leadership and coaching. He believes that anyone can master a P&L with the right tools, an achievable budget and a supportive and nurturing environment. Tony has designed and delivered customer service training packages for multiple hospitality businesses (both for-profit and non-profit).
Tony has specific expertise in working with leadership teams to devise new strategies to help their charities become fit for the future, productive, streamlined and effective. He is experienced in developing new streams of commercial income and new businesses at new sites.
In recent years, Tony has worked with the Isle of Wight Youth Trust, the Cowdray Heritage Trust, Headway East London, Westbank, Age UK Croydon, Dillington House, Exeter Historic Buildings Trust, the Buckfastleigh Trust and the Lyme Regis Development Trust.
Prior to this, Tony spent nine years at the National Trust supporting catering businesses at properties across the South West. As well as ensuring the profitability of each of these businesses, Tony supported operational managers to produce and deliver budgets and to develop bespoke training for teams.
Tony has previously served as trustee for Hearts Together and as a volunteer for Gifted Women. He also works as a therapist at Horizon Counselling in Plymouth.
When free time permits, he puts his energies into freediving, scuba, mountain biking, climbing, coffee roasting, putting his carpentry skills to work in our house and garden and all aspects of being a Dad.
"Tony helped us with our Business Planning (which in turn helped us to secure grants from donors who had previously turned us down). "
Bovey Tracey Paradiso Arts
Caroline
Danks
Caroline has been a fundraiser for twenty years. She is an expert in trusts and foundations, major gifts and capital appeals and has raised millions for her clients.
Caroline started her career in the homelessness sector and has since worked in large and small charities across most fundraising disciplines.
Caroline has undertaken strategic development work for Tommy's, Prisoners Abroad and Alder Hey Children's Hospital. She has delivered interim trust fundraising services for the Royal Air Forces Assocation and Devon Air Ambulance and has worked with Rowcroft Hospice, Womankind Worldwide and the Trussell Trust to grow their major donor fundraising.
In addition, Caroline writes The Nest Egg - LarkOwl's fun and informal publication for people working in the non-profit / charity space. She has developed two fundraising training courses (which have been taken by over 150 students) several workshops and has been a speaker for various events / online communities and podcasts including Fundraising Everywhere and the Bright Spot Members Club. Her writing has been featured in Fundraising Magazine.
When she's not fundraising, Caroline spends time outdoors, either at her allotment, walking the coastpath with her two year old Spaniel or swimming in the sea. She is also a trustee for Gifted Women, a charity which helps women in Plymouth to escape multiple disadvantage and move towards employment.
Caroline Danks
Caroline has been a fundraiser for nearly twenty years. She is an expert in trusts and foundations, major gifts and capital appeals and has raised millions for good causes.
Caroline started her career in the homelessness sector and has since worked in large and small charities across most fundraising disciplines.
Caroline has undertaken strategic development work for Tommy's, Prisoners Abroad and Alder Hey Children's Hospital. She has delivered interim trust fundraising services for the Royal Air Forces Assocation and Devon Air Ambulance and has worked with Rowcroft Hospice, Womankind Worldwide and the Trussell Trust to grow their major donor fundraising.
In addition, Caroline writes The Nest Egg - LarkOwl's fun and informal publication for people working in the non-profit / charity space. She has developed two fundraising training courses (which have been taken by over 150 students, several workshops and has been a speaker for various events / online communities and podcasts including Fundraising Everywhere and the Bright Spot Members Club. Her writing has been featured in Fundraising Magazine.
When she's not fundraising, Caroline spends time outdoors, either at her allotment, walking the coastpath with her two year old Spaniel or swimming in the sea. She is also a trustee for Gifted Women, a charity which helps women in Plymouth to escape multiple disadvantage and move towards employment.
"Caroline is a pleasure to work with - her calm and positive approach have been welcome during this difficult time - and I would not hesitate to recommend her"
Voices Foundation
"Caroline delivered a thoroughly researched pipeline, but more than that produced the supporting evidence to show what was realistic given our limited resources. This has been crucial both in terms of setting expectations and justifying more investment.
Not only is Caroline an excellent fundraiser but she has an extremely friendly and approachable manner - it feels like we have been friends and colleagues for years!
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Caroline to any charity looking to boost its fundraising."
Internews
"Caroline delivered a thoroughly researched pipeline, but more than that produced the supporting evidence to show what was realistic given our limited resources. This has been crucial both in terms of setting expectations and justifying more investment.
Not only is Caroline an excellent fundraiser but she has an extremely friendly and approachable manner - it feels like we have been friends and colleagues for years!
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Caroline to any charity looking to boost its fundraising."
Internews
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Looking for a dose of inspiration to help supercharge your income generation?
Sign up to receive The Nest Egg today - ideas and thoughts on raising money, big sector issues, training, personal development and (occasionally) unrelated topics including forays into nature, political rants and favourite snacks…