Fundraising from Afar: The Realities of Working Remotely

A Move Away from Office Culture

Trusts and foundations fundraising is one of those jobs that requires lots of quiet time and extended periods of focus. When working in a busy London office I’d often need to take myself off somewhere quiet to concentrate when working on a funding application. So, when the pandemic forced home-working, it was perfect for me.

I was more productive, more focussed and more balanced than I’d ever been. As the museum I worked for began moving back towards office-based working I was less than enthusiastic. A position made easier by the fact that I (and my employer) knew I’d soon be leaving for a long-planned year of travel.

I said goodbye to London and the office in September 2022 and spent 12 months travelling through Asia. At the end of that trip, I was eager to continue my globe-trotting journey, but that meant I would need an income once more.

Finding Orchard Fundraising 

I’ve always enjoyed helping others and was keen to put my fundraising skills back to good use, but knew a conventional office-based role was out of the question. Many companies had talked a big game about moving to fully remote working, but in a post-pandemic reality few made the ultimate leap. Hybrid working became a new normal, but that still tied me to a location and I needed location independence. 

When I found Orchard Fundraising, I discovered an organisation that truly did things differently. Remote working is the default at Orchard, and my desire to work flexible hours was not only accepted, but encouraged. I was also drawn to Orchard’s model of working with people based all over the UK, which brings a real wealth of diversity, perspective and experience to the organisation.

I spoke about my plans to work and travel from the outset and was met with support. Within a month of starting work as a Bid Writer for Orchard Fundraising I was on a flight to South America.

Working on the Road

I already knew I could work well from home. Working remotely, from another country, constantly on the move, was another challenge entirely. But one that I relished. Juggling work and travel was more tiring than I’d imagined at first. Finding the space and time to focus wasn’t easy between long bus journeys and the excitement of discovering new destinations. But, my time working in buzzing offices had equipped me with the ability to switch off to the chaos surrounding me and concentrate on the task at hand. 

My travels themselves also served me well. I was pushed far out of my comfort zone and needed to be flexible, adaptable and find ways to get by in another culture and another language. I became more agile in my approach to work, saw opportunities where I previously had not, used time more efficiently. A three-hour wait in an airport was a prime work opportunity; a five-hour train ride was not wasted time, but a chance to focus on the latest project. Evenings that I had previously whiled away on Netflix were utilised more effectively so I could spend my days exploring. It was exhausting but worth it.

After a few months of this fast-paced lifestyle, I felt the need to slow down. I began spending more time in one place. Finding a quiet spot and decent WiFi connection became a daily routine. Communities, co-working spaces and cafes were my salvation, providing the infrastructure and connections previously found in the office.

As I am afforded the luxury of flexible hours, the time difference does not cause a headache — there is always enough crossover to find a time for a video call. I have met many remote workers on the road who are forced to work to their home country’s time zone, even if there is a 12-hour difference. At these times, I am more thankful than ever for Orchard Fundraising’s philosophy of remote and flexible working.

Finding Balance

The beauty of this mindset (and I’ve never understood why more organizations don’t understand this better), is that allowing workers more freedom makes them more productive, not less! Enabling workers to create a good work-life balance makes them happier and more fulfilled outside of work, which means they are more likely to be happier and more focussed in work, benefitting all involved. 

This is the case for me at least. My fundraising work is challenging and rewarding. And my job allows me to lead a challenging but rewarding lifestyle while also knowing that I am making a real difference for so many people and charities back home.

As the appeal of a digital nomad lifestyle grows, so too do the communities and facilities, the available spaces, and the normality of pitching up in a coffee shop and silently tapping away on your laptop. I’ve been working and travelling full time for two years and counting. I switch between fast-paced travel — exploring a handful of new countries in a few months — and slow travel, where I’ll spend a couple of months in one destination. Each has its ups and downs. But, even during the lows, it’s worth it. 

I can’t see me changing my lifestyle any time soon, and I expect more and more workers will seek to follow a remote-working path — something I’d encourage anyone considering to pursue! After all, a bad day in Bali is always better than a good day in the office.

If you are interested in becoming a Bid Writer for Orchard Fundraising, email Sam at samantha@orchardfundraising.co.uk.