03/01/2025
Reflecting on an Impactful 2024
2024 was an incredibly fulfilling year. Running a successful consultancy supporting NGOs, charities, and major donors worldwide has kept us busy.
A personal highlight for John Abbey has been his fundraising efforts for Ukraine, where he has now raised over £185,300 for medical supplies, building materials, and vehicles, while additional donated items likely represent another £100,000 in value. Ensuring transparency by tracking these supplies from source to recipient has been crucial. This approach has earned the trust of foundations and major donors who continue to support John—even though the projects are totally outside their usual giving criteria. A lesson their in fundraising through passion.
Another growing area of the consultancy involves helping individuals and families navigate their philanthropy journeys. Our goal is to ensure donations make a meaningful impact by rigorously vetting projects and recipients. It’s about stepping beyond glossy websites, visiting projects in person, and ensuring that organisations truly deliver on their promises through detailed due diligence. We are thrilled to be working with Julius Baer Private Bank in Zurich, helping their clients design effective philanthropy strategies.
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Key takeaways from 2024
1. Have a strategy, but stay flexible. A solid plan is essential, but some of the best opportunities unexpectedly arise. If something feels right, trust your instincts and go for it. Don’t get tied down by what you wrote 6 months ago.
2. Don’t overthink—just act. Nike’s slogan, “Just do it,” is brilliant in its simplicity. That Dan Wieden was a clever chap. Taking the first step, however small, is often the hardest. Just remember progress comes from action, not perfection.
3. Take time to have fun. Life’s too short for all this work stuff. Having little moments of fun as often as you can simply makes sense.
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Back to Ukraine
Pictured below is Valeria, a 22-year-old volunteer medic and one of over 16,000 courageous women defending their country at the frontline. For Valeria, every day brings immense challenges. The wounded come through her field hospital constantly and above the buzz of drones are a constant deadly threat, but her courage never falters. She cannot imagine being anywhere else—as she says: “I belong with my boys” It’s a sobering reminder of the dichotomy in the world: those who run toward danger and those who run from it. Let’s hope most of us never have to make that choice.
Wishing everyone a prosperous, impactful, and joyful year ahead!
