Daniel Phelan, owner and editor-in-chief of Civil Society Media, passed away on Wednesday following a long battle with cancer. He was 58.
Daniel launched CSM, then Plaza Publishing, in 1990 and grew it into the only media, events and training company dedicated to serving the UK’s voluntary sector.
He started NGO Finance (later Charity Finance) magazine that year and was editor for its first seven years. In 1999, Phelan founded The Charity Awards, the annual UK-wide programme recognising excellence in charity management. In 2005, he launched Governance, the UK’s foremost magazine for charity trustees and shortly afterward acquired Fundraising Magazine (previously Professional Fundraising).
Until shortly before his death he was a trustee of StepChange Debt Charity (formerly the Consumer Credit Counselling Service), Britain’s largest debt counselling charity, and Alliance Publishing Trust which publishes Alliance, the global philanthropy magazine.
He died peacefully in his sleep, at his home in Clapham in South West London, on Wednesday morning. His wife Cathy was with him.
Tributes flowed in for Dan from a host of sector leaders – all of whom considered Dan a friend, not merely a business colleague. John Low, chief executive of Charities Aid Foundation, said: "We have lost a good friend and tenacious visionary who knew with a gracious certainty the value of civil society and what he could do to play his part in making it more trusted, transparent and resilient.
“He cared greatly about those for whom life opportunities were severely limited and wanted to champion the causes of those who sought to reach out to make a difference. But not only was Dan an amazing person and respected grandee of the sector while with us, he has left a legacy that will live on through the publications and work of Civil Society Media, and he would be proud."
Baroness Jill Pitkeathley said: “Daniel was an exceptional man who made an exceptional contribution to the charitable sector. He will be remembered always with respect and affection not just for setting up The Charity Awards but for making them such an important event in the sector’s year and for extending the range and diversity of those individuals and organisations taking part. It was a pleasure and a privilege to know him.”
Su Sayer, founder director of United Response, spoke of Dan’s “brilliance yet humility”.
“As a man and someone to work with, Daniel was a joy,” she said. “He always had time for you and I have never, in all my time in the sector (now over 40 years), met anyone who had anything but praise and admiration for the way that Daniel worked.
“I simply cannot speak highly enough of this gentle giant, his vision, his leadership and his passion and compassion. We will miss him terribly.”
Helen Donoghue, director of the Charity Tax Group, said: “Daniel was a great inspiration – not least because he didn’t make a fuss about what he did; he just got on with delivering consistently high-quality outputs. He was also one of the kindest and most supportive people I have ever had dealings with: he was open, fair and unfailingly encouraging to others. He will be much missed.”
Sir Nicholas Young, former chief executive of the British Red Cross, said: “Daniel Phelan was a giant of the sector - a gentle, unassuming, clever and insightful giant. He was a great champion and cheerleader for charity and social enterprise - but also a friend prepared to be critical where necessary and constructive always. It is impossible to imagine the sector today without his magazines, and The Charity Awards - we all owe Daniel an enormous debt of gratitude.”
After a private funeral for family and close friends, a memorial service will be held later in the year to celebrate Daniel’s life and his immense contribution to civil society.
Readers who knew Dan are invited to post comments at the bottom of this story for publication; private condolences for Daniel’s family can be sent to [email protected] and donations in his name can be made here.
