A fellowship has been set up in memory of late fundraising sector figure Mark Astarita, with an aim to encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in the charity sector.
Astarita’s former search and consultancy practice AAW launched the Mark Astarita Fellowship on Friday in memory of the fundraiser, who passed away suddenly in April this year aged 64.
The fellowship is targeted at people who face “seen and unseen’’ barriers when entering the charity sector, and will offer support to them to pursue careers in fundraising.
It will be delivered by AAW and its partner Charityworks, which provides development programmes for aspirant voluntary sector leaders.
AAW was joined by Charityworks and over 100 sector leaders, consultancies and agencies for the fellowship’s launch event on 13 September.
Astarita a ‘champion of diversity’
Shortly before Astarita passed away, the EY Foundation published a report calling for action to increase the representation of people from low-income backgrounds in the charity sector.
This report, along with Astarita’s passing, were the main inspirations for the fellowship, according to AAW.
Astarita, who hailed from a working-class background himself and whose roles in the sector included being director of fundraising for the British Red Cross and chair of the CIoF, was reportedly a “champion of diversity” according to AAW.
The fellowship will also provide ILM certified leadership training and support to fellows. Charityworks will lead the programme with its implementing partners.
The aim is to raise £100,000 to support 20 fellows in 2024-25 and a further 20 in 2025-26.
The fund has already raised over £50,000 from its founding partners AAW, Appco, Britevox, Acwyre and CFP, which have all donated £10,000 each to the fund.
Fellowship to ‘accelerate much needed diversity and inclusion’
Imogen Ward, co-founder of AAW and Astarita’s former colleague, said: “Mark was always thinking ahead.
“So whilst he would be delighted that many of his friends and contacts were here tonight raising a glass or two in his memory, the thing that would excite him the most would be the potential to leverage his legacy to do something extraordinary.
“The Mark Astarita Fellowship will accelerate much needed diversity and inclusion in the fundraising profession and we are excited to be working with Charityworks to help achieve this.
“We hope that fundraising professionals across the sector will be inspired to donate to the fellowship and to get involved with this positive step for change.”
