Great Partnerships don't happen by chance: Why Ideal Fundraising chose to grow with Zen

There is so much more to building a fundraising business than securing campaigns.

It means finding people you can trust, building relationships that stand the test of time and knowing that, when challenges arise, there's a partner beside you who wants your business to succeed just as much as you do.

For James Bevan, Founder of Ideal Fundraising, that relationship with Zen began long before either business looked the way it does today. James' connection with Zen stretches back almost a decade. After first working with the team in 2016 during a fundraising opportunity in Australia, he stayed in touch as his career developed.

When the time came to launch Ideal Fundraising in the UK, partnering with Zen felt like a natural fit. Having experienced the organisation firsthand, he knew the two businesses shared the same approach to fundraising, placing ethics and long-term relationships at the centre of everything they do.

Since launching just over a year ago, Ideal Fundraising has grown steadily, establishing its headquarters in Plymouth before expanding into Scotland. Throughout that growth, James says having a reliable partner has given the business the confidence to focus on developing great people and delivering excellent campaigns.

"They've been very easy to work with," he says. "Zen has a great team that has produced a system that runs like clockwork."

"The organisation and consistency gives us confidence in stability and growth without ever having any issues."

Like many new businesses, there were moments during the early days when guidance and reassurance made all the difference.

"They've been open and honest throughout the relationship and helped us when needed through some of those early business challenges."

For James, that's what partnership should look like; creating an environment where businesses can grow sustainably and plan confidently for the future. Looking ahead, he's excited about what's still to come.

"The stability and organisation at Zen enables us to plan and execute growth on a much larger scale than I believe we'd achieve with other agencies."

Access to a broad portfolio of charity partners is another important part of that confidence. "They have a great portfolio of clients, so I believe no matter how much we grow, there will always be enough opportunities for us to achieve our longer-term goals."

At Zen Fundraising, that's exactly the kind of relationship we strive to build. Our Business Partnerships aren't transactional. They're built on trust, shared values and a genuine commitment to helping ambitious fundraising businesses succeed.

When our partners grow, the charities we work with benefit too. Stronger teams create better supporter experiences, deliver sustainable fundraising and help more charities continue the vital work they do every day.

Thinking about growing your fundraising business?

Whether you're taking the first step into business ownership or looking for a long-term partner to support your next stage of growth, we'd love to hear your story.

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