Square Pegs Consulting

17/08/2026

“I don't want to ask my friends for money.”

Ahhh, boards and fundraising... 😬

I've worked with board members who'll happily roll up their sleeves and help, right through to those who would rather chew off their own arm than ask their best friend for a donation.

And I don't actually blame them.

Because perhaps the problem isn't always that boards won't fundraise. Sometimes we haven't done a particularly good job of showing them what fundraising can look like.

That's what I'm exploring in Case File #2 of The Unsexy Files, including what happened when we took a different approach with the WestWords board.

Four of the top five Booktober fundraisers in 2025 were board members, so something clearly clicked!

Have a read and let me know if you've encountered the dreaded “I don't want to ask my friends for money” too.

👇 Case File #2

“I don't want to ask my friends for money.” I've heard some version of this more times than I can count.

24/07/2026

Confession time...

I've wanted to write this series for ages.

It's called The Unsexy Files, and it's a collection of observations from the fundraising frontline. Some are based on things I've learnt over twenty years, others on conversations I've had with clients, boards and donors.

Case File #1 begins with a sentence that will probably get a raised eyebrow....

"Nobody wakes up wanting to donate to a literary development organisation."

Bear with me...

It's really about why some extraordinary organisations struggle to be seen and why I think storytelling matters far more than clever slogans.

If that sounds like your cup of tea (or wine... I'm not judging), I'd love you to have a read.

If there's a fundraising challenge you'd love me to unpack in a future case file, leave a comment or send me a message. You might just inspire the next edition.

Nobody wakes up wanting to donate to a literary development organisation. Or a disability advocacy organisation.

15/07/2026

A little milestone I'd love to share...

I've just had an opinion piece published by Fundraising & Philanthropy magazine.

It's called 'Why your story matters when you're not a household name', and it's really about the organisations I've spent much of my career working alongside.

The smaller charities. The community organisations. The arts groups. The causes that don't always have the biggest budgets, the loudest voices or the easiest stories to tell.

I honestly believe some of the best fundraising happens in these organisations. Not because they have more resources (they definitely don't!), but because they're powered by passionate people who refuse to give up.

The article explores why storytelling matters, why boards shouldn't be scared of fundraising, and why I think a receipt is definitely not a relationship.

A huge thank you to Fiona Atkinson and the team at Fundraising & Philanthropy for giving me the opportunity to share a few thoughts.

The article sits behind F&P's paywall, but if you haven't tried their free 21-day trial, it's a great way to read this article and explore the other fantastic fundraising resources they publish.

I'd love to hear what resonates with you.

Discover why strong storytelling, donor trust and community connection help small charities raise more, even without big brands or budgets.

21/06/2026

One NZ Warriors + heritage hotel The Provincial Hotel Ballarat
Always happy when I get to watch my boys! Bonus when a hotel has Kayo Sports 😁
And with a lounge this huge there's plenty of room for a celebration dance... 🤞🤞