Andy Lee
Trusts and foundations manager
Royal Mencap Society
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
First year at university away from narrow-minded catholic upbringing was transformational.
Studying English in San Diego / LA, I encountered diverse groups of people, experiences, perspectives.
Post-graduation panic: a pointless unpaid internship, then a well-paid but dead-end admin job.
Plan B: Study civil engineering, the least-bad / best alternative that I was aware of at the time.
Moving to London on a study abroad year.
Staying in London to finish my second bachelors. Travelling the world.
Working in London. Travelling the world.
Changing career in London. Travelling the world.
Education
High School
Career
Trusts and foundations manager
I write grant applications for a learning-disability charity.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Writing
Non-Profit Organizations
Communicating / Sharing Stories
Day to Day
Catching up on political & social policy news. Researching potential donors & formulating strategies for engaging them to support the charity's cause. Database analysis, analysing the value of applications submitted, applications rejected, donations received, forecasting prospect values over the next month, three months, and six months. Unpicking the components of projects being delivered on the ground, writing proposals, letters & applications. Drinking coffee. Eating cake. Studying economics.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for professionals
I fell into this mostly by accident. But that doesn't help, so probably: Make a realistic appraisal of your skills and experience so far and how you can apply / transfer them to the new area. Be brutally honest with yourself, especially with your shortcomings, to be able to assess what are the actual steps you need to take. Know the limits you're trying to breach-and all that guff.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"Everything everyone else has heard too."
