Paul Pindar, CEO of Capita, is the Chairman of the Corporate Partnerships Board.
This board consists of a group of directors and chief executives from across the business world who give their time for free and meet once a month to help support the work of the Corporate Partnerships team.
Why did you get involved with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity?
I was introduced to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity by the Director of Corporate Partnerships and I realised immediately what an inspiring cause this was and I wanted to do everything that I could to support the hospital and the charity.
What is your favourite event / activity that you have taken part in whilst supporting the charity?
I was lucky enough to work very closely with the Corporate Partnerships team on the recent F1 event. The board supported the team by helping sell tickets and secure prizes and then we all got to come along to the event and enjoy a fantastic party which also was the most successful event in the charity’s history, raising over £700,000!
How do you see the Corporate Partnerships Board supporting the work of the Corporate Partnerships team at the charity?
Our role is to open doors to very senior level contacts and enable the team to have the best chance possible of winning support from across the corporate world. We also are there to use our combined business experience to help develop creative fundraising ideas that will be a winning idea for both the charity but very importantly the company too – fundraising works best when the business can see real commercial benefit from a charity partnership as well as supporting their CSR objectives.
What are your personal targets for the coming year with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity?
To help raise many millions of pounds! It’s the only target that matters.
What has been the biggest challenge so far?
We have worked hard over the last six months to assemble a group of very talented and committed people to join the Corporate Partnerships Board, which was formed late in 2007. I am thrilled that we have achieved this target and we have a wonderful group of individuals who are all working incredibly hard to support the charity in any way that they can.
What is your secret fundraising tip to share?
I’ve got two: Number one – think about the donor first and foremost – if the fundraising ideas help meet their business objectives then the partnership will always be a success. Number two – never worry about rejection! If you don’t ask you won’t get!
What would you say to someone who was thinking about supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity?
Please do! Not only is it a fantastic cause that really deserves your support but it offers you an amazing opportunity to make a visible and lasting difference. You can see the outcome (be it in a new room or a vital piece of equipment) of your efforts and this is very motivating.
What is the most original / novel fundraising experience you’ve ever had?
Doing a bucket collection at Woking Town Football Club, getting torrents of abuse from the away fans and only collecting £37 for my pain!
What's the silliest thing you've ever done for charity?
Where do I start? The list is long but here are some highlights…
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being sponsored to wear a Liverpool Football shirt around the office (as a Leeds United fan)
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paying £5,000 for the privilege of not going in the Red Bull Air Race plane
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being sponsored to paint the nails of female members of my team (I did it so well I had to think long and hard about whether I should be reconsidering my career choice!)
