194. Why Giving Days Keep on Giving, with Mel Bushell

194. Why Giving Days Keep on Giving, with Mel Bushell

From Fundraising Bright Spots by Rob Woods, Bright Spot

April 9, 2026 · 28 min · Episode 194

About this episode

Mel Bushell discusses the effectiveness of Giving Days and strategies for enhancing them.

If you've ever wondered whether a Giving Day might work for your organisation — or how to make an existing one even better — this is the episode for you. Mel Bushell is Director of Development at Winchester College and a hugely experienced fundraising leader. She has found Giving Days incredibly effective. This rich and practical conversation explores: the recipe behind what was at the time the most successful school Giving Day ever run in the UK; the lasting fundraising benefits that a well-run Giving Day creates long after the event is over; how to approach match funding and make it work hard for you; smart ways to keep your Giving Day feeling fresh and engaging; and how the process can be a wonderful opportunity to deepen relationships within your charity and across your community. We'd love to know what you think! And thank you so much for supporting the show, e.g. by sharing it with colleagues or on social media. We are both on LinkedIn.

People in this episode

Host: Rob Woods

Guest: Mel Bushell

Topics covered

  • Giving Days
  • fundraising
  • community engagement
  • match funding
  • charity relationships

Keywords

  • Giving Day
  • fundraising leader
  • Winchester College
  • match funding
  • charity relationships
  • community engagement
  • successful fundraising

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Winchester College

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