By Lucy Marsden, BCA Fundraising Manager. Monday 3rd November 2025

6:45 a.m. — The fundraiser awakens in a cold sweat. She’s just had the classic nightmare again: the one where she forgets to attach the budget to an application. She reassures herself that she triple-checked it last night (and emailed it to herself and her dog). The kettle hums to life — her most reliable funder.

By 8:30 a.m., she’s already at her desk, opening her inbox to 37 unread emails, each containing phrases like “urgent deadline,” “updated guidance notes,” and “we regret to inform you.” She mutters, “Good morning, rejection!”

At 9:00 a.m., time to transform into a super-sleuth detective of the grants world – today is about grant applications. Armed with nothing but a half-empty coffee cup, an internet connection, and an uncanny ability to decode vague eligibility criteria, she scours the depths of the web for hidden trusts and elusive foundations. She’s followed trails colder than a January budget meeting, uncovered funders so secret they might as well be in witness protection, and solved the great mystery of “who still funds core costs?” Her magnifying glass? The Charity Commission Register. Her fingerprints? All over every “Funding Opportunities” spreadsheet in existence

At 10.30 a.m., she begins her first task: deciphering a 37-page set of application guidelines written in the sort of bureaucratic poetry that makes Kafka look straightforward. “In no more than 500 words, explain your organisation’s existential purpose, measurable outputs, and the meaning of life.” She sighs and starts typing. She’s fluent in funderese, a dialect known for phrases like “robust monitoring framework” and “holistic community empowerment.” Every sentence must sparkle with optimism while subtly screaming, please pick us, we’re so good with money. She rewrites a sentence seventeen times before realising she’s used “impactful” three times in one paragraph.

At 11:45 a.m., the boss swings by her desk, eyes gleaming with dangerous optimism. “Can we just tweak this one to make it fit a trust that only funds projects involving Wolves?” She blinks. “But… we don’t have Wolves.” “Get creative,” he says, and disappears. She opens a new Word document titled ‘Wolves: Agents of Social Change.’

Lunch is a peaceful 15-minute affair. Hope springs eternal — especially when you’ve had three coffees.

By 2:00 p.m., she’s uploading yet another budget spreadsheet. Every funder seems to want a different format: some in pounds, some in percentages, one in interpretive dance.

At 3:30 p.m., she gets a rejection email. “We received many strong applications…” it begins. She stops reading. She copies the text into her “Hall of Polite No’s” folder, sighs, and moves on. There’s no time to grieve; another deadline looms like a hungry dragon.

By 4:00 p.m., she’s rewriting a cover letter that now reads like a love poem to a foundation officer: “Your long-standing commitment to environmental resilience truly inspires us.” She means it. Sort of.

At 5.30 p.m., she finally closes her laptop. Her brain is 70% caffeine, 20% acronyms, and 10% existential dread. She’s written 4,000 words today and said “impact” 63 times.

As she pours a glass of wine, her phone buzzes. A new email: “We’re delighted to inform you your application has been successful.” She blinks, smiles, and whispers the sacred fundraiser mantra: “Worth it.” Then she toasts herself — and the Wolves.

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Lucy has been associated with BCA for many years but joined us as a staff member in early 2025.  Her Fundraising, PR and Marketing career spans 18 years having previously worked for Blythe House Hospice and Buxton International Festival.

In her spare time she enjoys exploring the stunning scenery on her doorstep with her 2 dogs.  She also loves food, cooking, and visiting the Greek Islands.