Emma joined Claire House in 2016 with a strong background in community, events and corporate fundraising for well-known charities in the UK and overseas. In 2020, she became responsible for legacy fundraising at the charity. As a newer area for her, Emma was keen to build her knowledge to ensure she was delivering the best possible stewardship for supporters choosing to leave a gift in their will.
The Crispin Ellison Bursary gave Emma access to structured, accredited learning through the Certificate in Charity Legacy Administration. More importantly, it gave her confidence. Being awarded the bursary felt like recognition of both her potential and the importance of legacy fundraising at Claire House. It also reassured her organisation that investing time and resource into legacy development would bring long term benefits.
The training supported by the bursary had an immediate practical impact. Emma was able to apply what she was learning directly to live legacy cases, strengthening internal processes and improving her understanding of the technical and legal aspects of legacy administration. This increased confidence meant she could provide clearer guidance to colleagues and reassurance to supporters, ensuring that legacies were handled with care, accuracy and professionalism.
Beyond technical skills, the bursary connected Emma to the wider legacy sector. Through the course and associated networks, she gained access to peers, mentors and sector expertise that would otherwise have been difficult to reach as a sole fundraiser. This sense of belonging and shared learning helped Emma feel supported and encouraged her to continue developing her career in legacy fundraising.
The impact of the Crispin Ellison Bursary extended beyond Emma herself. Claire House benefitted from stronger internal knowledge, improved legacy processes and a more confident approach to long term income planning. The organisation is now better equipped to steward legacy supporters and maximise the value of gifts left to support future generations of children and families.
Reflecting on her experience, Emma describes the bursary as transformational. It enabled her to grow professionally, strengthened her organisation’s legacy capability and reinforced the value of investing in people at the early stages of their legacy careers. Her experience demonstrates how the Crispin Ellison Bursary can have a lasting impact, not just on individual fundraisers, but on the charities and supporters they serve.
Emma, concludes: “The Crispin Ellison Bursary gave me the confidence and credibility I needed to develop my legacy knowledge properly. It allowed me to build my skills, feel supported as a sole fundraiser and approach my role with much greater confidence. The impact has been lasting, both for my own career and for the organisation.”
Inspired by Emma’s story? Take the next step in your own legacy career.
Applications for the Crispin Ellison Bursary Award are now open and must be submitted via the Legacy Giving Awards platform by 26 January 2026.
If you’re ready to invest in your development, build your confidence and strengthen your charities legacy work, now is the time to apply.
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