Ali James

Philanthropy consultant

Ali spent a decade in marketing and communications, before moving across to fundraising and related activities in 2003. She spent 12 years at the University of Oxford, building one college office from scratch, and then re-establishing another college’s development and engagement function.

She was head-hunted in 2015 to be the in-house consultant for a specialist fundraising company, and since 2018, she has been an independent consultant, working with a portfolio of clients on a mixture of strategic & operational philanthropy-driven projects. These have often involved the management of effective donor stewardship, and the building of meaningful and tailored relationships with high-net worth individuals. She has also taken on advisory roles, and delivered training, workshops, and interim cover across the not-for-profit sector.

Away from her consultancy work, Ali teaches yoga and also volunteers for the National Garden Scheme, managing the annual openings of a group of gardens in The Cotswolds for the Charity. 

She has a degree in art history.