This is my favourite time of year.
I love the run-up to Christmas and the festive feeling in the air, the sparkly lights, the hot chocolates, and the excitement of getting the tree. It’s a tradition for us to buy our tree from the same place every year, and it always makes me feel festive.
But it’s also the time of year when I’m genuinely shocked at how quickly the year has gone by. It has been a whirlwind so I wanted to take a minute to share some of the highlights and challenges I've encountered as both a freelancer and assessor. Let me know which ones resonate with you, and share your own if you’d like!
Every funder is different
No two assessment processes are the same which makes assessor life interesting! While there are similarities and themes, each funder has its own approach, often as individual as the trustees on a panel. This has taught me the importance of creating my own bespoke assessment process for every new funder I work with.
Modern Grantmaking is a must read
There’s no formal qualification for assessing and not much training available, which has made me feel vulnerable at times. Modern Grantmaking by Gemma Bull and Tom Steinberg gave me the bigger picture I needed to better understand the context in which I'm working. It has made me more confident, and meeting Tom at a training course this year was a real highlight.
Putting myself out there works (even when it’s scary)
When you're freelance, literally no-one else is going to do anything for you. This includes self-promotion, finding work and making new contacts - there is no-one else to fall back on. It has taken time and effort to get used to promoting myself and what I offer but this year, more than ever, I've realised the value in it.
A chance post I made at the start of the year got me two new clients. A cold approach to a new charity got me another. If I hadn't have reached out I wouldn't have grown, and I got to help others when they needed it. It needs working at but it is so worth it.
Building the Grant Assessor network
I loved launching this in the summer and seeing it grow. It taps into my passion of creating and writing too. I've had some brilliant conversations with other assessors, and loved helping when I can. I have lots of ideas for 2026 to pave the way for freelance assessors in the charity sector and can't wait to develop this.
Freelance assessors are an invaluable resource for funders
But, there is work to be done to spread that message more widely. In a sector where there is more demand than ever for grants, where funders want impact but to spend less, and where staff are reaching burn out, freelance assessors offer a very agile and responsive way to manage those competing demands. I want to keep shouting about this and be the go-to resource for finding freelance assessors.
There is so much need
Many good causes are struggling for funding and competing for grants. I've realised how important it is to be mindful of this and to be compassionate in my approach to applicants when I'm assessing their applications. Proportionality is also key.
Communication is critical
I often prefer to write over speaking, sometimes, the thought of communicating verbally makes me want to hide. But, when I do it's always worth it. Whether it be talking to a client on a Teams call, phoning an applicant to clarify some queries or saying hello to other assessors, I always feel good afterwards and produce better work. Regular communication is fundamental to being successful as a freelance assessor.
Freelancing and charity work is my passion
It took me a long time to figure out my ideal job, but this year it’s come together more than ever. I love freelancing and the fact I get to do it every day. Helping others is also important to me so assessing gives me the balance of both. I want to keep growing in 2026!
AI is helpful but not helpful
It's definitely a love hate relationship. Sometimes I’ve worried about AI replacing my role, other times, it has been a brilliant tool for ideas and projects. I’m finding the sweet spot where it supports my work without doing it for me, which has helped with my concerns. Human oversight will always be needed.
Iterate, iterate, iterate
This has been my buzzword for 2025. My instinct used to be “do it once and move on,” but I’ve learned that continuous improvement is essential. Getting feedback from others to help with this isn't always easy but it's a very useful tool in improving my service and helping others.
I feel I have learned a lot in 2025 and am excited for what’s next. What about you, which of these points resonate? What have you learned this year? Please share your thoughts, I’d love to hear them. In the meantime, have a very Happy Christmas.
