member profiles
Francesca Zagni
Name: FRANCESCA ZAGNI
Position: INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT
Company: DR FRANCESCA ZAGNI
e-mail: francesca.zagni@fastwebnet.it
Web: -
FACT FILE | |
Main business areas: Fundraising and Management Consultancy. Training Courses in Fundraising and Social Marketing. | Date business started: 2002 |
Number of consultancy staff: 1 (cooperating with a number of associates throughout Italy, working with an assistant, and also working closely with the staff teams of client organisations) | Countries of operation: Ital |
THE BUSINESS
What range of clients do you serve?
I mainly work with institutions in the health sector, educational institutions, including a number of universities, children’s charities, development and other NGOs.
How has your business evolved since it was started?
It has evolved very successfully, particularly in respect of my collaboration with a number of university training courses, and also my management and fundraising consultancy activities. My consultancy work is supported by my network of associates based around Italy.
Where will your consultancy be in a few years time?
I would like to devote more time to training, which is becoming increasingly important in my work.
Which opportunities and threats do you see for your work in the sector and for the development of NPOs?
There are many opportunities for consulting in the third sector in Italy, especially as the number of NPOs is increasing steadily. A particular opportunity for NPOs is the special legislation “5 per Thousand” which was introduced by the last government. This allows donors to nominate a social institution when completing their tax return, so that 5 euro in every 1,000 paid in tax goes to the nominated institution. I have been able to offer advice to a number of NPOs on this, so that they are more successful in reaching donors and being included as a nominated institution.
On the other hand, an increase in short-term labour contracts (both in the for-profit and non-profit sectors) has added to the sense of uncertainty in the country, which is going through a difficult social and economic period right now. This in turn affects the willingness to give.
Can you recommend any sources of information that you find useful in your business:
A good national newspaper is “Vita”.
And a good financial publication with a special insert on the third sector is “Il Sole 24 Ore”.
EUCONSULT MEMBERSHIP
Why did you join EUConsult?
The most important thing for me was that I wanted to feel part of a group of colleagues with a similar level of experience and involved in the same professional field. I wanted to have the opportunity to share experiences and work with EUConsult members. Being a member of EUConsult also helped and inspired me in writing the Code of Ethics for ASSIF, the Association of Italian Fundraisers.
With which other EUConsult members have you found the opportunity to cooperate on projects?
I have invited a number of EUConsult members to work with me in my training activities.
BACKGROUND INFO
Where and what did you study?
I studied modern languages at the University of Naples. I took the opportunity to deepen my knowledge with study visits to a variety of European cities, including courses in both Cambridge and Oxford. I then went on to study management.
How did you first get involved in NPO consultancy?
I worked as Secretary General of Amnesty International in Italy for 10 years. Through the organisation’s International Secretariat in London I got involved in international training courses in countries such as Poland and Russia, as well as a number of countries in South America. I then started to contribute to the work of Amnesty’s International Committee for Fundraising and Management. When I left Amnesty, I received a number of calls from universities and other institutions asking for advice. I decided to launch my own consultancy business, as I was keen to work with serious and dedicated people, who would be able to follow through and take over the work themselves.
What interests you most about staying in the field?
The idea of passing on the experience I have to others. I have a lot of experience in management, and good management is the fundamental basis for running any organisation. For example, you cannot fundraise if the organisation is not managed properly
What do you do to relax and forget your consultancy work? I adore walking, reading, travelling and music.
