Rosie HopkinsThe GIVE.asia team consists of a group of talented individuals with varied backgrounds across multiple industries. Often, they work at GIVE.asia in a voluntary capacity and maintain full-time jobs at the same time. In our Meet the Team series, we introduce members of our team and today we talk to Theo. Here he shares about who he is, what he does, and why.
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us today Theo. Can you share with us a little bit about who you are and what you do at GIVE.asia?
Hi there! I’m Theo, a Charity Fundraising Consultant (and Direct Response Copywriter) at GIVE.asia.
What does a typical work day look like to you?
I usually spend most of the time writing and editing campaigns, working together with my colleagues to help charities in their fundraising campaign strategy and also brainstorming to come up with more compelling angles.
Why do you work at GIVE.asia?
I think most copywriters would be happy to do work in the advertising field, but I get a lot of satisfaction writing and editing fundraising campaigns for charities and those in need. My first taste in fundraising was actually in 2010, for the Charity Bike ‘n’ Blade event for St Luke’s ElderCare. It was also the first time I heard of GIVE.asia (known as GIVE.sg back then), and I felt that its goal and mission was going to be very great and helpful avenue for those who really needed help. It’s also been a huge pleasure working with a very giving team of amazing people!
Tell us a fun fact about you
I like (or need to?) to tinker and modify things to improve them, usually with my bicycle(s) and large-scale radio-controlled trucks. You could say this “need” has carried itself into my work writing and editing fundraising campaigns to improve their performance.
Who inspires you the most?
My mother and late father. The fact that they’ve never quarrelled inspires me to be the same with my own wife. They’ve also been the most giving and sacrificial people I know. Work-wise, you could say that direct response folks like Drayton Bird, Brian Kurtz, and Ben Settle have been hugely inspiring for the work I do. I hope to meet their quality of work one day!
How do you wind down after a busy day?
I sit down to enjoy dinner with my family, read a book, or play with my R/C trucks (if it’s not too late), or enjoy a few rounds of MechWarrior Online.
What’s your favourite book?
Wow, I actually have too many to list! But I think I’ll go with one of Frank Miller’s graphic novels for this one… his 1986 The Dark Knight Returns! The art isn’t what you’re normally used to seeing, but the superb story really is just legendary. This also taught me that having a good storyline is better than having good art. I like reading different books (ranging from comics to business and marketing) because they help me to generate ideas that can then apply to fundraising.
What cause resonates with you the most?
Children, single parents, and the elderly. To me, they are probably amongst the most vulnerable in society, often receive little to no help, or are simply overlooked by many.
To learn more about GIVE.asia, or make a donation to one of our fundraising campaigns you can click here. We believe that giving occurs through more than just donating money, and if you would like to give your time or expertise by joining the GIVE.asia team, click here.
Rosie Hopkins
Jelita Kinnear