Archived press release

New Director of Fundraising, Communications and Activism at Friends of the Earth

5 July 2010

Joe Jenkins starts work today [Monday 5 July 2010] as Friends of the Earth's new Director of Fundraising, Communications and Activism.
 
The role will see Joe taking the helm of the three departments and leading the green campaigning charity's strategy to bring in new financial supporters and activists and engage the public with its campaigns for political change to protect the environment.
 
He will build on Friends of the Earth's award-winning achievements [1] by leading work to integrate its supporter offering across communications, fundraising and activism.
 
Joe joins Friends of the Earth with almost a decade of experience in the not-for-profit sector. He worked with some of the UK's largest charities as a Senior Account Manager at the award-winning telemarketing agency Pell & Bales between 2001 and 2005.
 
For the last five years Joe has been working as Head of Fundraising Strategy at the Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB). He led work on supporter insight and data management for the charity, as well as business planning and strategy and the development of new products.
 
Joe Jenkins, Director of Fundraising, Communications and Activism at Friends of the Earth, said:
 
"For almost four decades Friends of the Earth has been at the forefront of the fight for a healthy planet, winning green campaigns such as the introduction of doorstep recycling and the world's first climate law.
 
"Climate change and the destruction of the natural resources we all depend on are urgent and growing threats - and more and more people want to add their voice to calls for change.

"It's a privilege to join an organisation with such a great track record at a time when, together with our supporters, we have a real opportunity to create a safer, cleaner future for us all."

Andy Atkins, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, said:
 
"I'm really excited about working with Joe to build on Friends of the Earth's achievements by bringing new activists and donors on board to join in the fight for a healthy planet.
 
"Friends of the Earth is making real gains in our campaigns to prevent climate catastrophe and halt the destruction of our planet's natural resources - and we want even more people to know that taking political action together with us, and supporting our vital work with donations, really can make a difference.

"Joe brings exactly the right combination of vision, skills and experience needed to help us respond to the challenges and opportunities of today's world."

ENDS
 
Notes to editors:
 
1.      In 2009 Friends of the Earth, along with integrated marketing agency Unity, won the PR Week 'Best Green Campaign' award for a gig we held with Johnny Borrell in the Science Museum as part of our Big Ask campaign for a strong climate change law. In 2009 Friends of the Earth picked up the Institute of Fundraising national award for 'Best use of legacy fundraising', and in 2008 we won the silver Professional Fundraising award for 'Fundraising charity of the year'.

2.      Friends of the Earth's campaigns change the world by changing politics - to make real and lasting changes we need the Government to act on our behalf.  200,000 people came together to back our Big Ask campaign and we got a climate change law committing the UK to cut its emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. We're now campaigning for those cuts to be made in our communities, for strong global action on climate change, and to make one of the most polluting industries - meat and dairy factory farming - more planet-friendly.

3.      Friends of the Earth believes the environment is for everyone. We want a healthy planet and a good quality of life for all those who live on it. We inspire people to act together for a thriving environment. More than 90 per cent of our income comes from individuals so we rely on donations to continue our vital work. For further information visit www.foe.co.uk

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust