Graham-Pelton Consulting Announces Partnership with Professor Sir Eric Thomas

LONDON, Aug. 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Graham-Pelton Consulting, Inc., a leading global fundraising and management consulting firm serving the non-profit sector, announced today that Professor Sir Eric Thomas is partnering with the firm to provide top-level strategic fundraising advice and support to University leaders around the globe.

Sir Eric is a leader in the field of academic research, teaching, and fundraising.  He is the author of the UK Government report 'Increasing Voluntary Giving to Higher Education' published in 2004.   Known as the Thomas Report, it was received as a seminal document that established the vital need for fundraising for UK Higher Education.  It also introduced the matched funding and pump priming programmes, which measurably increased gift solicitation effectiveness in the UK.  Sir Eric served as Chair of the CASE Europe Board for four years and as a Trustee for seven years as the association broadened its depth and reach.

Sir Eric said, "With great interest I have watched Graham-Pelton's arrival in Europe and ascension to a top consultancy offering comprehensive fundraising services.  I am pleased to have the opportunity to play a prominent role in counselling clients in various countries with constituencies on multiple continents."

Graham-Pelton CEO Craig Leach said, "We are absolutely delighted that Sir Eric has chosen to bring his vast and diverse experiences to Graham-Pelton in order to benefit our higher education clientele. His groundbreaking research and outstanding fundraising accomplishments will be uniquely valued by our clients." 

Most recently, Professor Sir Eric Thomas served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, a position he held since September 2001. He was awarded a Knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2013 for services to higher education.  Sir Eric previously presided at the most senior levels in the medical field, becoming Head of the School of Medicine at the University of Southampton in 1995 and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Biological Sciences in 1998. He was a consultant gynaecologist from 1987 to 2001.

From 2011 to 2013, Sir Eric was President of Universities UK, and in July 2013, was appointed as the new UK Education Champion by the Government as part of its strategy to promote the UK education sector internationally. Sir Eric also co-chairs the International Education Council alongside the Universities and Science Minister. He is a Trustee of IntoUniversity and a Lay Trustee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.  He was Chair of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) from 2003 to 2007.

About Graham-Pelton

Graham-Pelton Consulting, Inc. is a leading fundraising and non-profit management firm with offices around the globe and is the trusted advisor and partner to leading impact-driven institutions across all sectors of the non-profit world. The firm customises fundraising services to the needs of the client and the institution's culture, providing campaign management, planning studies, board training and development, major gift counsel, interim staffing, and other uniquely tailored services. The firm's UK operations are serviced by Graham-Pelton (UK) Limited (Registered in England and Wales No. 08871684 // Registered Office: 16 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AH). Learn more at Grahampelton.co.uk.

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SOURCE Graham-Pelton Consulting, Inc.