Our Vision

To create peak performance leaders in fundraising

Peak performance is a state in which the person or organisation performs to the maximum of their ability, characterised by subjective feelings of confidence, effortlessness and total concentration on the task.

Our Values

motion | optimisation | intensity
We eat elephants for breakfast!

quality | generosity | bespoke
We care about outcomes not outputs

thoroughness | flexibility | resilience
We are prepared for the journey

How We Work

The Barrer & Co approach is strategic, innovative, with long-range thinking.
Our model is based on developing effective and mutually beneficial relationships based on shared values, resulting in long term partnerships that can grow and develop long after we exit. Relationship management and engagement is our priority and we are proud of the knowledge we are able to contribute and the confidence we create for our clients.

Who We Work With

We feel privileged to have worked with over 150 not-for-profits from all around New Zealand, small and large.

We work with not-for-profit clients across a wide range of causes, including health and disability, social services, primary, secondary and tertiary education, heritage, museums, environment, arts, youth development, sports, religion, animals, and wellbeing.

You can hear directly from organisations who have worked with us here.

The Team

Our specialist team is here to help with all your fundraising needs.
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Sarah Barrer

Founder and Managing DIrector

Sarah Barrer - Founder and Managing Director

With 15 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, and having consulted to over 150 not-for-profit Boards, Sarah has not just deep knowledge of best-practice fundraising, but the skillset to back it up. Her consulting experience has had her working with clients from throughout Aotearoa and internationally. Sarah’s expertise takes her from working side-by-side with fundraisers, to engaging with donors, to advising Chief Executives, to coaching Board Members.

What sets Sarah apart is not just the breadth of her experience, or the unique insights she brings to each charity she works with, but the depth of her knowledge about fundraising as a practice – a traditionally under-resourced, undervalued, and misunderstood skillset. She understands the fundraising and donor cycle of not-for-profits, and advocates for considered analysis, deeper donor relationships, and meaningful stewardship. Rather than parachuting in just to solve problems, Sarah has built sustainability into her business model at Barrer & Co; she is committed to sharing her knowledge by mentoring new fundraisers to create peak performance leaders.

Since its inception, Barrer & Co has directly raised more than $35 million to support incredible causes; in addition this, our clients have successfully secured much more through the implementation of our fundraising strategies.

Specialist Areas:

  • Organisation analysis
  • Strategy
  • Governance consulting
  • Major donor management
  • Mentoring
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Jemma Balmer

General Manager

Jemma Balmer - General Manager

Jemma has worked in communications and fundraising for the last nine years. Her passion for not-for-profits led her from PR agency Glass Tower to GirlGuiding New Zealand. After supporting the Girl-Led Strategy implementation, she moved to Ronald McDonald House South Island in 2016. A five-year stint saw her gain skills in community and corporate fundraising, major donor and bequest work, grant applications, regular giving, as well as writing and executing on fundraising strategy. In her time there, she was promoted to Fundraising Manager; implemented a new and highly successful donor stewardship programme, and worked closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees to lead the Capital Campaign for the Ronald McDonald Family Room, Christchurch Hospital.

Jemma is passionate about donor stewardship, and making sure that those who are already engaged with good causes are aware of the incredible work that they enable. She understands the importance of diversifying funding streams to find sustainable ways of growing organisations. Jemma gets great joy out of communicating impact and storytelling.

Jemma is a conscientious team player who takes the initiative. Her unique skillset, inquisitive contributions and determined passion for this sector will ensure our clients are both well-prepared and well-resourced, in order to meet the needs of their communities.

Alongside her mahi with Barrer & Co, Jemma is a coach with Akimbo workshops and a Trustee with Bowel Cancer New Zealand.

Specialist areas:

  • Donor-centric communications
  • Campaign management
  • Donor stewardship
  • Bequests
  • Partnerships/sponsorship
  • Relationship management
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Emily Trevail

Senior Fundraising Consultant

Emily Trevail – Senior Fundraising Consultant

Emily has been involved in the non-profit sector since 2016 after volunteering with the international disaster response organisation All Hands and Hearts. Since then, she has gained experience in a variety of fundraising and strategic development roles within health, research and international disaster relief organisations in the UK, Mexico and Philippines. Most recently, Emily has been a Grants Advisor at Rātā Foundation, providing her with an insight into the Community and Philanthropic sectors of New Zealand.

Through her roles, Emily has gained extensive knowledge across the fundraising sector from the perspectives of both community organisations to major grant funders. She has a passion for supporting others and this, coupled with her competitive nature, means that Emily strives to enable others achieve their best.

Emily's positive outlook and desire to develop genuine relationships with individuals and communities will enable her to walk alongside organisations, motivated by watching them learn and grow, dedicated to supporting each and every client in a way that suits them.

Specialist areas:

  • Trust and foundation grants
  • Bequests
  • Feasibility studies
  • Strategy development
  • Community fundraising
  • Campaign management
Josie Frost

Josie Frost

Fundraising Consultant

Josie Frost - Fundraising Consultant

Josie brings five years of fundraising experience in the UK, coupled with five years in the New Zealand corporate world. Josie recently led a marketing and communications team for Lone Star Cafe & Bar franchise group and brings a fresh skill set of business acumen and digital marketing to the Barrer & Co team.

Her time in the UK included working at several high profile fundraising creative agencies. There, she learnt the difference between donor copy that sings and copy that sinks. Josie also developed a go-to toolkit for tricks of the fundraising trade, for design that emotionally resonates with donors and enjoyed working alongside behavioural scientists, specialising in the science of response.

Josie’s personal passion is creating loyal and robust Regular Giving programmes for small to medium size charities. She thoroughly understands and respects the nuances of stewardship and how important it is to have a genuine relationship with your donor base.

Josie is committed to sharing relevant insights and learnings from her years of international fundraising success to achieve measurable impact for Barrer & Co’s clients.

Specialist areas:

  • Acquisition and lead generation loyalty programmes
  • Regular giving
  • Annual / Emergency appeals
  • Prize-led fundraising
  • Digital marketing
Charlotte Allen

Charlotte Allen

Fundraising Consultant

Charlotte Allen - Fundraising Consultant

Charlotte has over 10 years’ experience working in the not-for profit and charitable sectors both in the UK and Aotearoa. She brings a huge amount of insight from her time leading fundraising teams, managing multi-million-dollar bids and campaigns, strategy development and implementation and organisational rebranding and recruitment. She has both successfully fundraised herself and led teams of fundraisers to achieve targets across a diverse range of giving streams.

Charlotte brings an interesting balance of passion, energy and blue sky thinking alongside a huge amount of practical knowledge and down to earth style. She is incredibly enthusiastic and will bring with her support, know-how, encouragement and loads of oomph to your organisational plans.

Specialist Areas:

  • Strategic partnerships (National, Regional, Cross-Charity)
  • Corporate sponsorship
  • Team management and mentoring
  • Donor-centric communications
  • High level stewardship and working alongside c-suite individuals and boards
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Lindsay Reid

Office Manager

Lindsay Reid - Office Manager

Lindsay has worked in the not-for-profit sector for just over three years. Her time as part of the Royal NZ Plunket Trust finance team has given her an understanding and appreciation for the critical role that fundraising plays in ensuring that not-for-profits can support communities. That understanding combined with organisational skills and high attention to detail provide a base from which to best support both the business’ consultants and clients to ensure positive outcomes for all.

Lindsay thrives in making processes more efficient and beneficial for all involved, and loves working in such a supportive work environment, ensuring operations run smoothly and everyone’s needs are met.

Her friendly demeanour and problem-solving attitude ensure that both staff and clients receive a high quality level of service.

Specialist areas:

  • Team organisation
  • Financial administration
  • Process improvements
  • Office coordination

Awards

BDO Wellington Capital Campaigns Merit – 2015
Awarded to Cholmondeley for the ‘Help put Cholmondeley Back on the Map’ campaign.

Strategic Grants Awards for Excellence in Grants – 2016
Awarded to Living Springs for the project ‘Founders Field: a platform for greatness’.

Moceanic Highly Commended Award for Best High Value Campaign – 2022
Awarded to Sir Richard Hadlee Sports Centre for Growing Next Generation of Legends.

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