Carol Akiwumi (MBE)

Carol Akiwumi is a social entrepreneur, fundraising consultant, trainer and inspirational speaker with a passion for Stewardship and diversity; helping individuals and organisations to unlock their potential in those areas. She is the CEO of RAA Solutions, a creative fundraising and training consultancy and a trustee of the Institute of Fundraising (IOF). A Fellow of the IOF and member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals USA, Carol has an MA in Economics and Finance from the University of Leeds and currently serves as the Chair of the IOF’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Carol is the founder and CEO of Money4Youth, a movement delivering financial education, entrepreneurship and capacity building training across the world. She is the host of the weekly podcast: four minutes in fundraising and her work prioritises young people, girls, women and disadvantaged communities.

Having started out her career as an investment banker, she has brought her skills and experience to bear as a senior manager and consultant to several national and international organisations. Her expertise includes creating bespoke strategies, programmes and tools for capacity building and resource mobilisation, as well as developing high level partnerships with major donors, community groups and business leaders on four continents.

Carol has worked on assignments in Nigeria for Fundraising Training Ltd and has been a co-tutor for our Bid Writing Boot Camp. She has also been a tutor for our blended learning programme in Kenya for the Advocacy Accelerator.  Carol became a MBE in the UK New Year’s Day Honours List – for her work in financial inclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic.