March 2025 - Salford Giving

How we work with you

Philanthropy is a powerful force that can transform lives in countless ways, whether through long-term giving or one-off donations. It is through this that we can contribute to the advancement of the university through research and the development of the campus and its facilities and create a lasting and meaningful impact on our students’ lives. We are immensely proud of our diverse and dedicated supporter community, which includes alumni, industry partners, and trusts and foundations.

Meet our Philanthropy team !

Nic Whyley, Senior Philanthropy Manager

Image of Nic Whyley, Senior Philanthropy Manage

Nic leads the fundraising team, which sits within the Philanthropy, Alumni and Supporter Engagement team, expertly managing our fundraising and stewardship. She oversees everything from regular support to major and transformational gifts, and supports fundraising across our priority areas, which includes access and outreach, campus development and research. Nic’s strong background in relationship building spans international education and inward investment. She has successfully attracted overseas students to study in Greater Manchester and encouraged large global businesses to invest in operations here.

When asked about working in the Philanthropy sector, Nic said, ‘my real passion point is building community and placemaking, and bringing people together for the greater good. I’ve always enjoyed brokering engagement and partnerships between industry, education providers and the VCSE sector and so am in my element here at the University of Salford.’

Get to know more about Nic, her fun fact is ‘I spent three years living overseas in Valencia and I am a RHS level 2 qualified horticulturalist.’

Get in touch: N.Whyley@salford.ac.uk

Hannah Whitehurst, Philanthropy Manager, Major Gifts

Image of Hannah Whitehurst, Philanthropy Manager, Major Gifts

Hannah manages a portfolio of major donors, including individuals, corporates, and trusts and foundations, to secure philanthropic gifts for a range of programmes and projects across the University. She works closely with donors to build meaningful, long-term relationships, ensuring their giving aligns with their passions and creates lasting impact.

When asked about working in Philanthropy, Hannah said, ‘For me, a huge part about working in philanthropy is about widening access to education, especially through outreach, scholarships and bursaries. Someone once said, ‘Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not,’ and that really stuck with me. That’s why I do what I do—connecting generous donors with opportunities to make a real difference in students’ lives.

Get to know more about Hannah, ‘Coming up with fun facts about myself is harder than convincing donors to fund a new scholarship’.

Get in touch: H.C.Whitehurst@salford.ac.uk

Rachael Baker, Philanthropy Manager, Trusts and Foundations

Rachael is the newest member of the Philanthropy team. Rachael brings a wealth of experience, having worked in the sector for most of her career. Most recently, she worked as a Senior Manager for Fundraising, Finance, and Communications at an LGBTQ+ youth charity in Manchester.

When asked why she chose to work in Philanthropy, Rachael said, ‘There aren’t many jobs that allow you to develop relationships with such a diverse range of people. I really enjoy figuring out which areas of work will interest people and building from that. I always wanted a job that would have a positive impact, and I find Philanthropy really ticks that box for me.’

Get to know more about Rachael, her fun fact is, ‘My surname is Baker, and I worked as a baker for several years before my career in fundraising!’

Get in touch: R.Baker11@salford.ac.uk

Ellie Jackson, Donor Engagement Officer

Ellie is responsible for engaging the supporter community by leading the Philanthropy team’s stewardship programme. Ellie cultivates long-term relationships with our supporters by actively communicating the impact of their contributions. She makes them feel valued and appreciated through various channels, including a newsletter, mailings and events.

When asked about working in Philanthropy, Ellie said ‘My career journey has naturally led me to philanthropy. Many of my roles have focused on demonstrating impact, and stewardship is the perfect way to highlight the incredible contributions of our supporters.’

Get to know more about Ellie, her fun fact is, ‘I have a very energetic working cocker spaniel, named Rudy, after our favourite pizza restaurant!’

Get in touch: E.Jackson4@salford.ac.uk

Founded in 2001, Gamma Telecoms Plc, also known as Gamma Communications, is a UK-based telecommunications company. They provide a wide range of communication services and have become a leading provider in the UK specifically for businesses.

In 2024, Gamma generously elected to set up a new scholarship programme, to support two new undergraduate scholarships. Each scholarship provides students with £10,000 over three years of study, showcasing Gamma’s dedication to supporting education and enriching the lives of our students. Philanthropy scholarships are more than just a cash award for our students; it’s a moment of recognition and a testament to our belief in their abilities and potential.

Earlier this year, Chris Smith, the ESG Programme Manager at Gamma, had the opportunity to meet the scholarship recipients, Jess and Ahmed. After a whistle stop tour of the campus, both students took the lead in showcasing the state-of-the-art SEE Building, which is the School of Science Engineering and Environment’s new home for innovation and discovery. They provided an insightful tour, highlighting the various laboratories, collaborative workspaces and industry leading features the building has to offer.

Chris said: ‘It was fantastic to meet our scholars, Jess and Ahmed this week and seeing what enthusiasm and commitment they have to their subjects. Talking with them about their studies and walking on ‘their patch’ on campus brings the whole partnership to life in such an authentic way. I can’t wait to hear how they are getting on over the next 3-4 years and feel very privileged on behalf of Gamma to be their interface with our business.’

Ahmed, a first year Computer Science with Cyber Security student, said, ‘I’m grateful for Gamma’s support through this scholarship and the potential opportunities that it will bring to help shape my future. Meeting Chris from Gamma reinforced how valuable this scholarship is, and I’m excited to see where it leads.’

Jess is a first year Physics student and is excited for the opportunities the scholarships will provide, saying, ‘I am grateful for such a wonderful opportunity, and the amount of overwhelming support I’ve received from this scholarship. I now have access to resources that enrich my education which wasn’t possible without my scholarship, as well as the chance to make the most of my time as a university student. I’m forever thankful to Gamma and the scholarship programme for everything they have done for me.’

Jess, Physics student, Chris, ESG Programme Manager at Gamma and Ahmed, Computer Science and Cyber Security student outside the SEE building.

We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Gamma for their support of the university and our students. Your generosity is profoundly impacting our scholars, and we look forward to witnessing their continued growth throughout their academic journeys.