Sadie McKinlay is currently freelancing for arts and cultural organisations; advising on fundraising, donor engagement and strategy development.  Her work with Cove Park will focus on the 25th anniversary activity and engaging more donors with Cove Park’s year-round work, to raise unrestricted income to provide long-term financial sustainability for the artist residencies and community engagement.

Sadie has worked for three amazing festivals in Edinburgh (International, Book and Film), as well as for National Museums Scotland, the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh and the South Bank Centre in London where she cut her teeth in donor cultivation. Along the way, in a fund-raising career spanning across three decades, she has also worked for the University of Edinburgh, giving her insight into fund-raising for a complex academic organisation where philanthropy really can change the world.

Most recently Sadie worked at National Museums Scotland as the lead on fundraising and donor engagement in the UK and US, working with their curatorial teams to reveal the stories behind the national collection.  Before that she was Head of Development for the Edinburgh International Festival working with sponsors, donors and trust & foundations to create meaningful and valuable partnerships that supported the presentation of music, drama and dance as well as learning, engagement and community programmes throughout Edinburgh.

Sadie has volunteered as a trustee for a number of companies including Stellar Quines Theatre Company, Magnetic North Theatre Company and currently sits on the Board of Manipulate Arts.