Meet Ilja…

Who are your heroes?

Leonardo da Vinci, Alexis de Tocqueville, Karl Popper. Why? Because they formed the way I look at the world and showed that with strong analytics in the field, you can progress. And really any activist for social change, any fundraisers enabling the work of activists for social change. On the IFC front, I have to mention Tony Elischer. When I have a motivation issue in my fundraising work, there is one thing I listen to again: I have the full IFC 2005 opening plenary by Tony (“The hands that shaped humanity”) on mp3.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Try, fail, stand up, and try again.

Why do you do what you do for a living?

Because it is what I am. Being a fundraiser is being an activist for social change.

Describe yourself in three words.

Passionate. Idealistic. Analytical.

Describe your life in six words.

Fundraising. Work. Society. Commitment. Freedom. Ongoing.

Ilja De Coster is Senior Fundraising Consultant, and Vice-President of Fundraisers Alliance, Belgium. 

Tel: +32 (0) 496 171 619