UK fundraising has lost one of its most talented direct marketers, copywriter Tom Monk.

There is no writer in this land who has won more Institute of Fundraising/Professional Fundraising magazine awards than Tom. As Head of Creative with Whitewater, he won the double in 2001 (and they weren’t his first), picking up direct marketing awards for acquisition and development. And then in 2004 he repeated this extraordinary feat through his own company, Ideal Creative.

This is no surprise to those who worked with him. He was one of a small band of exceptionally talented writers that just got it. His copy would be word perfect and the donors would roll in.

Tom cut his fundraising teeth at Save the Children before his talent was spotted by Marc Nohr at Burnett Associates and he joined them as a junior writer. From there his career was glorious but far too short. Cancer claimed his life at just 38.

My personal memory of Tom was of a guy who just loved to hear about my kids, much more than anyone I knew. My heart breaks for his own family, his wife Emma, and their beautiful kids, Denis (5) and Florence (3).

Tom’s family ask that donations be made in Tom’s memory to Sightsavers. Give generously in tribute to a man who did so himself. And read The Guardian's obituary for Tom here.

Steve Andrews