Meet Julie Mencarelli, Head of Partnerships and Fundraising

In May 2024, Julie joined Imagine for Margo as Head of Partnerships and Fundraising, where she works to develop the charity’s funding resources and build lasting relationships with companies committed to supporting its cause.

Her role involves developing a wide range of opportunities for corporate engagement, reaching out to new partners and nurturing these partnerships over time. From financial donations and charity runs to payroll giving, internal fundraising challenges and volunteering initiatives, Julie works to create projects that bring teams together and inspire people to take action.

Before joining the charity, Julie spent more than ten years working for major corporations in senior marketing positions. She then moved into a fundraising agency, where she supported organisations such as UNICEF and APF France Handicap. Her career has brought together marketing, communications and fundraising expertise.

Alongside her professional career, humanitarian work has always played an important role in her life, including international missions, frontline initiatives and emergency response operations. It therefore felt natural for her to bring these two worlds together.

“Fundraising has allowed me to combine what I know how to do with what truly matters to me,” she explains.

What Julie enjoys most about her job is meeting people. Connecting with individuals who share the same values, experiencing the collective enthusiasm that emerges when a project takes shape, and sharing the energy that comes from knowing that, together, we can make a difference.

She is particularly passionate about the collective dimension of her work:

“We may each be just one small link in the chain, but when we come together, we can multiply our impact.”

This belief in the power of working together is at the heart of what motivates her every day.

Before joining Imagine for Margo, Julie wore many different hats. She spent more than ten years working for major corporations as a Marketing Manager and Marketing Director. She then joined a fundraising agency, where she worked with organisations such as UNICEF and APF France Handicap.

“Take marketing, communications and sales, mix them all together… and that’s my job!” she says with a smile.

Alongside her professional career, humanitarian work has always held a special place in her life. She has taken part in international missions, street outreach initiatives and emergency response operations, including in Burkina Faso and in Saint-Martin following Hurricane Irma.

Until one day, a simple idea became clear: why not bring her professional skills and personal commitment together? Fundraising naturally became the link between these two worlds.

Among the experiences that have left the strongest impression on Julie since joining the charity, she particularly remembers her first Course Enfants sans Cancer as a member of staff.

Experiencing the event from behind the scenes, feeling the incredible energy on the ground and seeing the culmination of an entire team’s hard work remains a very special memory.

It was made even more memorable by the fact that she shared the experience with her husband, who volunteered that day and was responsible for leading the race on his bicycle.

“He thought it would be an easy ride… but he was completely exhausted by the time he reached the finish line!” she recalls, laughing.

An anecdote that has since become a family memory, reflecting the unique atmosphere of this wonderful event.

One of Julie’s favourite moments of the week is Thursday, the only day when the entire team comes together at the office.

“There is such a great atmosphere. I really love working with my colleagues.”

A heartfelt tribute to the team spirit that motivates her so much.

Outside work, her daily life is now largely shaped by her seven-month-old twin daughters.

“Since we’ve learned to manage two babies, we feel like we can handle just about anything!” she says with a smile.

Despite the short nights, Julie starts each morning with the same enthusiasm:

“Good moods are contagious. We might as well share them!”

For the team, Julie is a constant source of positive energy.

“Julie is always cheerful and in a good mood. She radiates incredible energy, which is all the more admirable given the circumstances. Despite getting very little sleep with her two little girls, she remains extremely professional, dedicated and dynamic. Her enthusiasm and infectious energy are a real asset to the team,” says Annie.

Mamoudou also highlights her interpersonal skills and professionalism:

“Julie is a lovely person, always approachable and professional. Working with her is always easy and enjoyable.”