The Voluntary Sector Fundraising Conference 2025
Previous Supporters include:
Overview
The voluntary sector has faced a challenging few years, grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Resilience and fundraising performance have been tested across the board, with both large and small charities needing to show remarkable adaptability to navigate the ongoing economic pressures.
However, 2025 offers a new chapter for UK charities. With a Labour government now in place, there is promise of a renewed focus on fostering a vibrant and effective voluntary sector through increased funding, better regulation, stronger partnerships, and more support for innovation.
Moreover, with new research from the Charity Commission indicating public trust in charities has reached its highest level in a decade, such positive developments could provide the industry with the momentum it needs to rebuild and thrive.
Now is a pivotal time for professionals across the voluntary sphere to seize the opportunity to pivot, embrace agile approaches, learn from one another, and implement innovative strategies to thrive in addressing key priorities and societal challenges.
Join us at The Voluntary Sector Fundraising Conference 2025 to:
- Receive the latest insights and guidance from fundraising experts and charity leaders.
- Engage with high-level keynotes and explore best-practice case studies that tackle key challenges, including:
- enhancing donor engagement, embracing AI and understanding its risks and opportunities
- fostering an inclusive culture of belonging
- making your digital campaigns stand out in the ever-evolving social media landscape.
- Network with senior colleagues from across the sector, share common challenges, and collaborate on effective solutions.
This is your opportunity to learn, connect, and drive meaningful change together.
Agenda
Online Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Charlotte Sherman, Growing Giving Policy and Partnerships Manager, Chartered Institute of Fundraising (Invited)
Keynote: Regulatory and Political Overview: What are the latest developments?
- Understanding the new rules and guidelines that affect charities
- Keeping up to date to ensure compliance and strategic alignment with current standards
- Reviewing the latest political developments and their potential impact on the sector
- Predicting key trends for 2025.
David Holdsworth, Chief Executive, Charity Commission for England and Wales (Invited)
Keynote: The Evolving Realm of Giving: Agile and Flexible – Part One
- Learning the latest trends in flexible giving, from micro-donations to subscription models, and how they can cater to a diverse donor base
- Understanding the emotional and psychological drivers that influence donor behaviour and how charities can leverage these for sustained support.
Kathryn Holloway, Director of Income Generation, Friends of the Earth (Invited)
Key Supporter Session
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Harnessing Compelling Digital Marketing for Charitable Impact
- Developing engaging digital content that tells your charity’s story, inspires action, and fosters a strong online community
- Understanding which social media platforms are most effective for charities, based on audience demographics, content type, and engagement strategies
- Creating impactful statements to captivate donors and stakeholders
- Exploring the growing trend of gaming for good (where charities partner with gamers and streaming platforms to raise awareness and funds) and how to tap into it.
Farrah Owens, Digital Marketing and Fundraising Expert (Invited)
Case Study: Developing a Resilient and Sustainable Fundraising Strategy
- Exploring practical strategies to maximise fundraising efforts with limited resources and capacity challenges
- Forging mutually beneficial relationships with private sector companies
- Identifying and developing sustainable income sources to support your charity’s mission over the long term
- Measuring your fundraising strategy’s effectiveness and success.
Lindsay Tilston Jones, Head of Community, Shelter (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: The Evolving Realm of Giving: Agile and Flexible – Part Two
- Applying personalisation and transparency to retain donors in a competitive landscape
- Exploring the phenomenon of inverse giving and what that means for the charity sector.
Nina Allard, Global Head of Pret Foundation, Pret A Manger (Invited)
Questions & Answers
Lunch Break
Keynote: Leveraging AI and Generative AI in the Charity Sector: Opportunities and Risks
- Assessing AI’s opportunities from enhancing operational efficiency to creating personalised donor experiences
- Understanding the ethical considerations from data privacy, bias, and the impact on charity jobs
- Diving into real world applications and what we can learn from them
- Forecasting the role of AI in the charity sector in the next five years.
Victoria Lyons, Head of Digital, Dementia UK (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Integrity from the Inside Out: Cultivating a Strong Charity Culture
- Exploring how organisations can foster better engagement and wellbeing among their teams
- Promoting and prioritising an inclusive culture of belonging
- Ensuring that internal practices align with external missions
- How ESG can be integrated into everyday operations to reinforce your organisational commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.
Tracy Griffin, Chief Executive, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (Invited)
Key Supporter Session
Questions & Answers
Breakout Networking:
Working Together to Overcome Capacity Constraints in Diversification
This breakout networking session provides the opportunity to discuss the challenges of expanding your charity’s impact amidst limited capacity restraints – whether in terms of resource, time, or money – as you work to implement new diversification strategies for your organisation. Network with peers from a range of organisations as you delve into shared challenges, exchange valuable insights, and uncover collaborative strategies to overcome these obstacles together.
Comfort Break
Case Study: Data Transparency and Impact Reporting: Unleashing the Benefits
- How measuring and transparently reporting your impact builds trust, demonstrates your charity’s effectiveness and commitment to your contributions
- Exploring methods for using impact data to provide stakeholders with concrete evidence of your organisation’s achievements and areas for growth
- Utilising impact reporting as a powerful tool for aligning strategic and operational decisions with your charity’s core objectives
- Identifying tools and techniques that can streamline your reporting process and maximise its effectiveness.
Humma Nizami, Executive Director, Race Equality Network (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Lessons in Resilience: Learning Through Transformation
- Pre-empting common obstacles that arise during organisational transformation, from resource constraints to cultural shifts
- Discovering the importance of resilience for leaders and teams during times of change to remain strong and adaptive
- Managing adversity as a catalyst for growth and innovation
- Understanding the dynamics of transformation and actionable strategies to lead with confidence, resilience and adaptability.
Kate Stevens, Director of Strategy, Macmillan Cancer Support (Invited)
Questions & Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Charlotte Sherman, Growing Giving Policy and Partnerships Manager, Chartered Institute of Fundraising (Invited)
Conference Close
Previous Speakers
Charlotte Sherman
Growing Giving Policy and Partnership Manager
Chartered Institute of Fundraising
Katherine Woods
Head of Corporate Partnerships
Action for Children
Carrie Reiners
Deputy CEO
akt
Liz Haigh-Reeve
CEO & Founder
Fundraising Works
Martin Bisp
Co-Founder and CEO
Empire Fighting Chance
Ed Mayo
Chief Executive
Pilotlight
Testimonials
Really informative and interesting conference, with a great range of experiences and information. I enjoyed the networking sessions and the chance to meet others. Came away with lots of ideas and suggestions of how we can move forward, and links to new organisations I can ask for support and learn from. Thank you!
Hearing from CIoF and the Good Agency has put a real spring in my step to return to work and develop our strategic approach to growing giving. Even just these two speakers made the conference well worth the money!
This was a fantastic, interesting day. I left feeling like I understood the funding environment much better.
Excellent conference. Very professionally delivered with relevant content.
Thank you for a great day. It was very informative and took away lots of valuable learning points.
Brilliant knowledge shared in a timely and clear manner.
Why You Should Attend
- Cutting-Edge Insights: Stay ahead with expert keynotes and gain evidence based insights on adapting to shifting donor behaviours, navigating new guidelines, and understanding the latest political influences impacting fundraising
- Proven Success Stories: Dive into impactful case studies showcasing successful resilient fundraising strategies, innovative use of AI, transparent reporting, and leading through transformative challenges
- Powerful Networking: Connect with senior leaders and like-minded professionals across the voluntary sector to exchange ideas, form partnerships, and spark new opportunities
- Boost Your Professional Growth: Earn 8 CPD hours to enhance your skills and fulfill your annual professional development requirements.
GE Insights
Your conference package also includes access to GE Insights, our cross-sector learning resource of case study focused videos, articles, lived experiences and more. Gain unlimited access to our online platform when you purchase your conference ticket.
Who Should Attend?
This conference is designed for charity leaders, fundraising professionals, trustees, and voluntary sector managers dedicated to enhancing their organisation’s fundraising capabilities and impact.
Whether you represent a small grassroots charity or a large national organisation, this event is crucial for anyone involved in driving strategic growth, donor engagement, and innovation in the voluntary sector including:
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Type Examples |
| Heads/Directors of Fundraising | Charities |
| Heads of Marketing | Voluntary Sector Organisations |
| Commercial Directors | Social Enterprises |
| Marketing Campaign Managers | Associations / Societies |
| Strategic Development Managers | Conservation Trusts |
| Heads of Donor Fundraising | |
| Partnerships Managers | |
| Finance Managers |
Pricing
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship Options
Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact Tahir Saleem today at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here and we will contact you.
Benefits of partnering with us include:
- Brand awareness: Be seen by a highly targeted and engaged audience before, during, and after the conference.
- Lead generation: Meet the decision-makers and influencers responsible for making purchasing decisions on cyber security and data protection.
- Thought leadership: Position your organisation and experts as thought leaders and the ‘go to’ experts.
- Networking: Make valuable connections with potential new customers and partners across government and the wider public sector
- Grow your business: Reach decision makers in a single event on just one day and in one location (with no travel/accommodation required), saving you time and money.
- Gain valuable insights: Hear the latest from key stakeholders in government, and across the public and voluntary sectors.
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
For more information and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Tahir Saleem at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here
