The Voluntary Sector Fundraising Conference 2026: Navigating Change and Building Resilience
Thank You
Our 2026 conference has now taken place. Thank you to everyone who spoke, attended, and supported The Voluntary Sector Fundraising Conference 2026.
We are already looking ahead to next year’s conference, taking place online on Wednesday 10 February 2027. To be among the first to receive programme updates, announcements, and early-bird opportunities, register your interest for 2027.
Missed out this year? You can still watch all the insights, key sessions, and expert discussions with our OnDemand Event. Access full recordings of every session, including presentations from leading industry speakers, and watch at your own pace.
Why Watch OnDemand?
- Watch on your own schedule – no need to clear your calendar or worry about time zones
- Learn at your own pace – pause, rewind, and rewatch key moments to fully absorb the content
- Get instant access after purchase to expert insights and curated content, perfect for busy professionals who want high-value content on demand
Supporters include:
2026 Agenda
Online Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Dr Haseeb Shabbir, Reader in Voluntary Sector Management, Centre for Charity Effectiveness, Bayes Business School (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Transforming the Fundraising Landscape across the UK
- Understand how to shift public and internal perceptions of fundraising to enhance its status and impact across the sector
- Learn about the latest standards, ethics, and guidance designed to drive excellent fundraising practices and maintain public trust
- Discover ways to create a culture within your donor community that inspires more people to give generously and sustainably
Katie Docherty, Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Fundraising Trends, Challenges and Opportunities
- Understand the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis on donor behaviour and charity operations
- Strategies to navigate to changing landscape and explore new fundraising opportunities
- Discuss how to adapt to trends in giving and how best to focus efforts in the current economic climate
Laura Yonish, Senior Manager, Charities Aid Foundation (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Developing a Diversified Fundraising Strategy
- Learn practical steps to develop a fundraising strategy that is both resilient and adaptable in response to the rapidly evolving funding landscape
- Explore how to integrate innovative fundraising methods alongside proven traditional approaches to maximise income
- Understand how to set clear goals, measure outcomes, and use insights to continuously improve your fundraising effectiveness
- Strategies for building a strong volunteer and staff network to support your fundraising strategy
Lindsay Tilston Jones, Head of Community, Shelter (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: Reimagining the Role of the Supporter
- Re-imagining supporters and volunteers in the context of changing expectations, lifestyles and values, particularly among younger generations
- Why this is not a crisis of generosity, but a design and leadership challenge for charities
- How traditional distinctions between “donor” and “volunteer” are breaking down, and what that means for engagement
- Practical reflections from Cats Protection on redesigning volunteering and supporter journeys around people rather than structures
- The leadership and governance choices required to attract, retain and grow the next generation of supporters and volunteers
John May OBE, Chief Executive, Cats Protection (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Effective Strategies for Fundraising as a Small Charity
- Outlining how to raise awareness and create a sense of community to enhance fundraising efforts despite limited resources
- Exploring practical approaches to tackling common cash flow and capacity challenges when implementing fundraising strategies
- Learning how to utilise the support available from networks, partnerships, and advisory panels to strengthen your fundraising capacity
- Understanding the value of collaboration and how working with other organisations can lead to shared success and increased impact
Sue Roughton, Co-founder & Volunteer, Purple Heart Wishes (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Lunch Break
Breakout Networking: Building Resilient Income Streams During Economic Uncertainty
This breakout networking session provides the opportunity to reflect on the pressures created by reduced donor income, rising operational costs, and economic uncertainty. Network with peers from a wide range of …
Breakout Networking: Building Resilient Income Streams During Economic Uncertainty
This breakout networking session provides the opportunity to reflect on the pressures created by reduced donor income, rising operational costs, and economic uncertainty. Network with peers from a wide range of organisations to share common challenges and adaptive strategies to strengthen financial resilience.
Keynote: Building Stronger Engagement for Legacy Giving
- Explore what is meant by Engagement and why it matters for legacy giving?
- Consider what’s more important for legacy growth: Brand health or legacy marketing activity?
- Understanding the importance of organisational alignment and integration
- Explore what engagement metrics may indicate interest in legacy giving and why this should inform, but never limit your legacy marketing activity
- The increasing importance of standing out
Alex McDowell, Director of Fundraising, The Duke of Edinburgh Award and Vice Chair, Remember a Charity (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: How to ensure your face-to-face fundraising is compliant – the relationship between charities and agencies
- Learn how to manage outsourced fundraising responsibly to build ethical partnerships between charities and agencies
- Explore how charity leaders can take responsibility for ensuring adherence to best practices when outsourcing fundraising activities.
Russell Brown, Regulatory Projects Manager, The Fundraising Regulator (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Pre-record: Keynote: Applying for unrestricted grants: How to write a strong application
- Understanding the misconceptions around fundraising
- How to allocate team time and resource effectively
- Importance and practicality of measuring impact
- The three/five big takeaways for best practice funding applications
Mary Rose Gunn, CEO, The Fore
Case Study: Are your eyes on Sudan?: Why the public don’t care about some crises, and what we can do
- Understanding the factors that contribute to the public paying a lack of attention to an important issue including a lack of media attention and donor fatigue
- Outlining how to build understanding not just emotion when creating campaigns
- Strategies to convey the scale and urgency of crisis in a way that increases engagement
- Our Are Your Eyes on Sudan campaigns aims to drive public awareness and detailed understanding with events, advertising, a petition, cultural resources and more
Shazia Arshad, Head of Communications & Creative, Islamic Relief UK (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Dr Haseeb Shabbir, Reader in Voluntary Sector Management, Centre for Charity Effectiveness, Bayes Business School (CONFIRMED)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Speakers
Katie Docherty
Chief Executive
Chartered Institute of Fundraising
Haseeb Shabbir
Reader in Voluntary Sector Management
Centre for Charity Effectiveness, Bayes Business School
Laura Yonish
Senior Manager
Laura Yonish, Senior Manager, Charities Aid Foundation
Lindsay Tilston Jones
Head of Community
Shelter
Sue Roughton
Co-founder & Volunteer
Purple Heart Wishes
Russell Brown
Regulatory Projects Manager
The Fundraising Regulator
Testimonials
Some really informative sessions which I really enjoyed and will be beneficial to me in my role.
Great speakers, and relevant useful information on current trends in the sector.
The event was helpful and informative.
A very informative event, with a large variation of speakers.
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 us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
