Agenda 2023 - Combined - Third Sector Fundraising Summit 2023

Understanding the landscape: with increased competition for funding opportunities, find out what you can do to stand out in a saturated market
How you can continue to provide a good service on stretched budgets
Why the long-term is just as important as the short-term.
How putting a spotlight on strong leadership, strategy and clear communication will help you and your organisation feel unified and connected to your donors

Speaker: Lindsay Tilston Jones, Senior Community Fundraising Area Manager, Shelter

Sophie Clarke from Enthuse talks through key donation indicators and how donations may be looking healthier for the year ahead than many might think.

Key discussion points:

Economic lag: The number of people feeling worse off is dropping on an ongoing basis, but concerns about the economy mean this isn’t translating into donations quite yet
Good intentions: 70% of the public plan to donate in the next three months – as the economic picture improves, this figure is set to rise, particularly around events
It’s a marathon not a sprint: Major events are going from strength to strength with record numbers raised and fundraisers are keen to get involved

Speaker: Sophie Clarke, Commercial Director, Enthuse

Join us for an interview with the Chief Marketing and Fundraising Officer from British Heart Foundation, Claire Sadler, who will be discussing all things fundraising - how the BHF have had to adapt their fundraising strategy, what challenges have come from tougher economic times in the UK and what they expect for the future of fundraising.

Hear from them what drives them, and how you can reframe your own fundraising strategy to remain competitive and authentic in your fundraising.

Interviewed by: Andy Ricketts, Acting Editor, Third Sector

Confirmed speaker: Claire Sadler, Chief Marketing and Fundraising Officer, British Heart Foundation

NOTE: For our virtual viewers - this will be an online networking break, with some additional content available should they wish to access.

Charities continue to face pressure when it comes to their income due to the current economic pressures, and are now relying more on trusts and foundations for their financial support and service. This session will discuss why an honest and collaborative relationship between charities and trusts and foundations is so important given current constraints on budgets and increased demand in the sector.

Defining and diversifying what support means for each charity - noting how charities can work with foundations and trusts in a more transparent way so they get the right support when needed
How a balance of budget and support can be found and why an open dialogue between trusts and foundations and charities is so key.
Why a focus on the long-term is as important as the short-term when considering income, budget and support.

Interviewed by: Andy Ricketts, Acting Editor, Third Sector

Speaker: Carol Mack OBE, CEO, Association of Charitable Foundations
Dan Sutch, Director, CAST
Kunle Olulode, Director, Voice 4 Change England
Ndidi Okezie, CEO, UK Youth

NOTE: For our virtual viewers - this will be an online networking break, with some additional content available should you wish to access.

This session will present the differences between supporter engagement and supporter participation in the context of individual, community and corporate fundraising, the benefits and pitfalls of each approach, and the required organisation of fundraising teams to manage each approach, with the goal is to maximise fundraising income.

Speaker: Nathan Pinkney, CEO, People’s Fundraising

As we look to a new generation of major donors, it is now more important than ever for charities to align their understanding of what drives and engages donors and prospects. This session will outline how charities can set out to create a robust and forward-thinking engagement strategy for future major donors.

Why will there be a shift in our major donors’ portfolio and their profile?
Exploring what the sector needs to do strategically to evolve with this new generation of philanthropists
Small charity lens - how smaller charities can create a major donor engagement strategy for these new prospects, on a finite budget

Speaker: Lynda Harwood-Compton, Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships, The Brain Tumour Charity

Key discussion points:

It’s always been competitive, but it is a challenging market
The importance of being clear on the changes you create
How sector boundaries are blurring, bringing challenges and opportunities
Beyond donations – the case for social investment and earned income
Getting your governance right, the importance of selecting the right legal model for your organisation
How funders can, and are, trying to help

Speaker: Graeme Marsh, Head of Foundation, McCarthy Stone Foundation

Delegates will have a choice of joining one of these three sessions during these 30 minutes, they will be held in separate rooms and will be for the in-person attending delegates.

NOTE: For our virtual viewers - this will be an online networking break, with some additional content available should they wish to access.

In-person - for those in the main plenary room who do not attend the roundtables there will be additional content available.

Session one - The donation landscape looks and feels tough – but what’s underneath the topline figures?

Speaker: Sophie Clarke, Commercial Director, Enthuse

Session two - How to drive diversity in all areas of your fundraising

Speaker: Lindsay Tilston Jones, Senior Community Fundraising Area Manager, Shelter

Session three - Recruitment in fundraising

Speaker: Andy Ricketts, Acting Editor, Third Sector

This panel session will discuss how corporate partnerships have become more involved in the work of the charities they support, exploring how this role has evolved over the years, what this relationship consists of and how this is supporting your charity in new ways.

Why acts of service such as volunteering, mentoring and networking are just as important to charities now as the financial support that corporate partners provide.
How to maximise your relationship with your corporate partners, exploring some of the new ways corporate partners are getting involved with fundraising.
How the communication around your corporate partners to your funders has changed.
How multi-year partnerships have and will continue to come into play in the fundraising space.

Moderated by: Andy Ricketts, Acting Editor, Third Sector

speakers: Lynda Harwood-Compton, Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships, The Brain Tumour Charity

Tim Sledge, Head of Fundraising, XLP

Julia Lynch, Founder, Global Girl Project

Graeme Marsh, Head of Foundation, McCarthy Stone Foundation

NOTE: For our virtual viewers - this will be an online networking break, with some additional content available should they wish to access.

The Soke and their charity partner, Our Time, talk about their relationship, and how they work together on fundraising to expand on their service.

Discussing how you can build organic funding with your charity partner
Where to start when building your charity partnerships: reaching out, common ground, drawing up a partnership agreement
Collaboration - examining the different ways your partners can help you: sharing your socials, utilising their customer base, selling products, hosting events
Recognising what you are able to offer partners without compromising your core cause

Interviewed by: Andy Ricketts, Acting Editor, Third Sector

Speakers:

Maryam Meddin, CEO, The Soke

Dympna Cunnane, CEO, Our Time

Why your fundraising objectives should be set and clear from the beginning
Managing expectations: the importance of being realistic but still ambitious
Why the long-term is just as important as the short-term - income diversification
How you can use your community to build your fundraising from the ground up.
Utilising your existing resources - how to create an impact with what you have
Being specific with your spend: how having a tight, targeted and tailored plan ensures maximum return on investment

Speaker: Sarah Shooter, Head of Development, Theatre Royal Wakefield

Hear the inside story of how Shelter revolutionised their fundraising strategy and reaped the rewards. A well executed but stagnating direct response model, reliant on DRTV and direct mail, was replaced by a bold Brand Response model with emotive TV advertising at its heart. Claire and Rick will tell you how they delivered compelling campaigns in 2021 and 2022 on lower media budgets than major competitors: how they earned press and PR and last (and definitely least) how they keep picking up awards like theThird Sector Fundraising Campaign of the Year.

Speakers:

Rick Dodds, Creative Partner, Don’t Panic

Claire Whitney, Head of Acquisition, Shelter

The Fundraising Regulator, using its latest charity complaints report, will take us through why regulation and complaints are not something to be concerned about. Instead, they will demonstrate how complaints can provide your charity into donor engagement in your current fundraising campaigns and how you can build better ones for the future.

Key discussion points:

Why complaints can be an indicator of how your donors are responding to your current fundraising strategy and what needs to change.
How complaints can provide you with a better understanding of your donor’s circumstances and help shape your future communications for the better.
Why you shouldn’t be scared of regulation - discussing how complaints procedures are a source of good, leading to an improved service for those you support through your fundraising work.

Speaker:

Catherine Orr, Head of Casework, The Fundraising Regulator

Competition in the charity sector is high, and many look for more ways to stand out in the crowd with their requests for support - demonstrating impact is more vital than ever.

This session will look at why measurement and reporting is so key for helping to drive fundraising that is authentic and fulfilling for your supporters.

Key discussion points:

Understanding the fundamentals of impact measurement and reporting in fundraising.
Exploring what you should be measuring and capturing in your reporting.
Why a collaborative approach in your charity is so necessary for reporting.
How to address internal barriers to gathering all the information you need to fundraise effectively.

Confirmed speakers:

Maddy Maloney, Head of Fundraising, Future Frontiers

NOTE: For our virtual viewers - this will be an online networking break, with some additional content available should they wish to access.

In our current economic circumstances, both you and your donors are facing increased pressure on your income. This session will discuss why it is now more important than ever to keep in contact with people who fundraise and donate to your charity.

In this session, we’ll be looking closely at what drives people to donate, how you can give them something back and also understanding why some may no longer be able to donate. We’ll also explore how you can keep them aligned to your cause for the future.

Learning why people donate and fundraise for your charity.
How you can help them in return: How understanding your donors’ motivations and assisting them with their goals can encourage them to return to fundraise for you.
Discussing some of the new ways you can give back to your donors - (e.g. gifts & subscriptions)
Understanding why for some donors donating may no longer be possible and how you can keep them involved in the cause for the future.
For smaller charities - how you can form an effective comms strategy for your donors on a finite budget.

Moderated by: Lucinda Rouse, Senior Multimedia Reporter

Speaker:

Keith Wilson, Director of Income & Engagement, HIOWAA (Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance)

Key discussion points:

Creating a culture of collaboration by rethinking what success looks like.
Measuring performance without income targets: How to agree KPI’s that truly support your Charity’s aims.
Carve out a space for growth: Creating an environment where experimentation and failure are celebrated.
How smaller charities can convince Senior Managers and Trustees to embrace an engagement over income approach.

Speaker: Keith Wilson, Director of Income & Engagement, HIOWAA (Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance)

How can you diversify your fundraising income with digital fundraising?
What are some of the new channels being used for digital fundraising - are they here to stay? (e.g. Instagram & Tik Tok)
Digital event fundraising - how to combat digital fatigue
What makes your digital events stand out in the crowd and donors loyal?
What are some of the ways you can adapt your digital event fundraising? How can it be tied into your wider fundraising?

Speakers:

Alexandra Bach, Mass Participation Manager, Diabetes UK

Angela Hilditch, Mass Participation Manager, Diabetes UK

Lis Rising, Digital Product Manager, NSPCC

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency first set up its Individual Giving programme in 2016 and by 2019, we were a team of two (covering digital and direct marketing) with an annual income of £2 million. Fast forward to 2022 and we’re now a team of ten, with an annual income of £17 million. Experiencing unprecedented growth in unprecedented times forced us to learn quickly and fail fast – setting the tone and enabling us to develop an agile and effective Individual Giving programme, forging a series of approaches which we hope to maintain as we continue on our fundraising journey.

Speakers:

Saige Jennings, Senior Digital Fundraising Manager, UK for UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)

Sophie Webster, Senior Manager - Direct Marketing, UK for UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)

NOTE: For our virtual viewers - this will be an online networking break, with some additional content available should they wish to access.

Key discussion points:

Where you should be looking for your future fundraising campaigns
How you can expand on your existing fundraising income and support
How you can build on your existing services through your fundraising
Collaboration in the sector - how you can assist other charities and organisations with their fundraising and work together in new ways which help to expand on your service
How you can balance providing support and service for good with your budget and fundraising income

Speaker: Caroline Westley, Director of Income, Mental Health Innovations

Daniel Valentine, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Lovey Foundation UK