11 March 2026

• 8.45AM - 9.20AM
  Registration and networking
• 9.20AM - 9.30AM
  Chair's welcome - Stephen Cotterill, editor, Fundraising magazine
• 9.30AM - 10.10AM
  Opening panel: Fundraising in a polarised age - lessons from the frontline

  In an era of heightened political polarisation and amplified public voices, fundraising campaigns are navigating increasingly complex terrain. This panel explores what happens when charitable campaigns become caught in the crosscurrents of culture wars. Drawing on real examples of organisations that have faced backlash, our speakers will unpack what went right, what went wrong, and how fundraisers can communicate boldly and authentically without losing trust or support.

  Chris Jarrett, director of fundraising, Prostate Cancer UK,

  Eleshea Williams, social media officer, Amnesty International

  Other panellists from Crisis

• 10.10AM - 10.20AM
  Transit time

  Transit time

• 10.20AM - 11.00AM
  1A. From friction to flow - rewiring comms and fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK

  For fundraisers, comms can be your greatest ally or your biggest bottleneck. Prostate Cancer UK has been on a journey to rebuild how its communications and fundraising teams work together – moving from competing priorities to a shared sense of purpose. This session will explore the organisational design work behind that shift: diagnosing cultural and structural barriers, reshaping roles and processes, and prioritising collaboration. While the work is ongoing, the lessons learned reveal powerful ways of aligning and prioritising, rising above siloed views of strategy and planning, and uniting around a shared vision of how the organisation delivers value and funds the mission.

  Sadie Crabtree, head of integrated marketing & media, Prostate Cancer UK

• 10.20AM - 11.00AM
  1B. Stewarding your top 1% - transforming donors into lifelong partners

  Many charities overlook the significance of their top 1% of donors - individuals whose cumulative giving and long-standing ties to the cause often exceed the engagement of trustees. This session explores how to identify, understand, and meaningfully steward these ‘friends’ of the organisation through a focused, relationship-led approach. With high-net-worth individuals on the rise, we’ll examine how charities can reassess donor potential, refresh engagement opportunities, and embed personalised stewardship into organisational culture to unlock transformational support.

  John Green, chairman, Catholics in Fundraising

• 10.20AM - 11.00AM
  1C. Creator fundraising 101: myths, risks and rewards of streaming and content creator fundraising

  Hear directly from charities that have taken the leap into live streaming and creator-led fundraising. This panel discussion will break down myths about "gaming for good" by sharing the reality a diverse group of causes have faced as they explore the world of online community fundraising. From prospecting and due diligence, ongoing supporter care and managing risks, hear the wins and lessons learned along the way as well as a glimpse of what might be next for this exciting frontier of fundraising. 

  Panel - Ben Austwick, gaming partnerships manager, Great Ormond Street

  Julian Barrell, charity manager, Jingle Jam

  Tom Downie, director of strategic philanthropy, Tiltify

  Rachel Henderson, digital fundraising manager, CoppaFeel!

  Thomas Martin, events fundraising manager - gaming & streaming, Samaritans

• 10.20AM - 11.00AM
  1D. The resilient not-for-profit: turning challenges into impact

  Not-for-profits face rapid change, from economic uncertainty to digital disruption and shifting donor expectations. This session with Blackbaud shows how forward-thinking organisations turn these challenges into opportunities: embracing uncertainty to spark creativity and collaboration, building trust through transparency and ethical practices, leveraging digital tools and AI to enhance fundraising, and transforming data into actionable insights that drive meaningful, lasting impact.

  Speaker tbc, Blackbaud

• 11.00AM - 11.30AM
  Morning coffee and networking
• 11.30AM - 12.10PM
  2A. Your lasting good deed - building a sustainable legacy strategy

  Polly Hughes of the Salvation Army will share how their bold 'Your Lasting Good Deed' campaign revitalised legacy giving, sparked a sector wide conversation about leaving gifts to charity and delivered a tangible increase in prospects. This session will explore how they are now focusing on converting this interest into lasting impact, engaging next-generation donors and embedding legacy awareness across the organisation. Join us for insight and practical advice on how to use data and cross-team collaboration to embed legacy giving into the wider fundraising journey for long-term impact.

  Polly Hughes, director of fundraising, The Salvation Army

• 11.30AM - 12.10PM
  2B. Rebranding without regret - lessons from Keech Hospice

  Rebranding is more than a new logo; it’s about shifting perceptions, building trust, and giving people reasons to believe in your mission. With limited resources and big ambitions, Keech Hospice faced this challenge head-on. In this session, they share what it took to deliver an authentic, future-focused brand refresh: the tough calls, creative wins, and moments that tested the team’s resolve. Expect practical insights, candid reflections, and ideas to take back to your own organization.

  Mellissa Higgins, Head of Marketing and Communications, Keech Hospice

• 11.30AM - 12.10PM
  2C. AI with heart - how personalisation transformed Ramadan giving 

  In a season saturated with appeals, Muslim Charity Helping The Needy set out to do something radically different. Partnering with Giving Analytics, the charity delivered thousands of personalised emails - each reflecting an individual donor’s unique journey and impact. The result: a 300%+ increase in donations, record engagement, and overwhelmingly positive supporter feedback. This session will explore how cutting-edge technology, guided by empathy and ethical data use, can deepen donor relationships and set new benchmarks for digital fundraising.

  Maroof Pirzada, UK director, Muslim Charity Helping the Needy and Mohammed Khalil, founder, Giving Analytics 

• 11.30AM - 12.10PM
  2D. Session hosted by m-hance
• 12.10PM - 12.20PM
  Transit time
• 12.20PM - 1.00PM
  3A. Table for one - thriving as the solo fundraiser

  Being the only fundraiser in your organisation can feel both empowering and isolating. You wear every hat - strategist, storyteller, event planner, data wrangler - often all before lunch. This session will discuss practical ways to collaborate effectively with non-fundraising colleagues, build internal champions, and keep fundraising on everyone’s agenda. Whether you’re a team of one by design or circumstance, we hope you’ll leave with ideas, tools, and renewed confidence to keep making impact without burning out.

  Felicity Lambert, head of fundraising, Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

• 12.20PM - 1.00PM
  3B. Where legacy meets brand - creating campaigns that endure

  Explore the story behind Oxfam GB’s first major legacy campaign and its groundbreaking TV ad. This session unpacks how the team navigated sensitive messaging while aligning with Oxfam’s wider decolonisation efforts. Discover how authenticity became the foundation of this legacy ask, positioning it as a bold, lasting act of justice and solidarity. Learn how the campaign’s insights have not only driven strong results but also shaped Oxfam GB’s wider brand strategy. This is a must-attend for anyone looking to create legacy campaigns that inspire and resonate.

  Sinem Bilen-Onabanjo, head of legacy engagement, Oxfam 

• 12.20PM - 1.00PM
  3C. The death of the Christmas appeal - why always-on beats seasonal campaigning every time

  Every year, charities repeat the same expensive mistake: they switch into 'Christmas appeal mode',  pause their best-performing digital campaigns, and throw untested festive creative into the most competitive (and expensive) ad season of the year. The result? High CPAs, low returns, confused algorithms. This session shows why the Christmas appeal mindset - borrowed from direct mail - is actively undermining digital fundraising performance. And more importantly, what to do instead.

  Deniz Hassan, digital, data and technology director, Astarita Aldrich & Ward (AAW)

• 12.20PM - 1.00PM
  3D. Sessions hosted by BMC Azurri
• 1.00PM - 2.00PM
  Lunch
• 2.00PM - 2.25PM
  A decade on: trends, trust and what comes next - insights from the Regulator

  A decade on: trends, trust and what comes next - insights from the Regulator
  Gain insight into the key fundraising themes shaping the sector as the Fundraising Regulator approaches its 10th anniversary. This session will explore emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges for charities, with reflections on how the Code of Fundraising Practice underpins trustworthy and supporter-focused fundraising.

  Gerald Oppenheim, chief executive, the Fundraising Regulator

• 2.25PM - 2.30PM
  Transit time
• 2.30PM - 3.10PM
  4A. Brilliant brands, fragile systems - leadership lessons for sustainable organisations

  Bloody Good Period closed its doors in 2025, despite a celebrated brand and strong public engagement. Drawing on lived experience from within the organisation alongside broader sector insight, Jo Atkins-Potts explores what this moment reveals about the deeper patterns shaping sustainability in charities - from culture and governance to leadership expectations and fundraising pressures. Participants will gain candid, systemic insights into sustainability, culture, and the practical shifts that leaders and fundraisers can make to strengthen their organisations against similar risks.

  Jo Atkins-Potts, consultant, writer and formerly head of communications & campaigns, Bloody Good Period

• 2.30PM - 3.10PM
  4B. Rethinking corporate partnerships at Ambitious about Autism

  Ambitious about Autism is moving beyond traditional Charity of the Year models to develop deeper, more strategic partnerships that create genuine mutual benefit. We’ll share how brands such as Vanish, Schuh and Zurich are partnering with us in ways that reflect their distinct goals and audiences, while gaining vital insight into neurodiversity in the workplace.  Join us to discover how we tailor our partnerships for maximum impact, drive shared value, and create environments where autistic people can thrive. Attendees will take away practical lessons for tailoring propositions and building partnerships that deliver lasting impact for both sides.

  Abbie Murphy, head of corporate partnerships, Ambitious about Autism

• 2.30PM - 3.10PM
  4C. When funders walk away - lessons from Full Fact’s funding pivot

  After losing major support from Big Tech, Full Fact has had to rethink its funding strategy fast. As they diversify income streams and reframe their message for new supporters, they also face the ethical tension between speaking out and staying silent. This session examines what happens when advocacy collides with funding realities, and how organisations can diversify income while staying mission-driven in an era of political polarisation and corporate caution.

  Caroline Gellatly, head of development, Full Fact

• 2.30PM - 3.10PM
  4D. Session to be announced
• 3.10PM - 3.35PM
  Afternoon coffee and networking
• 3.35PM - 4.15PM
  5A. Mentoring matters - building community in fundraising careers

  Fundraising is a relationship-driven profession, and building a supportive community is key to personal and professional growth. This practical, exploratory session dives into why mentoring might work for you, what mentoring actually is (and isn’t), and how it can strengthen your confidence, resilience and leadership. Through real-life examples from both mentor and mentee perspectives, we’ll look at the kinds of challenges mentoring can help navigate and the impact it can have on your career.

  Laura Swan, director, Elischer Foundation

• 3.35PM - 4.15PM
  5B. Saving the Vagina Museum - crowdfunding against the clock

  When faced with imminent closure, the Vagina Museum launched an emergency crowdfunding campaign - and raised over £68,500 in just a month. This session explores how the museum captured public attention, mobilised supporters, and overcame financial pressures despite limited resources. We’ll dive into the strategies, messaging, and creative approaches that made the campaign a success, and extract practical lessons for charities looking to engage communities, build momentum quickly, and fundraise effectively on a shoestring budget.

  Zoe Williams, director, Vagina Museum

• 3.35PM - 4.15PM
  5C. Session to be announced
• 3.35PM - 4.15PM
  5D. Session to be announced
• 4.15PM - 4.25PM
  Transit time
• 4.25PM - 4.55PM
  Closing keynote: Stories that move people - communicating for impact in a noisy world

  Emma shares how being diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 29 pushed her to communicate with radical honesty - from daily vlogs to publishing her book - and how authentic storytelling became the engine behind award-winning fundraising campaigns. She explores what truly resonates with audiences, how vulnerability builds trust, and how to cut through the noise and communicate with clarity, courage, and purpose. She highlights what she learned from turning her own lived experience into a platform that inspires action, raises awareness, and unlocks funding.

  Emma Lawton, blogger, artist, speaker and co-founder, More Human

• 4.55PM - 5.00PM
  Chairs' closing remarks
• 5.00PM - 6.00PM
  Drinks Reception

With thanks to our sponsors: 

With thanks to our exhibitors:

As event organisers, we at Civil Society Media are on our own journey to a sustainable future. We have calculated the carbon footprint of this event and implemented several measures to reduce it, including:

• Offering a fully vegetarian menu throughout the day.
• Selecting a venue which is the first and only royal college to achieve
• The Carbon Trust Standard, the world’s leading independent certification of an organisation’s achievements in reducing environmental impact.
• Going paperless—our event app will provide the programme, presentations, and delegate list, replacing traditional printed materials.
• Using fully recyclable badges—please hand in your badge and lanyard at the end of the day so they can be recycled and reused.

We are continually working to monitor and reduce our environmental impact. We have offset the remaining emissions of this event by investing in a carbon offset scheme. We have partnered with an ICROA-accredited organisation, ensuring that only certified carbon offsets from internationally recognised registries are used to meet the highest standards of environmental integrity. 

Great ways to save!

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Venue: Royal College of Physicians, London, United Kingdom, NW1 4LE 

The building is situated on St Andrews Place opposite Regent’s Park. It is a five-minute walk from Regent’s Park station or Great Portland Street station. There is a lift platform for wheelchair access at the entrance.

Download a larger version of the image above here.

For exhibition queries contact Yvette Micallef

For registration queries contact our events team

For speaker queries contact Jenni O Donovan

For media partnerships and marketing queries contact Kirsty Brown

• Payment
  1. Registrations will not be fully confirmed until correct payment is received. If you have any issues with payment, please contact [email protected]
• Programming
  1. Please note that speakers and topics were confirmed at the time of publishing, however, circumstances beyond the control of the organisers may necessitate substitutions, alterations or cancellations of the speakers and/or topics. As such Civil Society Media Ltd reserves the right to alter or modify the advertised speakers and/or topics if necessary. Any substitutions or alterations will be updated on our web page as soon as possible.
• Event attendance
  1. Delegates are required to observe and comply with all laws, regulations, rules and requirements relating to COVID-19 and which Civil Society Media has adopted as part of its operations. Civil Society Media will communicate the COVID-19 Measures to you from time to time including and without limitation via pre-Event emails, its social channels and the event website
  2. Civil Society Media reserves the right to alter or remove its COVID-19 Measures at any time in response to the latest guidance or legislation from the UK Government or as otherwise deemed necessary by Civil Society Media in its discretion.
  3. Civil Society Media reserves the right to eject you or refuse you entry from the event if, in our reasonable opinion, you are refusing to comply with any COVID-19 Measures without reasonable grounds.
• Cancellation or reimbursement
  1. On receipt of your booking form, your place is confirmed. Delegate substitutions are allowed. Refunds on cancellations will only be issued (less a 15% administration charge) up to and including 30 days prior to the event. Refunds will not be issued after this date. Confirmation of cancellations MUST be in writing and sent to [email protected]
  2. Individual registrants who registered as part of a discounted group registration are not eligible for refunds, unless the entire group cancels. Registrations may be transferred to another person from the same organisation at any time.
• Postponement or Cancellation of the Event by the Organiser
  1. Should we have to cancel or postpone due to COVID-19 we will endeavour to give you as much notice as is reasonably possible.
  2. In the event that we have to postpone this event due to COVID-19, we will transfer your ticket to the next alternative date.