The Institute of Fundraising has begun to work more closely with philanthropists and called for "more and better asking"  by fundraisers.

The Institute, working with the Philanthropy Review, hosted a "high level" meeting yesterday bringing together major donors and charity directors of fundraising with the aim of identifying and breaking down barriers between the two groups.

Institute chief executive Peter Lewis was positive about the meeting and the opportunities it brought up. The Institute will now develop an action plan to build on yesterday's meeting and further work on major donor-fundraiser links.

He said: “We’ve felt for some time that philanthropists and fundraisers need to better understand each others’ point of view. Today’s meeting provided that opportunity and delivered some valuable learning points which will lead to fundraisers and philanthropists working more closely together.”

However he recognised the need for continued and improved communication to ensure both groups profit and the potential for giving is fully utilised.

“There was a general feeling that there needs to be more and better asking from good causes. If philanthropists aren’t being engaged with then why should they even consider giving?" Lewis said.

"If we can get philanthropists and fundraisers properly engaged at the right level then there is no limit to the additional benefit that could be delivered.”

In January the Institute identified itself as “having a role to increase giving more widely” in its proposed five-year strategy, which has since gone out to review. It said it would do this by improving relations with other sector organisations.

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