Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Fundraising Convention and made it such a great success!
Missing it already? It might be over for another year, but here you can relive the highlights or experience them for the first time. Thank you to the incredible Fundraising Convention Board for curating such a great event and to our speakers, volunteers, sponsors and exhibitors for making the event what it is: the best there is!
If you enjoyed your experience at Convention, please let us know - we'd love to share your thoughts with anyone thinking of attending next year!
Take a look at how inspired, enthused and engaged our delegates were over the three days by checking out the comments on social media with #IoFFC 
Official Convention photography by PictureThis-Photo - please note, photography may be used on future IoF marketing materials. If you do not wish for your photo to be used please get in touch.
Convention highlights - Day 1
Highlights video
Fundraising Convention was opened with an inspiring plenary from the Channel 4 News anchor and journalist, Jon Snow. Hear his reflections and other highlights from the first day in our film, produced by Be Inspired Films
Welcome to the new IoF Chair
We welcomed Amanda Bringans, Director of Fundraising at British Heart Foundation, as the new Chair of the Institute of Fundraising.
Amanda brings with her an impressive track record of experience having led fundraising teams at some of the UK’s most loved and supported charities. Her previous roles include Director of Global Fundraising and Communications at VSO and 16 years working at Macmillan Cancer Support where she became Director of Fundraising. She has also held senior roles with Leonard Cheshire Disability and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Amanda joined the British Heart Foundation as its Director of Fundraising in December 2015.
Read Amanda's article on the Guardian Voluntary Sector on the 5 big issues all fundraisers face.
We would also like to thank Richard Taylor, Executive Director of Fundraising & Marketing at Macmillan Cancer Support, for his leadership as IoF Chair over the past three years. And a huge thank you to retiring trustees Stephen George and Mike Wade for their six years on our Board... we know it’s thank you but not good bye!
IoF AGM
Our AGM took place on Monday 3rd July at the Barbican. Some of the main highlights were:
- Danielle Atkinson and Emily Drayson were re-elected to the IoF Board, and were joined by Isobel Michael who was elected by our membership for the first time. They will be joined by Tim Hunter who was co-opted onto the Board at its first meeting immediately after the AGM. Read more.
- The Institute awarded fellowships to three fundraisers: congratulations to Michael Clark, Rev. Patricia Rogers and Caroline Siddall. Read more.
Rapidata Tracking Report 2017
Rapidata, which has tracked Direct Debit trends for fourteen years, released its Charity Direct Debit Tracking Report 2017 on Monday.
Providing vital benchmarking data, the report gives you the latest insights around regular giving, Direct Debit cancellations, online giving and attrition rates, enabling you to enhance your supporter engagement, improve your donor experience and maximise your regular income.
You can download the Rapidata Tracking Report 2017.
Winners of the National Fundraising Awards 2017 announced!
Congratulations to all our amazing winners from the National Fundraising Awards 2017, which we held at the Brewery on Monday evening.
We were privileged to be able to recognise the achievements of some incredibly talented individuals for their innovative and life-affirming work. Take a look at the full list of 2017 Awards winners!
View the official photography from the Awards ceremony.
Convention highlights - Day 2
Highlights video
Highlights from the second day of Fundraising Convention 2017 featuring a rallying call to action from our plenary speaker Cleve Jones, US author, campaigner and leading LGBTQ rights activist. Produced by Be Inspired Films.
#HaveYourSay
Remember A Charity asked delegates and volunteers at Fundraising Convention 2017 to have their say on the world they want to pass on. Here is what they shared… #HaveYourSay
Meditation
As part of the Wellbeing at Fundraising Convention 2017, sponsor Wisdom Fish ran both live meditations, which were well attended by attendees, and supplied audio meditations for both delegates and speakers, providing listeners with a solid foundation in meditation practice.
Please find these meditations below:
Download Meditation series 1 (.zip folder)
Download Meditation series 2 (.zip folder)
© Neil Hope/Wisdom Fish 2017. This sound recording is for your personal contemplation only. It’s not to be edited or used in any saleable or commercial manner. For more information, please contact info@wisdomfish.co.uk
Convention highlights - Day 3
Commission on Donor Experience launches
Wednesday lunchtime saw the much-anticipated launch of the Commission on Donor Experience and the announcement that the IoF will be making sure that its recommendations and resources have a home in which to live and grow with the fundraising community. Read the key lessons from the Commission.
You can access the reports and resources created by the Commission on Donor Experience on the Sofii website.
#FREDtalks with Be Inspired Films and Richard Turner: The Old Ways Are Broken
Catch Richard's interview with Ravinol Chambers, founder of Be Inspired Films in this eye-opening FRED (FundRaising EDucation) talk, first streamed live on Wednesday.
Welcome to our new Chair of Convention Board
After three years chairing the Fundraising Convention Board we thank Liz Tait, Director of Fundraising at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, for ensuring that Convention has gone from strength to strength and is now settled in its new home at the Barbican.
We also welcomed Joe Jenkins, Director of Supporter Impact and Income at The Children's Society, as Convention’s new Chair. He has big shoes to fill and is already looking forward to Fundraising Convention 2018, as are we!
