The Fundraising Everywhere Podcast

A few months ago, we broke down the incoming UK email soft opt-in regulation and what it could mean for charities. Now, the guidance is finally here - and a lot has changed. Josh Leigh from Hynt returns to the Fundraising Everywhere podcast with three specialists to unpack the latest ICO guidance and the fundraising regulator's new framework. Fundraising regulation strategist Cam St-Omer Donaldson explains where the two bodies differ, what third-party platforms mean for your data, and why a Legitimate Interest Assessment should be your first step. People and processes consultant Kirsty Mooney breaks down how to map your data flows, document your decisions, and get your team trained and confident. And digital fundraising strategist Sarah Crowhurst explores the opportunities beyond compliance - from smarter segmentation and welcome journeys to SMS, telemarketing, and boosting supporter retention by up to 9%. Whether you're a small charity wondering where to start or a major organisation navigating complex partner ecosystems, this episode will help you turn regulation into opportunity. Listen to part 1 here If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

In this episode of the Fundraising Everywhere podcast, host Simon Scriver sits down with Robin Peake, Deputy CEO of Wycliffe Bible Translators and author of the newly updated Complete Fundraising Handbook (8th edition, published by the Directory of Social Change), to talk about what it takes to build a resilient, confident, and effective fundraising career. Robin shares the story behind writing the book — a nearly 400-page reference designed for fundraisers in the first five years of their careers, especially those working solo or in small teams. They dig into the "squiggly career" path many fundraisers find themselves on, why fundraising is hard (but not complicated), and how to build the confidence to push back when senior colleagues offer opinions that aren't grounded in evidence. The conversation also covers: - Time management - Stephen Covey's urgent/important matrix, the Pareto principle, and why "being busy" shouldn't be worn as a badge of honor - Resilience and self-care - how to develop an inner sense of security that doesn't depend on whether a funder says yes or no - Career development - the progression from managing tasks to managing projects, people, and change, plus the powerful question of "what's the job after your next job?" - Practical starting points - how to carve out time for learning and development when your to-do list never ends Become a Fundraising Everywhere member for ongoing support Purchase The Complete Fundraising Handbook — available from the Directory of Social Change

Following our "Banned and Blocked" webinar on Meta advertising for digital fundraising, we're diving deeper into the questions we didn't have time to answer on the day. Simon Scriver sits down with Josh Leigh from Hynt to tackle the Meta challenges charities are facing right now - from realistic ad budgets and lead generation strategies to navigating Meta's ever-changing restrictions on social issue content. We cover: What budget do you really need? Why £500 won't cut it for donor acquisition on Meta - and what a realistic starting budget looks like From lead to donation: How to turn guide downloads and lead form sign-ups into actual gifts, and why you should ask sooner than you think Finding your "why": Using Simon Sinek's Golden Circle to craft messaging that stops the scroll in 0.7 seconds Meta lead forms vs. landing pages: Which performs better and why Meta doesn't want you leaving the platform Advantage+ targeting, social issue ad approvals, health content restrictions, and more — practical answers to the questions fundraisers submitted Check out the full Banned & Blocked Webinar On-Demand Why not become a member? Where you'll get full access to all of our Fundamentals, including our Digital Fundamentals, created in partnership with Hynt If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Navigating rapid growth, fame and change. Medical Aid for Palestinians rose from an organisation with an annual income of £10m to over £50m in less than a year. From a small, niche, and dedicated supporter base to attracting tens of thousands of new supporters from over 150 countries through digital channels. Find out more about how the charity has adapted its ways of working and fundraising programme to deliver on ambitious goals, whilst also planning for a future where the media and public interest fades, but the need continues to be great. Key learnings from this session: A case study of a small team shifting their approach in response to rapid organic growth / an emergency How to drive reactive giving Focusing in on sustainable giving Want to continue your learning? Join us at our Individual Giving Conference on the 15th October 2026 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

In this rapid-fire Q&A episode of the Fundraising Everywhere podcast, host Simon Scriver puts corporate partnerships expert Andy King (Fireside Fundraising) on the spot with the most commonly asked questions from the Fundraising Everywhere community. Pulled from feedback and conference audiences, this episode covers everything fundraisers want to know about building and sustaining corporate partnerships. Topics include: What good corporate partnerships actually look like — and why companies don't want to be treated like bank accounts Fewer big partnerships vs. more medium-sized ones: which strategy to start with Realistic partnership values for small charities (with real-world examples) How to find and qualify the right prospects using mission alignment and giving preferences Cold vs. warm outreach: realistic reply rates and why the difference is staggering Mixing channels (email, phone, LinkedIn, Instagram DMs) and why consistency matters How to approach corporates at networking events without killing the mood Andy also shares details about upcoming Fireside Fundraising research on how companies give, available free at the end of September, plus a Fundraising Everywhere webinar sharing the highlights. Andy King, Founder of Fireside Fundraising — find him on LinkedIn or at firesidefundraising.com Become a member to access our Relationship Fundraising Fundamentals Check out our next Corporate Partnerships Conference

In March 2025, Mind launched a dedicated In Memory cash journey – our first tailored email stewardship programme for supporters giving in memory of a loved one. This session will share how the five part email journey was shaped by audience insight, the results from six months of performance data, and our plans for stewarding different in memory audience segments across channels. Attendees will gain practical ideas for designing supporter journeys that resonate emotionally, interpreting data to refine approaches, and building multi-channel stewardship strategies that strengthen relationships and encourage repeat giving. Key learnings from this session: How to use audience insight to design meaningful, tailored supporter journeys. How to analyse performance metrics -including second gift rates – to guide improvements. Mind’s plan to segment and steward in memory audiences effectively across multiple channels. Want to continue your learning? Join us at our Legacy and In-Memory Conference on the 24th September 2026 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

In this episode of the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast, host Cam St.Omer Donaldson is joined by two graduates of the JustGiving Digital Learning Grant Programme — Kayleigh Wingate from Cambridge Cyrenians and Claire Caborn from Dove Cottage Day Hospice. Both fundraisers work in small charities where wearing multiple hats is the norm, and both came into the DLG program with different goals — Kayleigh to build her fundraising foundations after a background in copywriting and marketing, and Claire to take her charity's first steps into digital fundraising ahead of a landmark 30th anniversary Big Give Christmas Challenge. Together, they share: What they learned across six months of the program — from email marketing and social media strategy to storytelling and grants Why it's okay not to have all the answers (and why that realisation was liberating) How the program boosted their confidence and sparked new strategies for their organisations Why Fundraising Everywhere feels like an extended fundraising team — and a "fundraising encyclopaedia" Applications for the Digital Learning Grant Program 2027 (sponsored by JustGiving) are now open. Head to https://www.fundraisingeverywhere.com/digitallearninggrant/ to apply. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

In this episode of the Fundraising Everywhere podcast, host Cam St-Omer Donaldson is joined by Claire Stanley, Director of Policy and Communications at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, to unpack not only what the new rules mean, but also where charities are still looking for greater clarity. Together they explore the distinction between the ICO's legal guidance and the Fundraising Regulator's fundraising framework, discuss some of the grey areas charities are navigating, and explain how the Chartered Institute of Fundraising is working with regulators to represent the sector's experiences and help shape future guidance. They explore: What the charitable purposes soft opt-in changes and what it doesn't. The difference between the ICO's legal guidance and the Fundraising Regulator's practical framework. Areas where charities are still seeking greater clarity, including common implementation questions. How the Chartered Institute of Fundraising is engaging with the ICO and other regulators to raise sector feedback and support further clarification. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

In this episode of the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast, host Sarah Crowhurst — Founder of digital fundraising agency Hynt — sits down with three brilliant sector leaders ahead of her own talk at Pizza for Losers , the event that celebrates what happens when things go wrong. Sarah is preparing to speak about professional burnout and a knock to her confidence that left her questioning her future. To calm her nerves and sharpen her thinking, she chats with: Henry Rolling (Flying Cars Innovation Agency) — who shares how his first Christmas appeal at the Refugee Council went out without a return envelope, why failure is easier for some people than others, and what cracking an apple with your bare hands has to do with persistence. Lesley Pinder (Compass) — who spoke at the very first Pizza for Losers about burnout and missing the warning signs. She reflects on the "vulnerability hangover" of opening up on stage, and why having your team in the front row cheering you on can change everything. Harpreet Kondel — who opens up about being the only person of colour in the room for 32 years, the roles she was never offered, and why she refuses to let others define her worth. Together, they explore vulnerability, self-belief, bias, and why talking about failure might be one of the bravest and most important things we can do.

What does return on investment actually look like in corporate fundraising — and what can the numbers tell us about strategy? In this episode, host Simon Scriver brings together Caroline Richardson (Lark Owl) and Andy King (Fireside Fundraising) to dig into Caroline's latest benchmarking research on corporate partnerships. What does return on investment actually look like in corporate fundraising — and what can the numbers tell us about strategy? They explore why more charities than ever are doing corporate fundraising, what the data reveals about success rates (including why 50% of respondents had a 100% success rate — and why that's not necessarily the full story), and how ROI for corporate partnerships is trending. Caroline and Andy also unpack the key strategic difference between a high-volume and a quality-over-quantity approach, why corporate fundraising has more in common with major gifts than trusts, and why it's very much a team sport. Caroline and Andy also discuss: - ROI - Percentage of charities actually doing corporate fundraising - Success rates - Differences between large and small charities - Differences between 2025 and 2026 Caroline's newsletter, The Nest Egg Fireside Fundraising research on why companies give If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

The digital fundraising landscape is changing. How are you navigating it? If you get your digital engine room (Meta, Google and Email) in order, then you can continue to get value out of digital, despite the ongoing restrictions put on charity advertisers looking to grow their share of voice and share of money. Join Josh Leigh, Director at Hynt in this session that will equip attendees with practical strategies and tools to navigate the ongoing changes in digital advertising: charities need to know WHY they exist, and work in the middle of the marketing funnel to bring it to life. Key learnings from this session: Participants will understand how the ongoing restrictions on digital advertising are affecting charities. You will learn how to create effective campaigns that leverage your charity’s value to grow consideration and create deeper value through digital retention. Are you ready to gain actionable insights and tools to implement immediately? Don't forget to join us at our Digital Fundraising Conference, happening on the 9th July 2026, learn more here If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Is email the most underrated tool in your fundraising toolkit? In this episode, host Simon Scriver sits down with Anya Muir Wood, Head of Creative at Forward Action, to explore why email deserves far more attention than it gets — and how to make it work harder for your cause. Anya shares how Forward Action takes a data-led, human-first approach to email fundraising, helping organisations of all sizes move from sporadic sends to strategic, story-driven campaigns that genuinely connect with supporters. They cover: Why fear of unsubscribes is holding your email programme back How to overcome the blank page and write emails people actually want to open The power of honesty, urgency, and a single clear ask Where AI fits in (and where it doesn't) for creative email teams How to build an email content plan even with limited capacity Anya also gives a preview of her session at the Digital Fundraising Conference on 9th July — "Six Email Tactics That Make Supporters Fall in Love With Your Cause" — packed with practical, steal-worthy ideas you can put into action straight away. Links & Resources: Forward Action website Join us at our Digital Fundraising Conference If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

What does it actually feel like to be a donor — and why does it matter more than you think? In this episode, host Simon Scriver is joined by Steven Dodds (Managing Director) and Paul Seabrook (CEO) of Beautiful Insights, a full-service market research agency specialising in the charity sector. Together they explore one of the most overlooked challenges in fundraising: how do you measure the emotional experience of your supporters, not just the financial data? The conversation covers: Why satisfaction alone doesn't predict donor loyalty or generosity The SAFE Index — Beautiful Insights' benchmarking tool for measuring non-financial supporter KPIs How donors often vividly remember why they first gave, but rarely recall anything about the ongoing supporter experience Why feeling "useful" might actually be a warning sign in your donor data How charities can compete with commercial brands that have mastered emotional advertising The difference between transactional stewardship and communications that genuinely move people This episode sets the scene for Steven and Paul's session at the upcoming Individual Giving Conference, where they'll dive deeper into the specific emotions that drive donor retention — and which ones should have your attention. Find out more about the SAFE Index and Beautiful Insights at beautifulinsights.com Join us at our Individual Giving Conference 2026 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

In this episode, host Simon Scriver is joined by Natasha Evans (About Loyalty & Your Experience May Vary podcast) and David Amos-Reeves (Prostate Cancer UK & Experience Hub) to reflect on Fundraising Everywhere's recent Supporter Experience Conference. Together, they unpack some of the conference's key themes - including the "relevancy crisis" facing charities, why so many organisations struggle to turn their commitment to supporter experience into real organisational change, and what it truly means to reflect a supporter's motivations back to them. They also explore the differences between large and small charities when it comes to delivering great supporter experiences, share standout moments from the conference (including a powerful session on storytelling from Lisa at Fireside Fundraising), and look ahead to what's coming; from AI's role in closing the relevancy gap, to protecting the irreplaceable human element in fundraising. Members can watch the Supporter Experience Conference sessions On Demand Not a member? Check out our membership options here Find Natasha and David's podcast, Your Experience May Vary Check out The Experience Hub Connect with David Connect with Natasha If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Here's a session from Community Conference 2025, hosted by Nikki Bell. With speakers: Bushra Ahmed from Lloyds Bank Foundation, Kerry Thomas from Pancreatic Cancer UK, Gemma Sherington from Refuge, Lauren Williams from Age UK Community Fundraising can help kickstart your career. Don’t believe us? Then hear from four sector leaders, each with very different and inspiring careers as they share how their experiences working in partnership with communities and in community fundraising have helped them be where they are today. From CEO to board member, to heading up fundraising teams and working across services, our four panellists will share their insight, expertise and learnings that we hope will inspire you in your career path. This session is not to missed! Our Community Fundraising Conference is back on the 17th June! Learn more here If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

The charitable soft opt-in ICO guidance has just landed. For many charities, this is the biggest shift in supporter communications rules in years. And our inbox and membership chat are already full of questions: Does event attendance count as expressing interest? What about volunteering, buying a raffle ticket, or clicking a link? Can we now contact people we previously couldn’t? And just as importantly…Where are the grey areas charities need to tread carefully? To help the sector unpack all of this quickly, we’re hosting a session with Mark Burnett from Hope & May. Get access to the full webinar & 30 minute Q&A. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

What happens when you hand your fundraising campaign over to an AI? In this episode, Host Simon Scriver speaks with Ben Cohen, AI Lead at Good Innovation, about a bold experiment he ran during his London Marathon fundraising campaign. Rather than host another bingo night or curry evening, Ben built Zosia; an AI agent - and gave her one job: raise £500 in a month. Ben shares how he set Zosia up with her own email address, a website, a newsletter, and even a Telegram connection, then gave her as much autonomy as possible. The results were remarkable (she raised nearly £2,000), but not without a few surprises along the way - including the moment she tried to break into his WhatsApp. They explore what it really means to build an AI agent, why personifying your AI can actually make it work better, and what this experiment reveals about the future of fundraising. Ben's donation page For Dogs for Good Meet Zosia Want to dive deeper into supporter experience? Join us at our Supporter Experience Conference on Thursday 21st May 2026 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Are you looking to make your emails stand out in ever busier inboxes? It’s time to step away from the humdrum and get creative. In this session the mobilisation agency Claire Donner of More Onion will take you through the key elements of the creative process including practical exercises and ideas you can take away and use with your team right away. They’ll share how you create richer experiences whatever your budget and team size. Patrick Beswick of the homelessness charity St Mungo’s will then share examples of how they’ve used creativity to step up their supporter engagement and strengthen their fundraising work. Join us to learn how to add elements of interactivity, creativity and humour to make your emails and webpages stand out and keep supporters engaged. Key learning from this session: How to be creative at any budget level and create richer supporter communications. Want to dive deeper into supporter experience? Join us at our Supporter Experience Conference on Thursday 21st May 2026 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

This episode with Harbi Jama, Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships at Impetus is designed for people considering a career in corporate partnerships or corporate fundraising, as well as those already in the field who are looking to take the next step in their career. Drawing on real-world experience, the discussion will explore what it takes to build successful corporate partnerships, develop commercially minded fundraising skills, and progress into senior leadership roles. Participants will gain practical advice on career pathways, skill development, and strategic decision-making, including how to position themselves for growth, navigate career transitions, and build strong relationships with corporate partners. The session will also offer honest insights into the realities of the sector, helping attendees make informed choices about what to do next and how to accelerate their impact. Key learnings from this session By the end of this session, participants will: - Understand the different career pathways into corporate partnerships and corporate fundraising - Gain clarity on the skills, experiences, and mindsets needed to progress at different career stages - Learn how to build and manage strong corporate relationships, from first conversation to long-term partnership - Receive practical advice on what to do next to accelerate their career, whether entering the sector or aiming for leadership roles - Hear honest insights into the realities, challenges, and opportunities of corporate fundraising - Leave with greater confidence in how to position themselves, grow their network, and maximise impact Click here to subscribe to our email list for exclusive fundraising resources, early access to training, special discounts and more If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

In this session, Bethan Francis, Managing Director at Stratcom UK will explore the real drivers behind great fundraising calls — and it all starts with the fundraiser. We’ll unpack the qualities and instincts that make some fundraisers exceptional, and what can (and can’t) be taught. From natural empathy and conversational confidence to resilience and active listening, we’ll dive into the key traits that matter most on the phone. We’ll also share practical insights into how to recruit, train, and retain brilliant callers — including how to keep teams motivated, engaged, and continuously growing in their role. Whether you run a calling team or partner with an agency, this session will give you a fresh perspective on what makes a good call truly great. Key learnings from this session: - A great call doesn’t start with a script — it starts with a great fundraiser - What should you look out for when recruiting a new fundraiser - What skills and behaviours should you nurture and develop Want to continue your learning? Join us at our Face-to-Face and Telephone Fundraising Conference coming up on Thursday 23rd April f you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.