Grant makers: spotting an AI doozy – and what to do instead

Tune in to Ugo Ikokwu's session from our 2025 Trusts and Major Donors Conference "Grant makers: spotting an AI doozy – and what to do instead" “Grant makers: spotting an AI doozy and what to do instead” is a practical, myth-busting session designed for fundraisers navigating the new reality of AI-powered bid writing. As more charities turn to tools like ChatGPT to save time, funders are increasingly encountering applications that sound polished but hollow, generic or ethically risky. This session will help you understand what funders are actually looking out for and how you can use AI well without undermining your voice, credibility or case for support. We’ll cover the essentials: what AI is (in plain English), how it can genuinely support your fundraising, the ethical considerations you must keep in view, and the common “AI doozies” that immediately raise red flags for funders. Drawing on my experience assessing hundreds of applications and using AI in my own grant-making and social investment work at Trust for London, I’ll show you how to use AI to enhance clarity and storytelling while keeping lived experience, accuracy and authenticity front and centre. You will leave with practical tips, examples, and questions to ask yourself before submitting any AI-supported application, helping you write smarter bids that still sound powerfully you. Key learnings from this session: Attendees will learn where AI genuinely adds value, editing, structuring, simplifying, sense-checking without replacing their expertise or diluting their organisation’s voice. Funders increasingly spot tell-tale signs of poorly used AI: generic language, inaccurate claims, mismatched data, and applications that sound professional but say very little. You’ll learn how to avoid these traps. You’ll understand what red flags funders look for, why some AI-written bids get rejected immediately, and how to make sure your application still reflects authenticity, lived experience and clear need. Don't forget to join us at our Trusts and Major Donors Conference, happening on Thursday 10th December. 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.  

Tune in to Eoghan Beecher's session from our 2025 Individual Giving Conference "Why Won't You Let Me Donate?" There are many reasons why someone would choose to donate to a charity of their choice, but there are also many reasons why they might not donate. In this session, we will explore areas that may prevent a supporter from completing an online donation. We will focus on a variety of areas, including creative journeys, user experience and technical implementation. Our goal is to increase revenue from those who already want to give, but have his an entirely avoidable barrier. Key learnings from this session: UX design Payment technology Cyber security Digital Marketing Don't forget to join us at our Individual Giving Conference, happening on Thursday 15th October. 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.

In this episode of the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast, host Simon Scriver sits down with Jeff Schreifels (Principal & Owner) and Andy Milligan (Managing Director, UK & Europe) from Veritus Group for an "ask the expert" session tackling the most frequently asked questions from fundraisers about major and mid-level donor programs. The conversation covers practical, numbers-backed guidance on: Touch points & channels - Whether newsletters, mass emails, and appeals count as real touch points, and how to blend direct response with personal cultivation Caseload size - Why 150 donors is the benchmark for a full-time major gift officer (and 500–700 for mid-level), plus how to scale that down for one-person shops Qualifying donors - How to identify donors ready for a major gift approach, and why current giving behaviour beats wealth screening Justifying the investment - Why organisations hesitate to fund major gift programs, the ROI comparison with direct response, and why you should budget for at least two years Re-engaging lapsed donors - A multi-channel approach, and why you shouldn't let re-engagement come at the detriment of active donors Contact frequency - At least one touchpoint per month for major donors, and why most organisations are under-contacting rather than over-contacting Value attrition - The overlooked metric that's costing nonprofits 40–60% of revenue from existing donors year over year, and why year-over-year growth can mask the problem Program costs & core costs - How to work with finance teams to present full-cost donor offers, and why major donors understand overhead better than we think A huge thank you to Veritus for being our headline for our Trusts and Major Donors Conference, happening on the 10th December. Learn more here Check out Veritus' upcoming webinars Take the free donor assessment Contact Veritus 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 has a conversation with proud FE member Sarah Shooter, Head of Development at Theatre Royal Wakefield. This episode delves into Sarah's journey as a fundraiser, the unique challenges and successes she’s experienced in the arts sector, and the importance of community and personal touch in fundraising. Discover insights on membership, corporate fundraising, and the art of balancing various fundraising activities within a small team. Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or new to the field, this episode offers valuable lessons on maintaining passion and optimism in the face of challenges. Click here to find out more about Fundraising Everywhere membership 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.

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.