Trusts and Major Donors Conference 2026

Programme

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Sessions

Trusts & Foundations Success Rates: Learning from The List and the Funder Success Rates Spreadsheet

Speaker(s): Jo Jeffrey, Full Circle Consultancy and Lucy Stone, No Stone Unturned Fundraising

A data and trends focused panel unpacking how charities and funders currently report application success rates, and why these figures often differ. The session looks at what might be driving the gap, and covers monitoring and evaluation practice, a topic members have specifically asked to see more of.

Strategies for Engaging with Invitation-Only Funders and Securing Unrestricted Funding
Speaker(s): Ally Rea, Lime Green Consulting, Mike Crofts , CEO, 3Pillars Project (in conversation with Mike Zywina, Lime Green Consulting)

Explores why more funders are moving towards an invitation-only model and how fundraisers can engage with them effectively. Covers good practice in donor cultivation and building relationships that lead to sustained, unrestricted funding.

Rapid Research: A No-Nonsense System for Finding and Vetting Prospects
Speaker(s): Celia Owusu, Prospect Research and Insights Manager, Christian Aid

A practical, tools-based session on making prospect research faster and more efficient, including how to vet prospects quickly and identify organisational alignment. Covers the use of AI in prospect research, including the pros and cons, and how to widen the geographic pool of prospects (e.g. into Europe and beyond).

Fundamentals of Building a Trust Fundraising Programme from Scratch

Speaker: Suzie Rees, Founder, Suzie Rees Fundraising

Aimed at charities who have never done any trusts and foundations fundraising before, this session is a whistlestop tour through the most important, realistic actions to take when getting started, with the assumption you have limited time and are spinning many plates – to ensure your new trust fundraising programme is as effective and efficient as it can be.

Key learnings
– Learn the key steps to take if your charity is looking to start fundraising from trusts and foundations for the very first time.
– Grant readiness, researching potential funders, building relationships and developing applications
– How to look after your funders once grants start coming in.

Structures for success

How to develop the groundwork to ensure your future success: from strategies, systems, and processes to team skills and empowerment.

Protecting Your Mental Health in a Challenging Landscape

Speaker(s): Cassie Edmiston, Prisoners’ Education Trust mental health first aider with lived experience (in conversation with Mike Zywina, Lime Green Consulting)

An open, honest conversation about the impact of the current fundraising landscape on mental health, and how organisations can better support their teams. Drawing on experience as both a fundraiser and a qualified mental health first aider, and covering practical support options for individuals and organisations.

Starting and Scaling Major Donor and Mid-Value Programmes

Speaker: Andy Milligan, Managing Director, UK & Europe, Veritus Group

Whether you’re building a major donor or mid-level programme for the first time or looking to accelerate an existing one, success depends on having the right strategy, structure, and communication plan in place. Strong programmes don’t happen by chance, they are built on a clear understanding of donor potential, meaningful engagement, and a scalable approach to relationship fundraising.

This session explores the foundations of successful major donor and mid-level programmes, from securing organisational buy-in and identifying the right supporters to developing effective communication plans that increase retention, grow donor value, and build a sustainable pipeline of future major donors. Participants will leave with practical strategies, proven approaches, and actionable insights to help them launch, strengthen, or scale programmes that deliver long-term fundraising growth.

Key learnings
– Build a framework for starting or scaling major donor and mid-level programmes.
– Identify the donors most likely to increase their giving and engagement.
– Create communication plans that improve retention and maximise donor lifetime value.
– Understand the systems, processes, and metrics needed to support programme growth.
– Turn mid-level donors into a sustainable pipeline of future major donors.

Working with DAFs and Exploring Power Dynamics within Philanthropy
Speaker(s): Diana Frazer, Sr. Client Experience Leader, Veritus Group

Explores how donor advised funds operate and where they fit within major donor and trust fundraising strategies. Includes a focus on Gen Z philanthropy, intergenerational wealth transfer, and the wider power dynamics at play in philanthropy.

How to Set, Track, and Manage Trusts and Grants Fundraising Budgets

A finance and fundraising crossover session breaking down what fundraisers need to know about reading a set of charitable trust accounts and preparing a project budget, in plain, practical terms. Builds on a previous FE session on decoding accounts, which was popular with members.

High Value Panel (Donors and Funders): How They Set Priorities and What They’re Looking for in Applications

Speaker: Sufina Ahmad, Director, John Ellerman Foundation

Sufina will describe the approach that they have taken at John Ellerman Foundation to set their strategy and priorities as an organisation. She will share how this translates into their funding guidelines and how they try to be as transparent, accountable and effective as possible within their grantmaking for both applicants and grant-holders.

Key learnings
– Learn the process for designing a strategy..
– Gain a detailed overview of the application process – from pre-application through to becoming a grant-holder.

Philanthropic Psychology / Behavioural Science for High Value Donors

An in-depth look at how to meet high-value donors where they are with the right message. With practical tips for relationship cultivation, storytelling, and influencing.

Trustees and Major Gift Fundraising: The Honest Truth
Speakers: Angie Turner, Head of Philanthropy, The Children’s Trust and Emma Low, Nova Fundraising

Major gift fundraising is often described as being all about relationships, but what does that really look like in practice? In this candid and practical session, Angie Turner, Senior Philanthropy Manager at The Children’s Trust, joins consultant Emma Low to explore the realities of engaging trustees in major donor fundraising.

Drawing on decades of fundraising experience across a range of charities, we will discuss what works, what doesn’t, and why trustee involvement can be one of the most powerful assets in securing transformational gifts. We’ll share practical examples, common challenges, and honest reflections on overcoming barriers such as trustee confidence, competing priorities, and the fear of “making the ask”.

Attendees will leave with realistic, actionable ideas they can implement immediately, whether they work in a small charity with a volunteer board or a larger organisation with an established major donor programme. Expect a conversational session packed with practical tips, lessons learned, and plenty of honesty.

Key learnings
– How to engage trustees confidently and effectively in major donor fundraising.
– Practical ways to build stronger connections between trustees and prospective major donors.
– Common mistakes charities make when involving trustees and how to avoid them.

The Fundraiser Reset: simple strategies to help you take action and raise more

Speakers: Alicia Granger, Consultant, Alicia Granger Fundraising

This session is a calm, practical reset for trusts and major donor fundraisers who feel stretched, overwhelmed, and juggling deadlines, proposals, and pressure. In just 35 minutes, you’ll step back and get clear on the simple strategies that create momentum — not more work.

Together, we’ll create space to reflect on what’s working and what isn’t. We’ll explore three mindset shifts that make progress feel possible and you’ll learn how to simplify your week and build momentum through small but intentional actions. You’ll leave with a simple, repeatable system you can use straight away to feel clearer on what you need to do to raise more.

Key learnings
– A simple, practical framework to prioritise the actions that make the most impact on your fundraising
– A weekly rhythm that helps you stay focused and builds momentum
– Mindset shifts to create consistent progress towards your best fundraising year yet.

The Intelligence behind the Ask: Turning donor insight into major gifts

Speakers: Hannah Shepherd, Philanthropy Consultant, Money Tree Fundraising and Ulrike Bracken, Prospect Research Manager, Refugee Council

A Major Donor Programme: The Magic Bullet for Income Growth?

Speaker: Louise Morris, Summit Fundraising