Fundraising with Purpose: Insights from the 2025 Chartered Institute of Fundraising Convention

Our General Manager of Clients and Business Development, Naomi, was delighted to attend the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF) Convention at the QEII Centre in London on the 9th and 10th of June.

With over 1800 delegates and 95+ sessions on offer, this year's event promised to be a dynamic forum for fundraisers at every level. Every year, sector professionals come together to network and share best practices and we were thrilled to be represented by Naomi at this year's Convention. 

Day one at the Convention was filled with enthusiasm and inspiration, bringing together a community of fundraisers all driven by a shared purpose: to champion the causes they serve. 

This year's theme, 'Fundraising with Purpose,' couldn't have been more fitting, particularly as our sector continues to adapt to economic challenges and the lasting effects of the pandemic. As the opening plenary speaker, Monty Halls set the tone perfectly.  

His stories of resilience and evident commitment to the natural world served as a great reminder of how fundraisers, too, are explorers. Exploring the uncharted territory and finding new ways to inspire giving. Naomi resonated with his idea of embracing a “bake failure into culture’’ mindset. The reality is that things will go wrong, but with a focus on team resilience and learning, failure can merely be a cornerstone of success.

Another highlight was the ''New Face of Face-to-Face Fundraising" session. Featuring insights from leaders across the sector, including: Mark Cox (Appco UK), Gemma Dunford (Alzheimer's Society), Joe Harrington (Smile Fundraising) and Oliver Steele (Wesser UK). The session explored the latest opportunities and challenges in face-to-face fundraising. 

Naomi reflected, "It was great to see other agencies focusing on quality donors and charity engagement, making F2F fundraising less transactional and more about meaningful connections." 

“This topic aligns perfectly with Zen's ethos of promoting authentic donor relationships and inspiring long-term support.’’

Another standout feature of the day was a 'Share Your Fundraising Story' wall, where attendees pinned up sticky notes highlighting their personal fundraising moments. Stories ranged from "cheering on the London Marathon runners" to "helping cats," an 8-year-old raising over £2,000 doing a Harry Potter marathon  and even "anything involving a bath of baked beans." 

Day two at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Convention delved into some of the most pressing topics facing our sector: compliance, regulation and subcontracting. Naomi’s highlight was the session led by Natalie Lambert (National Deaf Children’s Society), Hannah Lyons (Bates Wells) and Jamie Powrie (National Deaf Children’s Society).

Face-to-face fundraising has faced challenges in recent years, with press scrutiny and regulatory investigations prompting the Fundraising Regulator’s first market inquiry into subcontracting. This session provided practical guidance on how charities can continue to use this essential channel effectively and ethically. The speakers unpacked the evolving legal landscape, sharing insights on key areas such as agency contracts, monitoring and demonstrating compliance with the Code of Fundraising Practice.

The session also touched on the new Code of Fundraising Practice, which is set to come into force in 2025, bringing new guidance and expectations for fundraisers to navigate. As experts in compliance, Bates Wells highlighted several critical steps for charities to consider. Processes such as reviewing agreements with subcontractors, strengthening due diligence processes and ensuring robust monitoring. 

Naomi said:

“This session for me was particularly relevant given Zen’s strong subcontracting partnerships, and I really appreciated the emphasis on transparency and accountability.’’

Naomi also noted the session’s practical advice about working with subcontractors: “It’s essential to look at your subcontracting chain and ask the right questions to ensure compliance,” one slide advised (see above). 

For Zen Fundraising, where collaboration with subcontractors is a key part of our model, these reminders reinforce our commitment to integrity and trust throughout the entire donor journey. Naomi summed it up perfectly:

“Learning about best practice and compliance is essential to continue building trust with supporters and partners alike. At Zen, we’ll be sharing these insights with our teams and subcontractors to keep raising the bar for fundraising.

”A key takeaway from this year’s Fundraising Convention was the sector’s emphasis on collaboration over competition, as well as sharing stories that resonate. Additionally, attracting, retaining and (very importantly) nurturing fundraising talent is vital and creates a culture of creativity, innovation and teams that welcome learning from challenges.''

As fundraisers, we have the privilege of connecting supporters with the causes they care about, turning human interaction into impact.

We’re inspired to continue these conversations, bring best practice back to our teams and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in face-to-face fundraising.