Programme overview

The programme for 2012 will continue to give you access to the best thinking in fundraising from around the world to help you develop the skills you need to excel in your fundraising career, whether you are a current or a future fundraising leader. In addition, we are introducing sessions that will offer you new perspectives from  outside the fundraising sector, enabling you to learn from global best practice and understand how to apply it in your own situation.

The programme is made up of two parts - the optional Masterclass programme and main conference programme.

Masterclass programme

Running on the afternoon of Tuesday 16 October and the morning of Wednesday 17 October, with our optional Masterclass programme you can gain additional value by extending your stay by one day to focus your learning on a specific area. Your Masterclass will allow you to either take an in-depth look at current best practice in a key area of fundraising and explore how it integrates with other areas. Alternatively you can explore an essential set of skills and competencies that enable you to excel as a fundraiser.

A list of confirmed Masterclasses will be available in March 2012.

Be prepared to participate fully in these sessions through pre-reading, group exercises and sharing your own knowledge and experience with the group to maximise your learning. Pre-booking is essential via our online registration form.

Main conference programme

Beginning on Wednesday afternoon and ending at lunchtime on Friday, you’ll have the chance to attend:

Plenaries

The IFC will begin and end with inspirational plenaries, attended by all delegates so you really get a sense of belonging to a wider worldwide community of fundraisers.

Details on the confirmed Plenary sessions will be available in March 2012.

Workshops

You are able to attend up to seven workshops, each lasting 90 minutes. Each workshop will offer you an overview of a key area in fundraising or a specific set of skills, often including the latest developments and highlighting new research in the area. They also offer opportunities for interaction via Q&A with the speakers or even group exercises so you can discuss any particular questions or challenges you may have with the speakers or fellow delegates. They take place in small groups of 20-50 delegates and no pre-booking is necessary. To help you navigate your way around the workshop programme, the sessions are divided into seven different tracks

A list of confirmed Workshop sessions will be available in March 2012.

The Global Perspectives sessions

Running in parallel with the Workshops, the Big Room sessions will offer delegates new perspectives from different geographical areas around the globe:

• Latin America
• Africa
• Asia
• Middle East

They take place in a unique theatre-style space and are attended by up to 120 delegates. No pre-booking is necessary.

More details on the Big Room sessions will be available in March 2012.