Where should fundraisers focus their energy when resources are tight, pressure is high, & everyone wants results?
Drawing on the latest data from The Benchmarking Project 2026 and other global benchmarking, this session will help you cut through distractions and focus on what’s proven to work in fundraising. It’s not about shiny tactics or untested ideas, but about where real value is being created, grown, and lost across the fundraising landscape.
Together, we will explore how fundraisers are successfully protecting and developing the donors they already have, what’s driving deeper engagement and income growth from retained donors, and where new donors are still coming in with strong potential.
Combining benchmarking insights with lessons from fundraising organisations that are getting it right, this workshop will challenge how you think about investment, effort, and decision-making. You will learn to look beyond campaign cycles to the longer arc of contribution and see where even modest shifts in focus can unlock sustainable gains.
Whether you’re aiming to consolidate and protect your base or seeking to unlock your next phase of growth, this session will leave you clearer on where your time, budget, and leadership attention should go next.
Learning outcomes
- Understand the latest global benchmarking trends and performance data to dentify where fundraising investment creates the greatest long-term value
- Evaluate where your organisation should focus its time, budget, and leadership attention to strengthen donor retention, sustainable growth, and fundraising resilience
- Apply practical insights and evidence from high-performing fundraising organisations to make more confident, data-informed strategic decisions