As we approach the end of the year, preparation for the next International Fundraising Congress is ramping up – and we want you to be a key part of it.
We are now accepting speaker proposals for IFC 2026.
We’re changing our submission process this year, so if you’d like to submit a proposal, please read this information and the submission form carefully, even if you’re a seasoned IFC speaker.
Session Formats
For IFC 2026, we are inviting proposals for workshop and masterclass submissions at the same time. When you submit your proposal, you will be asked to select your session type:
- Workshops: These 75-minute sessions are focused and interactive, designed to share practical learning, tools, or approaches that participants can apply to their work straight away. Workshops should encourage participation, discussion, and shared learning and ideally not be presented as straight lectures or presentations.
- Masterclasses: These are in-depth, immersive learning experiences that allow participants to step back, explore complexity, and work through one specific topic in depth over the course of six hours, which is split into two sessions across the first two days of the event. We are looking for proposals from experienced practitioners or specialists with the depth and perspective to guide sustained learning.
As always, we want to hear from diverse voices working in different contexts in all parts of the world and love to connect with new speakers who can expand the conversation.
Tracks & Theme
Session proposals should align with the event theme: Unstoppable: Reimagine. Reclaim. Rebuild.
Our 2026 theme reflects the momentum we’re seeing across the sector, as fundraisers, leaders, and movements respond to uncertainty, challenge inherited systems, and build new ways of working that are rooted in purpose and impact. We’re inviting session proposals that speak to one or more of these forces:
- Reimagine: Questioning assumptions and opening up new possibilities for fundraising, leadership and impact.
- Reclaim: Shifting power, trust, and agency, and examining how fundraising and civil society can reclaim legitimacy and voice.
- Rebuild: Practical, grounded work to strengthen systems, skills, and cultures so our organisations can adapt, recover, and thrive.
We are particularly keen to receive proposals aligned with the following:
- Fundraising & resourcing
- Marketing, communications, & public narrative
- Audiences, supporters, & public behaviour
- Leadership, power, & ways of working
- Innovation, change, & learning
- Technology, AI, & digital practice
- Financial sustainability
- Civil society, activism, & global perspectives
Application Process
The deadline to submit proposals is 02 February 2026, with speakers notified by 06 March.
The application form will ask for:
- Basic information about you and your organisation (including your name, jobe title, country, and LinkedIn profile)
- A recent headshot (guidelines here) for inclusion on our website if your session is selected
- A short video, for internal use only, explaining why your topic should be included on our 2026 programme
- Details about your proposed session, including:
- Session title and description
- Three key learning outcomes
- Your connection to the topic
- Details of one additional contributor (if applicable and subject to approval)
We’re curating a programme that reflects the realities of practice today, including innovation, learning, failure, and change. With your help, IFC 2026 will support delegates to think differently about how they lead, fundraise, and work.
Esther Njagi is a communications expert working with The Open Institute in Nairobi, Kenya. IFC 2025 was her first International Fundraising Congress – and her first trip to Europe. Here, Esther writes about her trip and about her experience at the event.
A few weeks ago, I visited Europe for the very first time, to attend the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands.
The IFC is one of the world’s biggest gatherings of fundraisers and social impact leaders. According to the IFC website:
“As the pace of change accelerates and the challenges humanity faces rise, life-saving programmes are being stripped of funding and hard-won gains in diversity, equity, inclusion, and access are under attack. Fundraising cannot afford to stand still. At IFC 2025, we brought together the brightest minds, the boldest ideas, and the most innovative new strategies to reshape and secure the future of social impact.”
And truly, it lived up to that promise.
For me, it was an incredible opportunity to learn more about fundraising — and honestly, it was hard to choose which sessions to attend because they were all so rich with insights. From legacy giving (a completely new concept to me) to digital tools for fundraising, every session offered something valuable. I was especially intrigued by how different organisations around the world are raising funds creatively, even with small teams and limited resources.
But the session that resonated with me most was by Amnesty Argentina. Led by Daniel Gamboa and Laura Durán, their story was a perfect example of innovation meeting impact.
The team shared how their communications and fundraising departments worked hand in hand to grow Amnesty Argentina from a little-known organisation into one with thousands of followers. Their creativity blew me away — especially the idea of launching a Roblox game to raise money! By deeply understanding their audience — particularly young men who enjoy gaming — they created a game where players could buy power-ups, with proceeds supporting Amnesty’s causes. They even designed custom Amnesty T-shirts for in-game characters, turning digital spaces into awareness platforms.
Their approach to thinking like a commercial brand and being boldly disruptive in a crowded media world really stood out. Even more fascinating was how they built AI versions of their audience personas to test and refine their messaging, having real-time “conversations” with these digital personas to see what resonated best. It was absolutely genius!
Other sessions that inspired me focused on how small teams can achieve fundraising success by making sure everyone in the organisation becomes a fundraiser in their own way. Overall, IFC 2025 was a truly inspiring few days — full of learning, sharing, and connecting with brilliant minds from across the globe.
Of course, the trip didn’t end with the conference. I took a bit of time to explore the Netherlands, from Noordwijk, the charming seaside town that hosted the conference (and probably the coldest beach I’ve ever been to!), to Leiden, a vibrant university town nearby, and Amsterdam, with its stunning architecture and culture. I even crossed over to Bruges, Belgium, a picturesque historic town full of delicious food and chocolate.
It was, without a doubt, the trip of a lifetime — filled with new ideas, new friends, and a renewed sense of purpose for the work we do.
Loretta J. Ross, an award-winning author and academic whose decades of work have shaped the direction of activism for reproductive justice and racial equity in the USA will give the opening plenary at IFC 2025.
Commenting on the opening keynote, Ruby Chadwick, Director of Programmes at the Resource Alliance, said, “Across the world, life-saving programmes are being stripped of funding and hard-won gains in diversity, equity, inclusion, and access are under attack. Our theme for IFC 2025 is Break Through and we need voices like Loretta’s, which echo through history more loudly than those who call for division and hate, to do just that: break through the noise and remind us what’s at stake—and what we must continue to fight for.”
The keynote will provide insight into Loretta’s compelling ‘calling in’ framework, which has roots in her early work assisting in the deprogramming of people who had left hate groups and in her anti-racism work with the wives and mothers of KKK members. The approach reframes cancel culture through a lens of respect and radical empathy, leading to better outcomes for our communities and our causes.
The opening keynote at IFC sets the stage for the event, inspiring delegates and getting them into the right frame of mind for the days to come. “Loretta’s approach offers a path forward that is grounded in connection, accountability, and hope over cancellation, shame, and despair,” Chadwick continued, “Together, we will explore how we can move from fragmentation to solidarity and from fear to action.”
In a first for the event, a follow-up session will be held directly after the keynote, giving delegates the opportunity to ask questions and explore Loretta’s approach more tangibly, while discovering practical tools for navigating conflict and applying the calling-in mindset to leadership, fundraising, and movement-building.
The International Fundraising Congress returns to Noordwijkerhout in the Netherlands this 14-17 October, welcoming an expected 800 delegates from over 70 countries to the in-person event. Selected sessions will also be presented in a hybrid format, accessible online from anywhere in the world. Early bird pricing ends next week! To take advantage of the early bird rate, delegates should register for the event by 08 September at bit.ly/IFC2025reg.
In a new piece for HistPhil, the Resource Alliance Board Chair Ingrid Srinath asks what the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s most populous democracy can learn from each other about the shrinking of civic space each each nation is experiencing.
“In India, nonprofits navigate a regulatory minefield […] Together with lack of data transparency from government agencies, this permits the discrediting of nonprofits as ineffective, inefficient, corrupt and occasionally anti-national, while obstructing the articulation of a positive narrative of the sector’s contribution. Some of this is already apparent in the U.S.—for instance, with stray, sometimes misleading data being deployed to discredit USAID, other government agencies, and philanthropy.”
We know from our work with our sector colleagues in India, on the India Fundraising Conference and more, that though increased regulation and control have caused hardship and impacted the pursuit of humanitarian missions, they have also given rise to new levels of innovation and collaboration.
Covering a range of topics from capital campaigns and faith-based fundraising to systems thinking and artificial intelligence, masterclasses have been selected to address the most pressing needs affecting our sector right now. Held ahead of the main programme, the sessions are presented in two categories: full-length masterclasses held across two days and mini masterclasses that run consecutively.
“As the pace of change accelerates and the challenges humanity faces rise, life-saving programmes are being stripped of funding and hard-won gains in diversity, equity, inclusion, and access are under attack,” said Ruby Chadwick, Director of Programmes at the Resource Alliance. “In this environment, fundraising cannot afford to stand still. At the International Fundraising Congress, we’re bringing together the brightest minds, the boldest ideas, and the most innovative new strategies to reshape and secure the future of social impact.”
“The world is at a pivotal juncture. The USAID crisis and increasing restrictions on fundraising globally have exposed the risks we face when we depend on singular funding streams. Income diversification is critical, and masterclasses at IFC 2025 this October will cover topics selected to support delegates to navigate these waters, to do their best work, and to grow in their careers and as people,” Chadwick continued. “They are intensive sessions where participants will be exposed to deep knowledge, insights, and experiences, learning through interactive discussions, real-world case studies, and hands-on activities.”
Masterclasses at IFC offer a unique opportunity to connect with industry thought leaders and develop the critical skills they need to thrive and meet the evolving needs of our sector. Across the first two days of the event programme, participants will explore innovative concepts for nonprofit problem-solving, go on a journey to digital fundraising growth, transform their supporter experience, master strategic impact, decode decision science, and much more.
The International Fundraising Congress returns to Noordwijkerhout in the Netherlands this 14-17 October and will once more be presented in a hybrid format. Delegates registering before the end of March can get 50% off a second ticket or 25% off two individual tickets bought together. Find out more about IFC 2025 here.
As we look out at the world, it is impossible to ignore the mounting forces of uncertainty and crisis. We are living in a polycrisis – a time of overlapping global challenges, from economic instability to climate change, and from social unrest to rising poverty. These moments can feel overwhelming, frustrating, and even terrifying. The road ahead can seem unclear and progress often feels slow.
But even in this complex environment, there is a force within us – within you – that holds the power to create real change. You, the fundraiser, the campaigner, the changemaker. We must remain not just hopeful, but actively hopeful. Hope that is rooted in action. Hope that isn’t passive, but that compels us to build, to connect, and to co-create solutions for a better world.
Here’s where the beauty of community comes in. The Resource Alliance community includes over 30,000 fundraisers, campaigners, and changemakers across the globe, representing a diverse range of organisations, from small grassroots initiatives to large international networks. We share a common goal: to create change, to drive impact, and to provide the resources needed to fulfill our collective mission. What unites us isn’t just the work we do, but the commitment we have to learning from each other and with each other. We share our successes, but we also share the things that didn’t work. We seek new solutions, forge new partnerships, and explore how we can collaborate to amplify our impact.
And this is where the fundraiser’s role becomes vital.
A recent study conducted with our community showed that the best job title for a fundraiser is actually not fundraiser but diplomat. We are diplomats in the truest sense – bridging gaps, building partnerships, and linking the people and organisations that will bring about change. It doesn’t matter whether we are connecting donors with programmes on the ground, uniting networks of volunteers, or creating joint proposals to funders. As fundraisers, we understand the power of bringing people together, creating networks of change, and working towards a common goal.
Yet, we must also acknowledge the challenges. The work we do is not easy. The sector is facing mounting pressure and there are moments when we wonder if we are truly making progress. We look at the indicators – poverty rising instead of declining, climate disasters happening with alarming frequency – and we can feel the weight of it all. It’s okay to be frustrated. It’s okay to feel disheartened at times. But remember this: you are not alone. You are part of a community of like-minded individuals who understand that frustration and are driven by a shared purpose to make a difference.
This brings me to another point: the need to build bridges. The work we do as fundraisers is about much more than securing donations. It’s about creating connections – connecting people to causes, connecting organisations to resources, and connecting voices to power. We are experts in building those bridges. It doesn’t matter if we are linking high-value donors to people in programmes, or uniting different sectors to advance a shared agenda. As fundraisers, we have the skill to connect and collaborate. And if we can do this within our organisations, imagine what’s possible when we expand these bridges together, locally, even globally.
The truth is, we have the potential to make a real impact. When we consider the vast network of people we represent – those we work with, the donors who support us, the volunteers who stand with us – and if we combine that with the networks of other organisations in the social impact sector, we are looking at a reach that spans millions or perhaps even over a billion individuals. If we harness that collective power, there is nothing stopping us from creating the change we want to see.
But to do so, we need a new narrative. Not a naive hope, but an active hope. A hope that is rooted in reality – the reality of the work we are already doing. The heroes in our impactful programmes, the personal stories of transformation and change. These are the stories we need to amplify. We are already seeing the difference that is possible today. We have the results, we have the impact, and we have the heroes on the ground making it happen. The question is: can we amplify their voices? Can we make their impact felt far and wide? I believe we can. We have to.
As part of the Resource Alliance, we are amplifiers of this change. We are here to showcase the work of our community, to lift up those voices that are already creating real impact, and to connect them with the world. With a global community of 30,000, we can reach billions. And we must.
As fundraisers, campaigners, activists, and changemakers, we are a determined and stubborn bunch. When we set our minds to something, we get it done. And today, more than ever, the world needs us to rise.
So, as we embark on this journey together, I invite you to reflect: What is your role in this moment? What will you do this to collaborate, to build bridges, and to amplify the impact we are already seeing? I encourage you to connect with others, to share ideas, and to take action. Together, we can make the change we seek. Together, we will rise.
Let’s make it happen.
Willeke van Rijn, CEO
As we get closer to GivingTuesday, we’re sharing the stories of three young activists from around the world to inspire and motivate you in your work.
Mathilde Caillard is a leader in the movement for social justice and ecological action, known for her unique approach as a “techno activist”; along with other young activists, Mathilde employs a combination of dance and techno music to carry political demands and protest messages, amplifying digital reach and gaining media coverage for her cause.
Mathilde has been a climate activist with Action Justice Climat Paris, a citizens’ movement working for ecology and social justice, since 2019. Committed to opposing French pension reform last year, Mathilde’s profile grew when videos of her dancing at those protests went viral. Then, during the French parliamentary elections this summer, Mathilde took a strong stand against the far-right, rallying influencers to organise and and join the fight for social change.
“It’s absolutely impossible,” Mathilde told us, speaking on the elections, “to normalise what a far-right government could mean… We’ll be even less capable of organising because our fundamental rights will be under attack, our democracy will be under attack. It means a world in which we lose our capacity to fight.”
If you want to know more about Mathilde’s work, you can follow her on Instagram or read about the Action Justice Climat Paris fundraising campaign here.
Mathilde was one of three remarkable young changemakers who gave the closing keynote at IFC 2024. If you need a dose of inspiration, you can watch it here.
As we get closer to GivingTuesday, we’re sharing the stories of three young activists from around the world to inspire and motivate you in your work.
Jady Veríssimo is a community activist and aspiring political leader working on the ground to improve the lives of young people in the favela in São Paulo where she was raised.
Jady grew up in a family where education was a challenge. Her father was a truck driver; her mother completed high school through an access programme while pregnant with Jady. From the age of 15, Jady worked to help support her family, attending night school to continue her education.
In 2021, Jady was accepted into Fundação Getulio Vargas to study public administration, becoming the first person in her family to attend university – something that was only possible because she was able to crowdfund the 50% of her education costs not covered by her scholarship. That same year, she founded Pontes para o Amanhã, a project that has so far supported more than 500 teenagers to access educational scholarships and employment opportunities. Her organisation has just begun construction on a sports facility in the favela de Verdinhas, and, at just 23 years old, Jady has her sights set on even greater impact: she has already run her first political campaign for office.
If you want to connect with Jady or think you can support her in her work, you can reach out to her by email. If you want to find out how construction on the sports facility is going, or donate to ongoing costs, follow this link.
Jady was one of three remarkable young changemakers who gave the closing keynote at IFC 2024. If you need a dose of inspiration, you can watch it here.
Because giving is about so much more than money, we’re sharing the stories of three young activists from around the world in the run-up to GivingTuesday.
Archana K R is a change leader, activist, social entrepreneur… and sanitation educator.
Raised by a single mother in rural Karnatka, Archana faced hardship growing up – particularly in accessing education and basic sanitation. One in every three school children, around 539 million globally, does not have access to a functional toilet at school. Millions of adolescent girls miss school every month during their period due to inadequate facilities and many more are placed at increased risk of harm when forced to relieve themselves in the open. Inadequate sanitation affected Archana’s dignity, health, and education, and inspired her to drive change for the better.
Growing up in a marginalised Dalit community, Archana experienced firsthand the challenges of poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity. A school visit from a female politician from her own social class “lit a fire” in Archana, who knew then that she wanted to lead and be a voice for others. Archana went on to achieve a master’s degree in social work and learned how deeply sanitation is connected to education outcomes for women and girls, affecting their entire lives. She taught herself English, was selected for the She Creates Change programme, and went on to lobby the government, receiving national media attention. On International Women’s Day in 2021, after two years of campaigning, the Karnatka Government announced increased funding for school sanitation, improving conditions for millions of students at 49,000 schools in the region.
Today, Archana’s work as the founder of Stand4SHE (sanitation, health, and education) encompasses other marginalised communities, including women, Dalits, tribal groups, transgender people, and underserved young people. Her mission is to identify 100 young people from within marginalised communities and to empower them, through leadership, mentoring, and access to resources, building a network of changemakers.
To train one of these young people costs the equivalent of approximately USD $1,200 per year. If you want to get involved, be that through volunteering, donating, spreading awareness, or connecting Archana to potential funders, you can reach out to her on LinkedIn. Every action counts towards lasting change.
Archana was one of three remarkable young changemakers who gave the closing keynote at IFC 2024. If you need a dose of inspiration, you can watch it here.
The Resource Alliance works globally to strengthen the social impact sector by bringing together a highly-engaged community of fundraisers, campaigners, and activists and connecting them with the resources and collaborative networks they need to support their work. The annual International Fundraising Congress (IFC) is our flagship annual event, bringing together over 1,000 people each year. We are now accepting proposals from interested speakers to present masterclasses at IFC 2025 next 14-17 October in Noordwijkerhout in the Netherlands.
Masterclasses at the International Fundraising Congress are intensive, expert-led, small group sessions that are held ahead of the main conference programme, offering participants a deep exploration of critical topics and trends impacting the sector, selected in response to the changing needs of the community, like localised and community-led fundraising, the changing face of international aid, purpose-led work, innovative financing models, collaboration and communication, AI and tech trends, and many more.
With the rise of right wing governments across the world and the result of the US elections, which will have wide-ranging impacts on our work and on our fundraising, it is critical that organisations and people working to protect human rights, prevent climate change, and build a better world for us all are equipped to do so and supported to build an interconnected network of change. To this end, we are looking to hear from a diverse group of thought leaders and industry experts working in different contexts globally to share their insight, knowledge, and skills with next year’s delegates.
For more information and to submit masterclass proposals, visit bit.ly/RAxIFC2025. Submissions close 06 January 2025.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s this year’s Gala Night theme!
Every year at the International Fundraising Congress, we let our hair down on the last night of the event dancing until morning in our magically transformed event spaces.
This October, join us as we embark on a cosmic journey, an interstellar declaration that the power to drive change is inside us all and that together, as a united force, we will rise.
Stargazers, moon watchers, and intergalactic explorers, all are welcome as we assemble beneath the moonlit sky to manifest a future that prioritises our planet and sees us coming together as one – for the good of us all.
Gala Night 2024 will be an evening beyond the stars!
Throughout human history, we have looked to the skies for inspiration and guidance, seeking to find meaning and rise above our earthly limits.
Picture yourself peering up at the stars, launching into the great unknown, and walking on the moon. Dive into the Milky Way and surf the rings of Saturn as we venture to the furthest reaches of the universe. As we traverse the vastness of space, we see ourselves in each celestial wonder; like the stars, together we shine.
Adorn yourself in attire that embodies the spirit of ascension; be inspired by the phases of the moon, show off your star sign, be the astronaut of your childhood dreams, or blaze a trail like Halley’s Comet.
As fellow cosmic travellers, we will celebrate unity, hope, and the boundless human spirit. This Gala Night, we dance beyond the stars!
The Resource Alliance has appointed Mumbai-based activist and campaigner
Ingrid Srinath as its new chair of the board with immediate effect. Ingrid succeeds
outgoing chair Bill Toliver, whose six-year tenure has come to an end.
“I am delighted that Ingrid Srinath has accepted the nomination to transition to lead our
board,” said Willeke van Rijn, CEO of the Resource Alliance. “Ingrid has been a passionate
advocate of human rights, social justice, and civil society for over 25 years, a strong
promoter of trust-based philanthropy in India and across the world throughout her career,
and has been an integral part of our board since early 2020.”
Continuing, she said, “I would also like to extend my sincerest thanks to Bill Toliver
for his steadfast leadership and personal support of our team through the pandemic and
beyond. Bill served on our board for almost 10 years, including six as chair and a stint as
interim CEO. He was a driving force behind the Resource Alliance’s manifesto, our strategic
direction, and in securing the long-term future of the organisation.”
Other sitting members of the Resource Alliance Board of Directors include Nana Asantewa
Afadzinu, Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute; Naila Farouky, CEO of
the Arab Foundations Forum; Marcelo Iñarra, Director of Club de Fundraising; Pesh
Framjee, Special Advisor to the Charity Finance Group; Astrid von Soosten, Partner at
Brakeley Fundraising Consultants GmbH; Dr Colin Habberton, Co-Founder of the Relativ
Group; and Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday.