BREAK THROUGH AND BLOOM
Step into the Mystical Forest
Every year at the International Fundraising Congress, we let our hair down on the last evening of the event, donning captivating costumes and dancing until morning in an astonishing new world, transformed for one night only. This October, you’re invited to take a breath and step into an ethereal place of quiet power, ancient roots, and hidden magic…
When it feels like you can’t see the wood for the trees, it’s time to break through and enter the Mystical Forest!
In this space, transformation doesn’t shout; it whispers. Like the softness of a fern unfurling in the dark, the resilience of moss on stone, and the quiet pulse of life beneath the surface, the personal and emotional strength it takes to persevere often go unseen. This year’s Gala Night theme, Break Through and Bloom, celebrates the quiet strength you draw on every day in your work, the growth that brought you where you are today, and the actions that are shaping who you will become.
Here, every step forward is a breakthrough. This will be a space that honours not what you have accomplished, but how far you’ve come on your journey. Be inspired by the resilience of our world and the cycles of nature, and join a cast of forest creatures, fey beings, and growing things that are much more than what they seem.
When planning your costume, please be aware of cultural sensitivities. Appropriating elements of another race or culture can be disrespectful as we strive for equity and inclusion. Please avoid ceremonial clothing that isn’t part of your culture, religious garb in general, or anything that sexualises another culture’s appearance or dress. DIY outfits are strongly encouraged and our judges this year will be on the lookout for the best costumes that reduce, reuse, or recycle.