THE POWER OF STORYTELLING

Storytelling has been around as long as people have. The way we tell stories and the reasons we tell them have changed. What hasn’t changed is the power of stories to spark change, inspire action, and drive behaviour. Together, we’ll explore how to use the tools at our disposal today to harness the power of an ancient art.

• Learn about the centrality of hope-based narratives and foresight in purposeful storytelling
• Debate the ethics of non-profit storytelling and the risks and rewards of bringing the donor and beneficiary closer together
• Explore the intersection between stories, networks, and impact
• Supercharge your virtual fundraising events through great storytelling
• Hear about the power of audio storytelling through podcasts
• Investigate how the fundamentals of gaming can create a new approach to storytelling
• Understand how to use LinkedIn to best tell your professional story

DECISION SCIENCE – WHERE BEHAVIOUR MEETS ACTION, FUELLED BY DATA

How can NGOs make use of a new wave of quantitative techniques to build effective bases of support without moral compromise? How can we effectively incorporate decision science into our strategies while remaining within the highest ethical framework?

• Have your mind opened to the ground-breaking applications of decision science, and the reasons you can’t afford to ignore it
• Scrutinise the ethical conundrums thrown up by a methodology that has the potential to be used in an exploitative and manipulative manner
• Learn a practical framework to incorporate decision science into your everyday strategy
• Understand how you can use decision science to design better donor research surveys
• Explore the fundamentals of neuroscience
• Discuss how we can best build inclusive organisations

NEW BUSINESS MODELS – NEW THINKING FOR NEW GROWTH

The context we are operating in has changed. Agility and adaptation are the new buzz words. What of disaggregation, diversification and disintermediation, do they present an opportunity or threat? Is the existing charity model obsolete and no longer future-relevant?
It might feel like there’s so many big question and not enough answers.
So, must NGOs be open to rethinking their business operating model to remain relevant, credible and future fit for purpose? What is the resistance and the barriers to change?
Who can we learn from and are there other not-yet-invented models to grow the base of financial support for the sector?
This month we will start to unpick some of the resistance and challenges, and alongside others, consider one big barrier – a lack of fresh thoughts, ideas and perspective that challenge the existing business operating model.

• Explore emerging platforms and technologies that are providing alternative ways to give
• Debate the underlying issues of governance, structure, culture, etc. that organisations need to address before they can fully embrace new thinking
• Discover what the fundamental barriers are in our sector between innovation and new business models
• Get inspired by ground-breaking, disintermediating innovations and developments in Africa
• Discuss how to have a purposeful career while still earning a paycheque – why does doing good not come with doing well?
• Understand how we can be the enablers of people on the ground doing the work at a local level, rather than always thinking we need to do the work ourselves from an external viewpoint

#FRO2021 – FUNDRAISING ONLINE – 28 & 29 APRIL

REGISTER FOR #FRO2021 HERE

Digital tools designed to create transactions can be turned into powerful instruments of change – if we’re ready to come together to embrace innovation and think in new ways. Fundraising Online (FRO) – our accessible online conference – saw 15,000 people from 145 countries come together in 2020. Here’s to 2021 being even bigger! 

The wide-ranging content will address all your fundraising, changemaking, and innovation needs, with a strong focus on digital fundraising and engagement, how to harness emerging and disruptive tech trends, and what’s coming next over the horizon. 

#FRO2021 sessions will cover all elements of how charities and campaign groups can use digital to engage with the public at scale. From the very best of digital fundraising, public engagement, and movement building to the most insightful guides on how to deliver effective digital activity across web, social media, and email, as well as the most practical and applicable use of new technologies. Sessions will be underpinned by case studies and examples from around the globe. 

PEOPLE POWER – MOBILISING YOUR GREATEST ASSET

People have always had power but changing times have shown more of us what is possible when we stand together. From Black Lives Matter to Extinction Rebellion and from Fridays for Future to pro-democracy protests around the world, we’re seeing people-driven change happen in real-time and we can learn a great deal from it for our own work.

LEADERSHIP – PROGRESSIVE POSSIBILITIES

Those of us in the fight for social change and the ones who support our causes are rethinking the meaning of leadership. The balance of power is shifting, and the stark difference between old power and new is creating crisis and struggle. We will explore progressive leadership opportunities that are creating space for new possibilities. 

YOUTH – THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW ARE CHANGING THE WORLD TODAY

The position of young people in societies across the world is shifting. Their ability to adapt to the changing pace of life and their embrace of the Digital Revolution means they are no longer content to ‘wait their turn’ and are side-stepping traditional, outdated structures to shape their own future today. What can our sector learn from these young trailblazers, and how can we be enablers of the change they want to see in the world?

POWER – THE END OF HEGEMONY

The balance of power is shifting. Traditional power structures are being scrutinised to a level never seen before. Those in power are having to examine their place in the world and accept their role in historical injustices. Where do NGOs fit in and how can we help to #ShiftThePower?

MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON…

THE HIGHLIGHTS REEL

Join us as we look back on the best of 2021, revisiting the conversations we can’t stop talking about, thinking again about the ideas that wouldn’t leave us, and marvelling anew at the ingenuity of our friends and members. This is a time for us to listen to our community, to reflect on what we’ve achieved together, and to build our programme for 2022.