Sofii - Showcase of Fundraising Innovation & Inspiration

19/06/2026

👀 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗬 𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀.

Legacies are a source of essential income for charities. The latest data from the Legacy Futures and Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Report 2026, revealed that legacy income raised over £4.4 billion of vital charitable funding in 2025, with a record 17.4 per cent of estates at probate now including a charitable gift.

So, it’s wonderful when SOFII sees a charity putting a huge amount of thought and effort into their legacy appeals.

UK-based charity Freedom from Torture have been making a point of including the legacy conversation in more of their donor communications. But a sincere, uncomplicated direct mail appeal has done plenty of heavy lifting too – securing them those all-important legacy pledges.

In this new case study Heather Weyman (MacTaggart) explains how Freedom from Torture created the appeal and shares the results so far. Find out more here: https://sofii.org/case-study/freedom-from-torture-legacy-direct-mail-appeal

Legacies are a source of essential income for charities. So, it’s wonderful to see a charity putting a huge amount of thought and effort into their legacy…

10/06/2026

❓ 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼... 𝘂𝗵 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗽𝗽... 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿?

Sign up to our upcoming mini-masterclass (on June 24th!). Then send us your questions before the event, and John will give you an answer on the day! Sounds good, right?

This is shaping up to be one of our best affordable webinars yet, so secure your place now - they are going fast.

Find out what John will cover in the three-hour session and grab your spot before they're gone!

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/sofiifoundation/2203686

04/06/2026

👀 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗜 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗧!) 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸. 👀

Lynda Harwood-Compton, our director, is proud to be representing SOFII at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Convention today and tomorrow!

Lynda is leading the ‘Leadership, Career Development and Wellbeing’ track (on level 5) so please go and find her to have a chat about all things fundraising and SOFII.

📌 And most importantly, don’t forget that SOFII’s I Wish I’d Thought of That (IWITOT) is back as a crowd-pleasing plenary session tomorrow, June 5th at 2pm (Fleming - 3rd floor)! Make sure you arrive in plenty of time to grab a seat, this one is always standing room only...

Join in and you’ll get to see these fundraising superstars celebrate the fundraising ideas they wish they’d thought of themselves:

⭐ Josh Leigh, co-host
Co-Founder and Director, Hynt

⭐Cam St-Omer Donaldson, co-host
Chief Experience Officer, Fundraising Everywhere

⭐Dr Sarah Flew, speaker
Director of Development, Royal College of Physicians

⭐Therese Wynn-Davies, speaker
Digital Fundraising Manager, CAFOD

⭐Natalie Chan, speaker
Arts and Culture Project Commissioner, Luton Borough Council

⭐Kester Ratcliff, speaker
New Business Manager, Asthma + Lung UK

⭐Lesley Pinder, speaker
Founder, Compass: Supporter Experience Consulting

⭐Hannah-Mae Trow, speaker
Individual Giving Manager, Trussell

⭐Laura Praill, speaker
Individual Giving Manager, ORCA (Organisation Cetacea)

Huge thanks also go out to our three amazing mentors, who coached and supported our CIOF IWITOT new voices this year: Sarah Crowhurst, Ben Swart, Matt Smith

03/06/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟳 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

🔗 https://www.fundraisingeverywhere.com/event/community-fundraising-conference-2026/?utm_source=SOFII&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2606CommunityEmail1_SOFII

Last year, the big themes were boundaries and prioritising wisely. This year, Fundraising Everywhere’s going deeper and looking to help you answer some key questions.

❓ If people are craving connection, how do we design it intentionally?

❓ If community fuels multiple income streams, how do we run it strategically?

❓ If you’re responsible for building belonging, how do you protect your time and focus on what matters?

You’ll leave with clearer priorities, sharper tools, and a renewed sense of where community fits in your organisation’s future. ⚡️

Community fundraising isn’t just feel-good activity, it’s vital to income generation and retention. It’s the soul of the sector.

Secure your ticket today (use code SOFII15 and save) so you don’t miss any of the sessions available live or on-demand, including:

✨ Corporate partnerships for community fundraisers (and how to find them)

✨What’s changing in community fundraising right now and how you can respond (soft opt-in changes and event place scarcity!)

✨How to grow an events portfolio with time-saving tools – useful if you’re feeling capacity pressures

✨Plus lots more…

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁! 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗜𝟭𝟱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗡𝗬 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁:

🔗 https://www.fundraisingeverywhere.com/event/community-fundraising-conference-2026/?utm_source=SOFII&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2606CommunityEmail1_SOFII

03/06/2026

𝗔 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄.

After years of digital communities, automation, and ‘always on’ campaigns, people are looking for something more human, more local.

They want to feel part of something, and that puts community fundraising right at the centre of what happens next.

Your time is precious, but if you’re looking to boost your fundraising then make time to join Fundraising Everywhere’s Community Fundraising Conference 2026 – happening online live or on-demand in just two weeks.

🔗 https://www.fundraisingeverywhere.com/event/community-fundraising-conference-2026/?utm_source=SOFII&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2606CommunityEmail1_SOFII

📅 Wednesday 17 June 2026

💻 Online

🎟️ Discounted tickets now available for SOFII readers like you! 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗜𝟭𝟱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗡𝗬 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁.

🔗 https://www.fundraisingeverywhere.com/event/community-fundraising-conference-2026/?utm_source=SOFII&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2606CommunityEmail1_SOFII

01/06/2026

Here at SOFII, we love to champion good direct mail fundraising appeals. And this campaign, centred on the powerful sentiment of ‘Waiting is the hardest part’, certainly fits the bill.

It’s a festive appeal from The Brain Tumour Charity. It was created by a team of in-house fundraisers and freelance creatives who worked closely together from concept to completion. Their final campaign featured a strong ask and compelling imagery. It also capitalised on a matched funding opportunity from the Big Give too. But perhaps most importantly, this appeal showcases the basics of good direct mail… and that is what we love to see.

Click below to read the case study, view the results and learn how The Brain Tumour Charity surpassed their previous appeal and brought in a superb average gift!

Discover what happened when a fundraisers and creatives developed a brand new fundraising proposition and rolled out a whole host of donor communications.…

01/06/2026

📣 Would you like to create more effective and emotive direct mail fundraising appeals at your charity? 📣

If you answered yes, SOFII’s next affordable mini-masterclass is for you!

Please join us for a very special webinar on 24 June 2026. Direct mail expert John Lepp will deliver three hours of content that's all about individual giving appeals and how you can engage with your donors more effectively!

You'll leave with practical solutions to improve your direct mail, including plenty of tips and tricks to try out on your next appeal.

Priced at just £49.99, this webinar is jam-packed with value. To find out more about the masterclass content, and secure your place, click below:

🔗https://www.tickettailor.com/events/sofiifoundation/2203686

📌 Please note, places are selling quickly and are limited in number, so do register now to avoid disappointment.

25/05/2026

We’re excited to see the international fundraising community coming together in Berlin for the 2026 Deutscher Fundraising Verband.

Over 800 fundraisers and nonprofit leaders will gather from 1–3 June 2026 to explore the future of fundraising, leadership and digital transformation. There will also be inspiring sessions from Ken Burnett, Richard Radcliffe and Bill Stanczykiewicz.

There will also be a special IWITOT session hosted by Sabine Wagner and Marco Kuntze.

SOFII guests can access a special 32% discounted rate here:
German Fundraising Congress 2026 (https://pretix.eu/fundraisingverband.de/dfk26/redeem?voucher=EFASYMPOSIUM26)

18/05/2026

Have you got your discounted ticket to Fundraising Everywhere’s Supporter Experience Conference on the 21st May? (𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗜𝟭𝟱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲!)

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙚: https://www.fundraisingeverywhere.com/event/supporter-experience-conference-2026/?utm_source=SOFII&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2605SXEmail1_SOFII

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵:
- Discover how to craft a supporter experience strategy from the ground up
- Learn actionable steps to initiate impactful supporter engagement initiatives that resonate with your audience
- Small budget, big impact tactics

𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲:
- Uncover crucial metrics and indicators for evaluating the success of your supporter engagement efforts
- Explore effective tools and methodologies to measure, analyse, and optimise supporter experience outcomes
- How to get investment for the things that matter

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
- Hear real-world examples and case studies showcasing successful stewardship practices
- Gain inspiration and concrete ideas to elevate your supporter experience initiatives from proven examples
- Invest in your supporter relationships today – get results tomorrow

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 👇
https://www.fundraisingeverywhere.com/event/supporter-experience-conference-2026/?utm_source=SOFII&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2605SXEmail1_SOFII

💎 Closing the Supporter Engagement Gap: An Opportunity For 2026

💎 Leading Customer Centric Change: Lessons from National Express and Beyond

💎 The Stewardship First Aid Kit: How to Turn Leads into Lifelong Supporters (Without the Burnout)

𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗜𝟭𝟱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲!

15/05/2026

📣 Calling all individual giving fundraisers and direct mail enthusiasts! 📣

Yesterday, we launched the next affordable mini-masterclass in SOFII's webinar series. And this time, we're thrilled to welcome John Lepp as our experienced host and facilitator.

In John's mini-masterclass on 24 June 2026, he will deliver three hours of content that's all about individual giving appeals and how you can engage with your donors more effectively! You'll leave with practical solutions to improve your direct mail, including plenty of tips and tricks to try out on your next appeal.

Priced at just £49.99, this webinar is jam-packed with value. To find out more about the masterclass content, and secure your place, click below:

🔗 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/sofiifoundation/2203686