Shaping the future of fundraising: Our strategy 2023-25

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Our vision: excellent fundraising for a better world
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Our purpose: to support and champion professional fundraising so our members flourish

Our strategic objectives for 2023-25

The passion and commitment of our members to learn, share, and deliver for their causes raises billions of pounds a year through skilled and ethical fundraising. Our ambition for this strategy is to ensure that our members can navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead with success. We know that when fundraisers achieve, everyone benefits from the supporter who is inspired and fulfilled through the act of giving a donation, through to the person who is able to access the support a charity can offer because of the income a fundraiser has brought in.  

Our priorities

Champion the fundraising profession

Representing the values of our members, amplifying their voices, and highlighting the value of professional fundraising.

We will:

  • Produce sector-leading guidance, research, and resources which provide insight, confidence, and thought-leadership
  • Be an influential voice for members that represents and champions their views and values to government, media, regulators, and other external audiences
  • Lead campaigns to champion and promote giving and fundraising, including Remember A Charity, Giving Tuesday, and RAISE
  • Celebrate and share stories from our members that showcases the value of professional fundraising and the difference they make
Support fundraisers

With the tools, learning, networking, and events they want so they can improve, achieve and thrive.

We will:

  • Ensure that our members receive value for money through their membership and all our training and services
  • Facilitate and support a UK-wide network of volunteers that provides support and makes connections with fundraisers in whatever role or sector they are in
  • Provide high quality education, training, and qualifications offer which is the cornerstone of continued professional development for fundraisers across the UK
Advocate for and advance Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Across the sector, as a membership organisation, and as an employer.

We will:

  • Work with our members to champion, challenge, and improve EDI across the fundraising community
  • Lead sector-wide initiatives which improves the culture of fundraising and promotes fundraising as a career
  • Put the safety and experience of our members at the paramount, ensuring they are free from discrimination and abuse of any kind

Our pledge to our members – how we will work together

Honesty, transparent, and accountable

We will be straightforward and clear about the decisions we make and their impact, explaining our rationale and objectives, seeking feedback and views from you throughout the delivery of this strategy.

Putting you first

Our work and priorities will be guided through consultation and engagement with you to embed it in your needs and priorities, and ensure it has your interests and values at heart.

Fair and inclusive

We will proactively engage our full membership and the wider fundraising community to ensure our work represents all fundraising professionals across the UK and is delivered in an inclusive way for all.

Respectful

Of your views and listen to what you tell us. The fundraising community is a large and passionate one, and not everyone has the same priorities, but all are deserving of respect and consideration.

Proud and ambitious

Of you, your work, and the difference you make. We will represent and champion you, your values, and your profession.

How we brought this strategy together

The strategy was informed through conversations, engagement, and discussion with hundreds of Chartered Institute members.

In the autumn/winter of 2021 we held a series of roundtables, attended by hundreds of members, where we asked three questions: what’s working well, what isn’t working well, and what do you want from the Chartered Institute in the future.

Alongside the feedback gained through these roundtables, we undertook an individual member survey in the spring of 2022, where members shared their views on a range of topics and areas related to their membership and priorities.

In addition to the views and thoughts of members, we also undertook internal research and external benchmarking to inform our discussions and approach.

The result of these were ideas and thoughts that became the heart of the new strategy, which was discussed and shaped through further discussion with our full trustee board, as well as discussion with staff and committee members/Chairs.

Download the full strategy document below to read about how we will deliver these plans and the key organisational priorities that will underpin this strategy.

Download the full strategy for 2023-2025
PDF 113KB

Remembering our ‘why’: a new strategy for the Chartered Institute

Read the blog from our Chief Executive Officer of Chartered Institute of Fundraising, Katie Docherty about the development of the new strategy.
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