Inside Fundraising Convention 2026 - From insightful benchmarking to transformative coaching

*Let's Talk Fundraising*, the official podcast from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, comes to you this month live from Fundraising Convention 2026 at the QEII Centre in London. Host Tim Beynon spent two days at the UK's biggest gathering of third sector fundraising professionals, capturing conversations with the people shaping the future of fundraising, from experts and sector leaders to those just starting out on their fundraising careers. This episode explores what's changing across UK fundraising, and why it matters for charities of every size. Katie Docherty, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, explains why 2026 marks the last Convention in its current two-day format before a move to two dedicated flagship events from next year. Tobin Aldrich of AAW and Sophie Carre of Trussell unpack the headline findings from the 2026 Fundraising Benchmarking Survey, now in its third year and covering data from over 100 charities. Gerald Oppenheim, Chief Executive of the Fundraising Regulator, reflects on ten years of regulation since the body's launch in 2016, and looks ahead to the challenges AI and outdated legislation pose for fundraisers. Elsewhere, Matt Smith of THINK Consulting Solutions and Rebecca Bednall of Mayhew discuss why being small can be a genuine fundraising advantage, and career coach Matt Middler joins early career fundraiser Caitlin Scott to explore the "inner game" of building a sustainable career in the sector. There's loads to listen to and you can you jump to the sections you'd like to listen to first via the chapters below. **Meet the guests** **Katie Docherty** is Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, having joined in October 2021 after roles including Chief Executive of Scouts Scotland and senior fundraising positions at Anthony Nolan and Age Scotland. She brings a leadership perspective on how Convention, and the Institute's wider events programme, is evolving to meet fundraisers' changing needs. **Tobin Aldrich** is Principal Partner at AAW, where he leads the Fundraising Benchmarking Survey delivered in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. Now in its third year, the survey is one of the most comprehensive data sets on UK fundraising performance, and Tobin brings deep expertise in what the numbers reveal about sector-wide investment and returns. **Sophie Carre** is Director of Public Engagement at Trussell, the UK's largest food bank charity network. She brings first-hand experience of using benchmarking data to navigate a fundraising programme shaped by rapidly shifting external circumstances, including legacy giving and new acquisition channels. **Gerald Oppenheim** is Chief Executive of the Fundraising Regulator, a post he has held since 2018 having been with the regulator since its creation in 2016. He brings a decade of insight into rebuilding public trust in fundraising, the introduction of GDPR, and the regulatory challenges still ahead for charities. **Matt Smith** is Managing Director of THINK Consulting Solutions, advising charities on fundraising strategy and innovation. He brings a strategic lens on how small and medium-sized organisations can diversify their fundraising portfolios without losing focus. **Rebecca Bednall** is Head of Fundraising at Mayhew, the animal welfare charity serving five London boroughs. She brings practical experience of making bold portfolio decisions in a small fundraising team, including the discipline of saying no to legacy activities that no longer serve the organisation. **Matt Middler** is a transformative coach working with charity sector leaders and fundraisers across the sector. He brings his "inner game and outer game" framework, helping fundraisers build self-awareness and resilience alongside technical skills. **Caitlin Scott** is an early career professional currently seeking her first fundraising role, having moved into the sector from a background in performing arts and community engagement. She brings a fresh perspective on what it feels like to start a fundraising career today. **Connect with our guests** - Katie Docherty - LinkedIn - Tobin Aldrich - LinkedIn - Sophie Carre - LinkedIn - Gerald Oppenheim - LinkedIn - Matt Smith - LinkedIn - Rebecca Bednall - LinkedIn - Matt Middler - Matt Middler Coaching - Caitlin Scott - LinkedIn **Useful Links** - More information the Fundraising Benchmarking Survey: aawpartnership.com/fundraising-benchmarks-survey-2026 - Fundraising Regulator: fundraisingregulator.org.uk/ - Trussell: trussell.org.uk/ - Mayhew: themayhew.org/ **Be a part of the show** We really want to hear what you think of the show and what you'd like us to cover. So if you have thoughts on this episode or ideas for future topics, here's how to get in touch... - Use the contact form HERE - https://letstalkfundraising.transistor.fm/contact-us - Send us a voice message HERE- https://www.speakpipe.com/LetsTalkFundraising *Produced by* The Good Studio *-* thegoodstudio.co.uk - (00:06) - - Welcome and introduction - (02:10) - - Katie Docherty on the future after Fundraising Convention - (08:11) - - Tobin Aldrich and Sophie Carre on the findings of the 2026 Fundraising Benchmarks Survey - (20:32) - - Gerald Oppenheim on the Fundraising Regulator's first decade - (40:20) - - Matt Smith and Becky Bednall on the small but mighty impact of the UK's small charities - (01:01:44) - - Matt Middler and Caitlin Scott on the 'inner game' for early career fundraisers - (01:19:50) - - That's a wrap for Fundraising Convention