2026 Conference Programme
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Wed 6 May 2026: Day 1
08:00 | Zoom Room Opens
Programme Explanation/Updates; Notices
In an increasingly unpredictable world, NPOs must build resilience to navigate uncertainty, adapt to change, and sustain their impact. Whether facing funding shifts, political changes, or global crises, the ability to anticipate, respond, and recover is essential. Leading NPO strategist, Carolin Gomulia’s session will provide practical strategies to help to future-proof organisations, strengthening their ability to withstand challenges while remaining mission-driven. This session is designed for NPO leaders and managers who want to move beyond crisis response and build long-term resilience. Carolin will provide actionable insights and tools to help organisations not just survive but thrive in an uncertain world.
- Learn how to build agility into organisations’ operations, decision-making, and planning processes.
- Explore frameworks and digital solutions that can help streamline workflows, improve risk management, and enhance financial sustainability.
- Gain leadership approaches that foster adaptability, maintain team morale, and enable confident decision-making during turbulent times.
Abigail Oliphant
For those still only using ChatGPT as a search engine, the dynamic Abigail Oliphant will guide delegates to delve deeper into the possibilities of AI in fundraising. The session will explore different ways on leveraging AI for personalised donor experiences, predictive analytics for smarter prospect identification, automation of routine tasks, and ethical considerations in using AI responsibly within the nonprofit sector. Abigail will share practical tools on how AI can enhance fundraising efficiency and drive impact.
15 min Tea Break
Henk Swanepoel, Derek Lubner & Clara Kwizera
Formed in response to the sad fact of (mainly UK individual) donors’ growing reluctance to give to SA NPOs due to ongoing media coverage of corruption in the country, committed global South Africans, Derek Lubner and Henk Swanepoel, spent COVID lockdown conceptualising a solution. Five years on, iZinga Assist (iZA), a free platform, offers NPOs an unprecedented level of assessment and verification. Publicly launched in October 2025, iZA is rapidly positioning itself as the go-to place for non-profits to achieve the sought after 5-star rating respected by a growing number of donors. With partner companies of the calibre of Primedia, Shoprite Holdings and MacRobert Attorneys, and a more and more CSI/foundation donors favouring NPOs verified by iZinga Assist, this is truly an idea that’s time has come. Chair, Derek Lubner, Global CEO, Henk Swanepoel, and SA Country Manager, Clara Kwizera, will update delegates on the latest developments and opportunities for NPOs in this game-changing initiative.
Host: Melanie Jackson | Panelists: Zoey Hoosen, Thobile Ziqubu, Michael Mamabolo & Edumisa Mtoli
NPO boards, staff members, and volunteers know what their organisations do. They know how activities are carried out. But few people can succinctly articulate why specific projects are offered. Potential donors are less interested in what organisations do, but care and want to know why they do what they do – which problems they address. That is what donors fund – impact. Based on the superb work done by Simon Sinek, this panel, hosted by Melanie Jackson, will guide delegates to refine their messages. With participation by representatives of four NPOs sharing their why, Melanie and the panellists will demonstrate Sinek’s theories in action – the most challenging being to be able to briefly answer the key question, ‘What problem are you solving?’
Alan Clayton & Nyasha Njela
Nyasha Njela and Alan Clayton will build on the Great Fundraising Project with latest evidence and case studies of the ‘halo effect’ of becoming a Great Fundraising Organization. They will:
- Re-cap the critical behaviours of those organisations that dramatically increase their fundraised income, based on ten years of research and case studies.
- Demonstrate the ‘halo effect’ on whole organisation growth and acceleration towards mission that Great Fundraising can create.
- Show proven techniques and behaviours that align the whole organisation around a modern Purpose with Precision.
- Leave delegates with directly actionable learning points.
Inspire everyone with stories of organisations from around the world that have achieved transformational growth – and how they did so.
30 min Lunch Break
Jill Ritchie
The multi-billion-dollar industry that is the world of corporate marketing has much that fundraisers can learn from. Marketers have spent many millions (of their clients’ money) to test what works well in motivating people to buy products and services. Non-profit team members can pick up invaluable tips from the marketing world to aid fundraising. Successful marketing, and particularly advertising, relies on a thorough knowledge of psychology to identify why people make their purchasing (think: giving) decisions. Over recent years, those seeking money from individuals have embraced decision science (where marketing and psychology intersect) and have proven its success. However, there is more to be learnt from marketers. Founder of South Africa’s longest standing resource mobilisation conference and fundraising specialist, Jill Ritchie, has monitored the world of marketing over decades, occasionally ‘borrowing’ great concepts and successfully applying these to benefit her non-profit clients. She will share successful case studies and key tips to consider when both fundraising and friend-raising.
Felix Spies
In a funding environment increasingly shaped by scrutiny, fatigue, and declining trust, donors are asking harder questions—and nonprofits can no longer rely on surface-level compliance to secure long-term support.
Drawing on original research and real-world fundraising experience, this session explores how major donors assess governance in education-focused nonprofits and how they distinguish between appearance and substance. Using the 5 Ts of fundraising as an integrating framework, Felix Spies examines how governance shows up not just in policies and registrations.
He will share how informal signals, such as decision-making discipline, board behaviour, data integrity, and organisational self-awareness, often matter as much as formal structures. Felix will also confront the growing risk of ‘impact washing’ and the damage it causes to donor confidence and sector sustainability. For fundraisers, executives and board members, this talk offers a practical lens on how governance becomes a fundraising asset—and why credibility, not charisma, is the true currency of sustainable philanthropy.
15 min Tea Break
Ricardo Wyngaard
Ricardo Wyngaard’s session is designed to encourage people within NPOs to innovate responsibly with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI). Research has shown that, as larger organisations are adopting AI at twice the rate of smaller ones, the resource gap is widening, but so too are the opportunities for impact. A strategic approach to AI can enhance efficiency, improve donor engagement, and deliver measurable benefits, all whilst embracing compliance governance principles. Ricardo is monitoring the evolving legal and ethical landscape of AI and its opportunities. However, he is aware that it’s vital for NPO representatives to understand the frameworks that underpin responsible AI use. This session will discuss the importance of conducting AI impact assessments, drafting governance policies, and aligning with applicable legislation.
Melanie Jackson
For more than two decades, Melanie Jackson built funding pipelines focused primarily on institutional and corporate donors. Individual giving was, at best, peripheral. In recent years, that view has shifted.
South African NPOs remain heavily reliant on grants and CSI funding, often with high levels of restriction and increasing compliance demands. At the same time, economic volatility, donor consolidation and short-term funding cycles are placing organisations under pressure.
In this session, Melanie will explore why over-reliance on institutional funding creates structural vulnerability and why individual giving, when approached strategically, can strengthen financial resilience, unlock unrestricted income and rebalance power dynamics.
16:15 | Closure
Thur 7 May 2026: Day 2
08:00 | Zoom Room Opens
Jane Mills
Jane Mills has substantial experience in setting up successful and sustainable income generating initiatives for NPOs. In this session, she will advise on navigating the dynamic and opportunity-rich landscape of earning (rather than raising) money. Making/earning/generating funds offers a unique way for non-profits to embody their purpose and mission and attract volunteers and supporters while bringing in much needed money. Vitally, Jane’s presentation will emphasize that social enterprises need not come at the expense of an NPO’s mission but are rather a profitable way to add to it. As sustainability is more than a balance sheet, income generation must be designed to make use of what exists and not add to an NPO’s expenses. Jane has proven that NPOs that generate part of their funding needs, attract donors who willingly support these self-starting and dynamic entities, knowing that they will survive tough times.
Host: Dianne Richards | Panelists: Nkosenhle Hlophe, Malusi Ntoyapi, awaiting further confirmations
A regular feature on this annual conference is a panel of CSI/foundation donors to update delegates on the latest trends in their support for non-profits and tertiary institutions. This panel, chaired by Dianne Richards, who worked in CSI for over two decades and is now consulting to NPOs and universities, will enable panellists to share updated information and, vitally, to give delegates an opportunity to ask questions. Just a few questions from past conferences: Why are some organisations funded and others not? Why are meetings so hard (if not impossible) to secure? Why does the focus of CSI giving change often? Will they cover the costs of MEL? What is the latest thinking on funding running costs (if at all)? How do donors feel about organisations having endowments/reserves? How can one know when a funding call has been made? I have heard that the worst thing that I can do is to have senior person in a company (CEO, chair) tell/advise a CSI practitioner to fund an organisation – why? Why do some donors insist on initial concept notes?
Delegates are advised to have their questions ready!
15 min Tea Break
Cara Goshen & Dr Jessica Ronaasen
Each year, this conference includes one NPO that serves or assists other non-profits. This time, the DO MORE FOUNDATION Trust, a South African ‘backbone organisation’, with the singular mission of championing Early Childhood Development (ECD) will be featured. Established by RCL FOODS, the DMF operates as an independently audited, NPO committed to long-term, systemic change.
DMF’s strength lies in their ability to connect the dots – bridging business, government and civil society – and creating the space for sustained collective action. It exists to make it easier for others to do more for young children by coordinating efforts, aligning resources and unlocking the transformative potential of corporate South Africa. As a connector and catalyst, DMF fosters collaboration and coherence across sectors. By harnessing resources and community wisdom, the organisation helps to build systems that truly work for young children, their families and the future of the nation.
Megan Bosman
The days of simply randomly posting on social media platforms have proven to largely be a waste of time and resources. Social media consultant, Megan Bosman, will lead a practical session for non-profit professionals on building a meaningful social media presence. She will share why strategy comes first, how to truly understand NPO audiences and how to use storytelling to inspire action, strengthen connections and amplify an NPO’s impact.
Trish Taylor & Tessa van Staden
Partnership Over Publicity: Where Media and NPOs Meet explores the power of purpose-driven collaboration beyond airtime and headlines.
This talk, by Trish Taylor and Tessa van Staden, unpacks how authentic partnerships between media and NPOs can amplify impact and sustained interest with audiences.
The presentation will also unpack how powerful storytelling by an NPO can build trust, response and drive meaningful results.
30 min Lunch Break
Dr Carolyne A. Opinde
This year, Dr Carolyne Akinyi Opinde, will be presenting on: Responsible AI for Social Impact: Building Ethical, Inclusive, and Sustainable Systems for the Global South.
This masterclass will explore how Responsible AI can be harnessed to advance equitable development across the Global South. Participants will engage with practical strategies for strengthening local capacity, mitigating bias, and fostering cross sector partnerships that prioritise human dignity and community agency. By centring the voices and experiences of underserved populations, this conversation will highlight how Responsible AI can drive sustainable, people centred social impact at scale.
Refilwe Moleyane & Jill Ritchie
Raising money from international donors is vital. The weakness of the rand means that even small amounts translate well. The drastic changes to USAID and other foreign giving have meant that southern and South African organisations need to step up their resourcing. Decades of multi-year large grants caused some complacency among fundraisers. Financial sustainability today means exploring many more options, including foreign donors. Highly experienced international fundraising specialist, Refilwe Moleyane, will share advice and the culture of giving and appetite for supporting SA entities (or not). She will cover countries, and in some cases regions, and discuss potential donor support from each. Papillon founder and UK fundraising specialist, Jill Ritchie, will join Refilwe to talk about the latest trends in British donors’ international funding.
15 min Tea Break
Bernard Ross
In this fast-paced 90-minute online session, Bernard Ross will explore how decision science and artificial intelligence can transform the way organisations engage supporters. Drawing on real-world case studies from global NGOs and cultural institutions, Bernard will show how behavioural insights—such as framing, loss aversion, and social proof—combine powerfully with AI tools, including predictive analytics, segmentation modelling, and generative content systems.
Participants will:
- Learn to design smarter supporter journeys based on behavioural science.
- Discover how to rapidly test and iterate fundraising ideas.
- Understand how to use AI ethically to augment human judgment.
Practical and strategic, this session will equip leaders to raise more by understanding how people truly decide.
In addition to core concepts, Bernard will highlight how small AI-driven tweaks— such as tailoring donation prompts or optimising timing—can yield outsized results. He’ll address the ethical guardrails when deploying AI, ensuring that fundraising innovations remain transparent and trust based. Delegates will also gain insights into future trends—how AI and decision science will shape donor engagement in the coming years. With interactive Q&A, participants will leave with actionable tools to implement immediately. This session promises both inspiration and practical know-how.
16:15 | Closure
Programme subject to change