Grants Unlocked 2026 - Online on Thursday 24 September

Interested in sponsoring this event? Please email [email protected] for more information.

Securing grants is more competitive than ever, with increasing demand for funding and shifting priorities from grant-makers. To succeed in 2026/2027, charities need more than a strong application — they need real relationships built on trust, clear communication and consistent stewardship, alongside credible evidence of impact.

Grants Unlocked 2026 is a one-day intensive online conference designed to strengthen your grant fundraising. Whether you’re new to bids or looking to sharpen your practice, you’ll explore how to write compelling proposals, build and maintain positive funder relationships, steward support over time, and demonstrate impact through reporting that builds confidence through expert-led sessions and peer networking. We’ll also tackle the practical realities of modern grant fundraising — including how to use AI responsibly without losing your organisation’s voice, how to stay well in a deadline-driven role, and how to step back from reactive bidding to shape a clear, sustainable grant strategy.

Join us for a focused, practical day that will leave you better prepared, more confident, and ready to secure funding in 2026 and beyond.

Testimonials from the 2025 event

‘Calling it an inspirational day is an understatement. It has reaffirmed my love of storytelling and the planning and research that goes with it. This morning I raced to rewrite a case for support, and bouncing ideas around with my tireless colleague Chat GPT, ended up with a short story that punches, grabs attention, and plays tug of war with your heartstrings. My proposals won’t be mere funding applications anymore; they’ll be stories in disguise, written to compel and inspire. I’m also excited to explore how my trust fundraising can open doors into new forms.’ – Tommy Bates, Groundwork Five Counties.

‘A great dive into the wonderful world of grants and trust funding, very informative and packed full of content.’– Claire Dowan, British Institute of Learning Disabilities.

‘This was an excellent event. I used some of the information for my Trustee report at the meeting that very evening. Our grateful thanks to Zurich Community Trust for offering this as part of their amazing support.’– Samantha Rock Cooper, Bristol Dementia Action Alliance.

What’s included in the price?

• Full access to all conference sessions and interactive workshops.
• Keynote presentations from leading funders and grant specialists.
• A digital copy of Speed Read: Networking

Funds Online subscribers can attend for free!

If you are a Funds Online subscriber, you can access this conference for free. To book your place, email [email protected] with your account number and they’ll give you a 100% discount code for you to book with. Not yet a Funds Online subscriber? Click here to find out more.

Agenda

09.30 – 09:45: Welcome

Join us for introductions, housekeeping rules.

Chaired by George Knight, Training Consultant, DSC.

09.45 – 10.30:  Keynote: Relationships that unlock funding: stewardship, trust and repeat support

Strong grant fundraising isn’t just about winning the bid – it’s also about building trust over time through strong, professional relationships before you apply, while you deliver, and after a grant ends. This session explores what good stewardship looks like in practice, including clear communication, setting expectations, and helping funders feel confident in your organisation. We’ll also look at how to handle changes or challenges in delivery in a way that protects trust, and what helps to lay the groundwork for future support and repeat funding.

10.30 – 11.15: Breakout sessions

Session A: Write like a human: storytelling proposals that funders remember
Great bids don’t just “tick the boxes”, they build trust. This session brings together proposal writing and evidence-led storytelling to help you create applications that feel clear, specific and genuinely persuasive. You’ll learn how to replace generic bid language with a confident, human voice, and how to combine data with lived experience. We’ll share ideas you can use across bids and reports, plus practical techniques for aligning your narrative to what funders care about so your proposal is both compelling and credible.

Session B: Evouchers session – information coming soon

11.15 – 11.30:  Break

11.30 – 12.00:  Funds Online demo

Funds Online can give you access to the grant-givers that will ensure you are able to not just survive, but thrive. Whether you are new to Funds Online or a current subscriber, join us for a 30 minute webinar to explore tips and tricks to help get you access to the funding you need today. The session will explore everything from completing a basic search to saving funds and search results. George will show you how to get Funds Online working for you, almost as if you had an additional fundraiser working in your team!

Speaker: George Knight, Training Consultant, DSC.

12.00 – 12.30: Funder insight: How decisions get made

Hear directly from a funder about what happens after you press “submit”. We’ll find out how applications are assessed, how decisions are reached, and what helps a bid progress smoothly. We’ll also explore the common reasons bids are unsuccessful and the practical steps you can take to reduce risk and strengthen funder confidence.

12.30 – 12.45:  Networking

12.45 – 13.45: Lunch

13.45 – 14.45: Panel discussion: AI in grant fundraising

Join us for a discussion on using AI in grant fundraising without damaging authenticity or funder confidence. We’ll discuss when and when not to use AI and how to keep your organisation’s voice.

14.45 – 15.30:  Breakout sessions

Breakout C:  Self-care for grant fundraisers

Tools for workload, rejection resilience, and healthy boundaries. Practical habits you can start next week.

Speaker: George Knight, Training Consultant, DSC.

Breakout D: From outcomes to evidence: measuring and reporting impact

Funders want to understand what changed because of their support and they want to feel confident that your reporting is honest, clear and proportionate. This session shows you how to demonstrate impact without creating an unrealistic burden for your team. We’ll explore how to set meaningful outcomes, choose sensible measures, gather evidence as you deliver, and turn learning into reporting that strengthens relationships. You’ll leave with a simple approach you can apply to your next grant, whether you’re a small charity with limited capacity or working across multiple funded projects.

15.30 – 15.45:  Break

15.45 – 16.15:  Closing keynote: Shaping your grant strategy for the year ahead

A strong grants programme doesn’t happen by accident – it comes from making clear choices about where to focus, how to plan, and how to use your time well. This closing strategy session helps delegates step back and think strategically about where to focus, how to prioritise, and how to build a sustainable approach that fits their organisation’s capacity. We’ll explore what a strong grant strategy looks like in practice, how to align activity with your organisation’s priorities and goals, and how to stay relationship-led rather than just reactive. Delegates will leave with a clearer sense of what to do next and what to stop doing.

Event sponsor

Evouchers specialises in creating secure, flexible voucher systems that help charity organisations support, reward and motivate their communities.

Created to assist during the pandemic, Evouchers has grown to become a trusted partner, enabling public sector organisations to deliver millions of vouchers every year for essentials like food, clothing, energy, and other household necessities. We’re committed to delivering quick, reliable solutions that make it easier for you to provide the support your community needs. Find out more.

Prices

Early bird prices to Monday 17 August.

Regular pricing from Tuesday 18 August.

Group bookings – 15% discount

If three or more people are booking from the same organisation, please contact our friendly Customer Services team and we will process your booking with 15% off the total amount. You can email our team here [email protected] or ring 020 4526 5995.