Ultimate 2025 fundraiser resource library
The BEST learning tools handpicked by YOU!
This week…
We’re finally publishing our crowdsourced resource library for you all!
Here at LarkOwl, we’re passionate about democratising training and development for nonprofit folks.
Last year, Fundraising Everywhere did some research which showed that fundraisers who have access to regular learning opportunities are happier in their jobs AND raise more money.
What’s not to love?
But of course in this sector, budget and time can be huge barriers to participation.
So what are the choices?
Choice is the key thing when it comes to CPD for fundraisers. More choice means greater accessibility and a higher chance you’ll find something which works for you.
We want to highlight the resources which are truly helpful to fundraisers in 2025.
This is where we asked for your help. Below is every blog, training course, conference, newsletter and book recommended to us by you. our readers.
THANK YOU!
It’s a pleasure to share this library with you today.
Have a top week,
Tony and Caroline
Ultimate 2025 fundraiser resource library
by Caroline Danks
Picture description: a speaker on stage and an audience, all with their hands in the air
I think you’ll agree that we are are utterly blessed in this sector to have plenty of wonderful people who so generously create and share their knowledge to support you in your learning and development.
Here’s the list - we hope you find something or someone new to support you in your fundraising journey today!
Blogs
Alicia Grainger; practical support for trust fundraisers
Lime Green Consulting; a huge back catalogue of articles to support everything from fundraising planning and strategy, discipline specific pieces plus thought pieces on the intersection of politics and philanthropy.
Money Tree Fundraising; high value fundraising experts, their blog features plenty of ideas for anyone exploring trusts, major gifts or capital appeals.
NonprofitAF; US based self-proclaimed ‘rabble rouser’ Vu Le talks covers equity, social justice, Community Centric Fundraising and the reality of trying to do good work in a hostile political environment.
SOFII; SOFII stands for ‘Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration’. It’s a bank of case studies of unique and thought provoking fundraising campaigns and ideas. Worth a look if you’re a little jaded and you (and your fundraising) feels tired.
Summit Fundraising; fantastic actionable ideas and inspiration for anyone exploring major gifts fundraising.
3rd Sector Mission Control; A helpful and practical blog, author Richard Sved also keeps an up to date list of sector reports and research.
Courses and conferences
Fundraising Everywhere; A comprehensive training platform providing conferences, workshops and community for all fundraising disciplines. Fundraising Everywhere platforms new speakers and experts with marginalised identities. They pay their speakers ensuring that the opportunity is accessible for as many people as possible (not just those who can afford to work for free).
Disclaimer, I work as a conference curator and an affiliate for them, but even if I didn’t, would happily shout about their much needed sector disruption. The world of fundraising training is so much better for their existence.
Check out membership options here
Get your ticket to Trusts and Major Donors 2025 here (and use LARKOWL15 at the checkout for a 15% discount)
Both affiliate links
Get Grants; A low cost, online training platform - recommended multiple times by readers.
School of Social Entrepreneurs / Lime Green Consulting; The reader who suggested this one described a two day fundraising training session they’d attended, hosted by both organisations:
“It was good to hear other people’s experiences and the peer exercise highlighted what I was missing as well as highlighting the different things that work for different people/places – some of which I am now experimenting with myself”.
The link above takes you to SSE’s home page from where you can browse all training opportunities.
Fundraising Training Limited’s Skilled Grantseeker Programme; If you’re a lucky trust fundraiser, you’ll have been given the opportunity to have attended training created and delivered by the legendary Bill Bruty. Highly recommended by so many fundraisers (including me who learned loads from Bill in my earliest days as a trust fundraiser).
B&G partners, Telling your story with Impact; the consultancy and training vehicle for the founders of Ministry of Stories, 826 National and Super Power Agency (all of which bring creative writing to young people). Adore their ‘About’ page.
JMB consulting; Uncharitable; An annual conference, plus research papers and one off events, Uncharitable provides essential learning on the topic of decolonising philanthropy, examining the imperial / colonial roots of the sector and practical ways to move our fundraising forwards through an anti racist / social justice lens.
Newsletters / publications
The Nest Egg, LarkOwl; Obviously had to include this. All our knowledge and experience distilled into weekly articles for a low cost, with an entire archive to explore. Plus puppy spam.
If you’re not yet a paying subscriber - what are you waiting for? Weekly emails, plus our entire archive of 100+ articles.
Barely Civil Society, Alex Evans; A hilarious and very detailed topical newsletter which covers goings on in politics and UK nonprofit sector. Subscribe and enjoy (before Alex is poached to write for the Guardian and / or The News Quiz). Warning – don’t read with a mouthful of coffee, you will ruin your laptop.
Uprising Philanthropy, Liz Le Clair; Personal accounts from the frontlines of activism and a determination to make change in our sector. Liz is a very wise Canadian fundraiser who I’m proud to call a friend.
Why Philanthropy Matters, Rhodri Davies; A monthly round up of global philanthropy news and opinion.
Circles, Jo Jeffery; Jo is curator of The List. Circles is her publication which provides information on recent closures, pauses and changes in UK trusts and foundations.
3,2,1 Fundraise, Handmade Fundraising; Michelle Stein tells stories and shares her experiences to support fundraisers working in the philanthropy space. Many Nest Egg readers recommended her training too.
Research resources
GRIN (Grants Resources Information News)
The List iconic closed / paused / review funder data captured by Jo Jeffery - now available as a fancy new website!
Funder Success Rates - a new community/ crowdsourced resource organised by Lucy Stone, capturing, well, Funder Success Rates obvs…
Books
Allcott, Graham, ‘KIND: the quiet power of kindness at work’
“Everything I look for in an organisation/leadership encapsulated in one book” Andy
Armstrong, John, How to worry less about money
“Not about how to be better with money, but how to let go of your money beliefs, which has made me a much stronger negotiator” Andy
Breeze, Beth; Day Lafferty, Donna; Wiepking, Pamala; The Fundraising Reader
Brown, Kevin L, Fundable and Findable
“Just treated myself to a hardback copy and it’s fab. Very different to other fundraising books so well worth adding it to your list of resources” Jessica
Clayton, Alan, Great Fundraising Organisations
Greer, Lisa Z, Philanthropy 451 and the Fundraisers’ Handbook
Heath, Chip and Dan, Made to Stick
“I love this book so much, it transformed how I think about writing” Andy
Routley, Dr Claire and Sved, Richard, Fundraising Strategy
Soojung-Kim-Pang, Alex, Rest
“The single most important resource in helping me to uncouple from the idea that people in creative / thought based work can work productively using a Victorian factory 9-5 model.”
Stansfield, Neela-Jane, Grant Fundraising
Villanueva, Edgar, Decolonizing Wealth
Younis, Dr Haifaa; Builders of a Nation
“this book is about key Muslim women that helped build communities through inspirational, spiritual and practical ways.” Seema
Ross, Bernard and Segal, Clare, The Influential Fundraiser
Ross, Bernad and Mahmoud, Omar, Change for Good
Welch, Kathryn; Innovation in Fundraising
Ken Burnett’s books
Podcasts
Fundraising Bright Spots
Confessions with Jess and Cindy
Do One Better
Fundraising Everywhere
For Impact: The Charity Podcast
Fundraising HayDay
Giving Done Right
What Donors Want
Other
“this has been an absolute game-changer for me, and my fundraising/work.” Clare
Michelle Benson’s LinkedIn posts
Fundraising Chat, the Trust Fundraising Hub, the Major Donor Fundraising Group - all Facebook groups with active and supportive communities.
And finally…
“Unstructured networking events - WhatsApp groups, pizza parties, breakfast clubs - being immersed in a place with other fundraisers that creates a squad to call on” Andy
A huge thank you to all of you who made suggestions. This is a live document which we plan to update regularly.
Who / what have we missed?
Please reply to this email with your ideas for brilliant people / resources we should add today!
This is such as amazing resource. Thanks for all the collective inputs everyone has made to this and to Larkowl for taking the time to publish it!
Appreciate the love for Fundable & Findable!