Morning, Monday, 20th April 2026
Online
This conference will examine priorities for the charity sector, assessing key issues around policy, governance and resilience as the sector responds to cost and income pressures, and prepares for reporting changes and technological innovation.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss the Civil Society Covenant, alongside new fundraising standards and related reforms. Delegates will examine partnership agreements under the Covenant, including ways to address barriers to effective collaborative working and wider sector participation. We also expect discussion on accountability arrangements, reporting mechanisms, and oversight structures that can support independence while enabling closer collaboration.
New Code of Fundraising Practice
Sessions will consider the new code and what the transition to a principles-based framework may mean for organisations of different scales. Delegates will assess the potential impact on public and donor confidence in fundraising standards, and best practice for organisations in maintaining trust and securing support.
Governance
Regulatory and governance reforms will be examined, including trustee responsibilities and the expanded powers of the Charity Commission, alongside implications for board decision-making and for managing financial and reputational risks.
With measures in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill aimed at changing local government responsibilities, sessions will consider the role that civil society might play in new devolved arrangements - from participation in local planning to the accountability required when responsibilities are shared across sectors.
Finance
The financial and delivery landscape will be assessed, including prospective changes to reporting and audit thresholds and the balance between reducing administrative requirements and maintaining confidence in the transparency and reliability of charities’ work.
Further discussion will examine funding distribution and philanthropy, including how the Covenant could provide a clearer basis for allocating resources. Areas for discussion include opportunities for donations and grant-making to relieve pressure on organisations by supporting core costs, offering longer-term or unrestricted funding, and filling gaps where statutory or contract income is limited. Implications of wider fiscal decisions for the long-term sustainability of the sector will also be considered.
Overall areas for discussion
- policy:
- alignment across the current partnership framework, new fundraising standards, and recent governance reforms
- immediate operational effects for charities and delivery partners - timelines and dependencies
- partnership practice: engagement standards between public bodies and civil society - routes for smaller organisations to participate - escalation and dispute resolution channels
- accountability: progress measures and publication cycles - joint oversight forums with clear remits - data access, privacy safeguards, and redress routes
- fundraising transition: adoption across organisation sizes - third-party oversight and fraud and AML controls - safeguards for donors in vulnerable circumstances
- governance: trustee duties under the Charity Act 2022 - regulator powers and responsibilities - board decisions on financial and reputational risk
- technology: opportunities and risks presented by emerging technologies - AI use in fundraising - lawful data sources and consent - audit trails, bias checks, and manual review
- reporting and audit: threshold options and small-charity impacts - report formats, SORP tiers, and guidance - proportionate assurance that maintains public trust
- devolved delivery: local plan participation - procurement and contract risk - accountability across councils and combined authorities
- funding and philanthropy: principles for resource allocation - grant length and flexibility - fiscal outlook signals for sector sustainability
