A practical manifesto for fundraisers who want better data, better decisions and donor experiences that last!
Why the Way We Think About Fundraising Data Is Dead Wrong
Webinar Date and Time: Jan 28, 2026 1:00 PM GMT
A live keynote + manifesto for fundraising, CRM and data in the age of AI
The uncomfortable truth
Most charities aren’t being held back by a lack of passion. They’re being held back by how they think about data.
We’ve normalised:
CRMs that fundraisers are scared to touch
Data locked in silos “owned” by someone else
Manual reporting that steals weeks every year
GDPR fear that damages donor relationships
Systems that can’t talk to each other
Budget decisions based on hope, not insight
And then we wonder why innovation feels slow.
What this session is (and isn’t)
This is not a product demo
It’s not a technical masterclass
And it’s definitely not another “AI will save us” talk
This is a vision and manifesto for how fundraising, data and CRM must evolve if the sector is going to thrive in the next decade.
It’s honest
It’s practical
It’s rooted in real fundraising leadership experience
And it’s designed to spark better conversations inside your organisation.
What you’ll hear
Why the sector’s biggest data problem is cultural, not technical
How silos, fear and underinvestment quietly undermine fundraising performance.
The myth of “we can’t do that”
Why projects that cost £25,000 and took six months twenty years ago can now be done in a day for under £50 — and why most charities haven’t caught up.
The real cost of GDPR fear
Including a true story of a major donor on the verge of walking away because systems and policies prevented fundraisers from doing their job properly.
Why we must demand more from suppliers
A direct challenge to fundraisers to push CRM vendors, platforms and consultants to tear down closed systems.
The “art of the possible”
What open systems, automation and AI actually make achievable today — if we get the basics right first.
A manifesto for the future
A clear set of principles to help fundraising teams, data teams and leaders align around better decisions, better experiences and better outcomes.
Who this is for
A Fundraising Director or Head of Fundraising tired of fighting spreadsheets and underpowered systems
A CRM, data or insight lead frustrated by being treated as a service desk rather than a strategic partner
A supporter care or relationship fundraiser who knows donors deserve better experiences
A finance or operations leader who wants clearer, faster, more confident investment decisions
A curious fundraiser who knows there must be a better way — even if you don’t yet know what it is
What you’ll leave with
A clearer mental model for what good fundraising data actually looks like
Language to challenge “that’s just how we do things” thinking
Confidence to ask better questions of your CRM, suppliers and leadership
Tried-and-tested campaigns drop straight into your stack, then we tweak them to fit your cause.
We obsess over great donor experiences because happy supporters stick around and give more.
Craig Linton
About the speaker
Former Director of Fundraising. Strategic data consultant. Co-founder of Thread Fundraising and BINGO.
Craig has spent over 25 years in senior fundraising roles, delivering growth, building investment cases, and making high-stakes decisions with imperfect data.
He’s led global data transformation projects, advised some of the world’s largest charities, and experienced first-hand the exhaustion of spreadsheet-driven planning and manual re-forecasting.
This talk comes from the intersection of lived fundraising leadership and what’s now technically possible, grounded in empathy, not hype.
Why now?
Because AI is accelerating faster than our processes.
Because charities are under more pressure than ever.
Because donors expect better experiences.
Because “good enough” data is no longer good enough.
This is the first time this talk will be presented publicly.
Come curious. Leave clearer. Join the conversation.
Bonus point if you spotted the title is a homage to Dan Palotta’s legendary Ted Talk.
Stitching supporter-first fundraising into every campaign. Expert people, proven blueprints, and smart tech to grow income and wow donors.
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