A seminar taking place for a large group of people

Events and learning

ACF events are specifically tailored for individuals working in trust and foundation member and non-member organisations. 

We offer events open to your whole team, including new or junior team members, senior leaders and trustees.

Our events are designed to inspire good practice, facilitate connection with sector experts and keep you up to date with the latest regulation affecting foundations.

Our learning events aim to enhance the knowledge of individuals and teams on topics specific to grant-making, including assessing applications, safeguarding, and grant-management systems.

Other events include regular online member network meetings, and one-off sessions covering timely and relevant topics such as climate change, applying a diversity, equity and inclusion lens to grant-making and briefings on key policy-related themes.

ACF learning, events and network meetings are taking place online, unless stated otherwise.

All ACF events are open to individuals and teams working for ACF member organisations. Some events are open to non-members who meet the criteria for ACF membership.

Find an event

Learning events

Our learning events aim to enhance individual and organisational knowledge of topics specific to grant-making and leading a foundation.

Each learning event is designed to equip participants with good practice in the foundation sector, educate on the technical aspects of being a foundation and to create a space to consider the strategic decisions facing foundations today.  Our learning sessions are led by expert practitioners in the field and provide a safe space for peer discussion, learning and connection with sector experts.

Investment seminars and events

A series of learning opportunities led by senior foundation practitioners and expert input from our Official Partners. These events empower participants to realise the full potential of their investment assets to achieve their charitable objectives, and to explore responsible, sustainable and impact driven investment. Our two-day investment seminars run bi-annually to help equip senior staff and trustees for their investment oversight responsibilities; shorter learning sessions raise topics of interest to a wide audience of foundation staff and trustees.
Contact [email protected] to learn more and receive emails on upcoming investment events.

Social Impact Investors Group (SIIG)

Learning events and market information days run by our Social Impact Investors Group for foundations interested in exploring or currently undertaking social impact investing (making investments which deliver both a financial return and social impact). These jargon-free events provide an overview of social impact investing, and explore emerging issues such as impact reporting, accounting for social investments and providing flexible, patient investment for social purpose organisations.
Contact [email protected] to learn more and receive emails about the SIIG.

Annual conference

Our annual conference is the UK's biggest trust and foundation sector event of the year. It provides an opportunity for foundation staff and thought leaders to connect with peers from across the UK, gain knowledge and skills, and be inspired by new ideas and good practice. It enables foundations large and small, with a wide variety of charitable aims, to come together and reflect on the opportunities and challenges faced by the sector. 

An evening for chairs

Our exclusive, annual reception brings together the chairs of our member trusts and foundations for a valuable opportunity to share challenges and learning. The reception typically features a panel discussion focusing on the current issues facing the independent funding sector and the role that boards play in facing those challenges. This is followed by a Q&A, facilitated group discussion and plenty of time for networking.

Policy events

The Members’ Policy Forum creates opportunities to engage directly with policy work and policymakers by convening events around issues of interest to your foundation and the communities or causes you support.
The Funders Collaborative Hub is a sector-wide initiative hosted by ACF, which offers a regular programme of events aiming to increase alignment and collaboration in response to Covid-19 by connecting you with other funders and existing funder collaborations.

 


Our event booking and refunds policy can be found here.