EVENTS, LEARNING AND NETWORKS IN 2023

Our events and networks are here to support people working in trusts and foundations across the UK. There are learning events and activities to appeal to every member of your team, including new or junior colleagues, senior leaders and trustees. Find out more at acf.org.uk/events and log in to subscribe to our monthly Events bulletin.

Our learning events are specifcally designed for foundations and grant-making charities. These events create a space for peer discussion, connection with sector experts and learning from leading practitioners in the feld.

Our unique programme empowers trustees and staff to realise the full potential of their foundation’s assets to achieve their charitable and fnancial objectives.

In collaboration with our Offcial Partners, Ruffer, Cazenove, Mercer and CCLA, the two-day course covers the role of mission and values, the legal context, deciding what to spend, and the technicalities of investment from risk and return to asset allocation and understanding costs. Suitable for those new to investment and those well-versed in investment who are new to the foundation context.

Following the publication of Investment: The Pillars of Stronger Foundation Practice in 2020, the seminars also provide a basic introduction to implementing the behaviours from the report.

This series of events run by SIIG are for foundations interested in social impact investing (making investments which deliver both a fnancial return and social impact). These jargon-free events explore issues such as impact reporting, accounting for social investments, and providing fexible, patient investment for social purpose organisations.

Our 15 member networks, convened by members themselves, provide you with an opportunity to connect with colleagues, discuss a variety of topics and share strong practice and learning.

It’s free for ACF members to join a network and attend online network meetings. Networks meet two or three times a year and any ACF member is welcome to attend, even if you are not subscribed to that network. You can subscribe to any number of networks to receive meeting communications and to view articles and notices. To subscribe to a network, visit acf.org.uk/member-networks and click on ‘Access member networks’.

Our conference is an ACF fagship event. After our in-person conference in 2022, we're taking some time to refect on event data and member feedback from previous years to reimagine what our next conference could look like. You can expect to hear more in the coming months.

If you'd like to get involved, please contact the project team at acf@acf.org.uk to share your views.

Our AGM offers an important opportunity to hear directly from our trustees and staff about ACF’s work on behalf of our members over the past 12 months, as well as our plans for the future. This year, our AGM will be on Tuesday 13 June, 5pm-6pm, kindly hosted by Mercer. Book to attend in person or online at acf.org.uk/events

ACF’s Foundation Giving Trends report presents annual research and analysis on trends in the giving, spending, income and assets of the largest philanthropically funded foundations in the UK. This July, ACF is offering an opportunity for colleagues from the sector to come together to fnd out what the report’s fndings might mean for foundations, and to hear from an expert panel. Watch out for booking details in Funders’ News and on our website.

Our exclusive annual reception brings together the chairs of our member trusts and foundations for a valuable opportunity to share challenges and learning. The evening reception explores 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.

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.

to the FCCC recognise that the growing climate emergency is a serious risk to the pursuit of our charitable aims. As part of the Commitment, ACF hosts a number of FCCC events to discuss progress, hear from experts in the feld and connect with fellow funders.

For more information about any of these events, please visit acf.org.uk or email acf@acf.org.uk