“Empathy, not sympathy; solidarity, not saviourism; justice, not charity.” – notes from Fundraising Convention 2020 #IoFFC

It was a strange experience "checking in" to the first online Institute of Fundraising Convention. No lovely volunteers in orange T-shirts helping me find Frobisher, six floors away; no mingling and networking at break time; no low level chatter or thunderous applause. Checking into #IoFFC but no lanyard and most of all no smiley volunteers in orange shirts! Sill looking forward to it though. Catch up in the break? pic.twitter.com/pUvKJ8WBQk— Richard Sved (@richardsved) July 6, 2020 But what about the learning? I'd decided this time last year that I didn't want to speak at it. I just wanted to soak it all up as a delegate. Would I be able to do that from home? What I've attended so far has been excellent, and I'll keep adding to this blog as I go along, in the days, weeks and months to come, adding sessions on catch up! (Please do let me know, in the comments below, which of the dozens of sessions I should definitely check out.) Sir Lenny Henry It was a privilege to see and hear Sir Lenny, a driving force behind the setting up of Comic Relief 35 years ago, speak. I was particularly inspired by his optimism about public generosity, and by his thoughts about storytelling and the importance of moving away from "white saviour" stereotype appeals. Delighted to be told by him, too, that fundraisers rock. Because we do. "Compassion fatigue is a misnomer. We're going to get through this. We're going to keep giving, because we want to, and because it's what we do."Si