Following the publication of the Charities Aid Foundation UK Giving Report 2026, we explore what the data tells us is going right – and the opportunity ahead.

The great wealth transfer is coming, and it will reward the charities that can receive wealth smoothly, responsibly and at speed. In this article, we explore what it means to be operationally ready for this event.

The IDPE 2025 Schools’ Fundraising and Engagement Benchmarking Report analyses activity from 180 schools across the independent and state sectors. Here, we share our key takeaways.

Fundraising is often siloed by sector. Schools, universities and charities each have their own traditions, challenges and approaches, and it’s easy to remain focussed on your ecosystem – but what happens when we break down those walls and learn from one another? In our recent webinar, we brought together leaders from all three sectors to explore this question.

A highlight of 2025 for Cairney & Company was exhibiting at the CASE Europe Annual Conference (CEAC). Here, we share highlights from Senior Partner Kurstin Finch Gnehm’s session with Sophie Thorp and Juan Pablo Garrido on making the case for internal investment in a small shop, and wider reflections from CEAC.

With the UK Budget announced this week, we share our reflections on a policy shift with significant implications for higher education and national competitiveness.

This Remember a Charity Week (8-14 September 2025), Kurstin Finch Gnehm explores why building your capacity to solicit and receive legacy gifts has never been more important.

With annual legacy income at £4.5bn in the UK and forecast to reach over £10bn by 2050, the time to make the case for investment is now.

At the CASE Spring Institute in Educational Fundraising 2025, C&C Senior Partner Kurstin Finch Gnehm and Dr Joanna McGarry (University of Bristol) hosted a session titled “Social media glow-up: LinkedIn edition.”

This article offers a summary of what they shared during the session, with three practical actions you can take to raise your LinkedIn game.

If you were at the IDPE Annual Conference, you may have caught Annarosa Muscatelli and Kurstin Finch Gnehm’s major gift solicitation masterclass. If not, or if you’re ready for a refresher, we’ve rounded up their top tips in this ten-point guide to help make sure your next ask hits the mark. 

As employees and team leaders, there are things we can each do to prevent burnout in fundraising. This Mental Health Awareness Week, our Senior Partner Kurstin Finch Gnehm reflects on steps we can take to safeguard ourselves and our teams.

Whether you're a first-time conference attendee or a seasoned pro, Cairney & Company Senior Consultant, Annarosa Muscatelli, shares her top ten tips that will help you turn your next conference into a truly valuable experience.

While the majority of us make new year’s resolutions, only between 8-30% of us keep them for more than a few weeks. We know the best prediction of a person’s behaviour is to look at what they have done in the past – so instead of new resolutions, the Cairney & Company team share good habits they’ve picked up in the last year and intend to take into 2025.

Building a high-value fundraising operations team is essential for driving long-term growth and maximising donor impact. Here are Senior Partner, Kurstin Finch-Gnehm’s top ten tips…

The topic everyone is talking about in the education world: VAT. In this blog, Senior Consultant Annarosa Muscatelli explores what this means for the sector and what Cairney & Company’s top takeaways are.

Amidst the current financial stresses in higher education, where does advancement fit in supporting the institutions we work in and with?  

Have you ever wondered how to grab the attention of your donors and differentiate yourself... Senior Consultant, Annarosa Muscatelli, explores this in the final part of the blog series on Major Donor Stewardship.

What is the secret to good donor stewardship? The answers may surprise you! Read our latest findings on good strewardship.

Reflections from Cairney Partner, Colin McCallum following a recent meeting of the IDPE Scottish Meeting.

What is the secret to good donor stewardship? The answers may surprise you!

If there’s one thing we know about fundraising at Cairney & Company, it’s that change is the only constant.