Independent journalism, digital rights, and civil society organisations are under immense pressure in Europe. While the demand for their work has never been higher, securing sustainable, unrestricted funding remains a constant battle. Many NGOs fall into the trap of "project-to-project" survival, dictated by the whims of shifting donor priorities.

How do we break this cycle? By treating fundraising not as an administrative afterthought, but as a core element of strategic initiative design.

In this hands-on workshop, Benjamin Fischer will draw on his extensive background in European philanthropy, organisational transformation, and his current role as Director of Development at Bellingcat - an organisation famous for pioneering open source investigations. 

The workshop will cover three core pillars:

1. Strategic Initiative Design: Framing your NGO's core mission into compelling, high-impact programmes that resonate with modern European donors.
2. Navigating the European Ecosystem: Practical insights into the specific nuances of European philanthropy, cross-border funding, and digital-first fundraising tools.
3. Stewardship: The reporting cycle, donor communications and grant-management. 

Participants are encouraged to bring their own organisational funding challenges. We will workshop real-world scenarios, pressure-test revenue ideas, and work on a fundraising workflow immediately implemented in their own organizations