Virtual events platform, Fundraising Everywhere, has declined to work with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising on its annual fundraising convention after it accused the body of “taking advantage” without making improvements to access.

Fundraising Everywhere co-founder, Nikki Bell, posted on twitter yesterday (30 May) that the offer was removed “because of their inability to collaborate with us in a way we feel is fair.”

The offer was initially raised in February 2022 after the Institute confirmed the 2022 convention, held in July, would be in-person only with some sessions recorded and made accessible online after the event.

It also said there would be a virtual conference later in 2022.

Bell offered the CIoF use of the Fundraising Everywhere platform for its annual convention for free, but since talks began the Institute have “refused” to allow a partnership for the July convention and instead wanted to use the platform for the already virtual event later in the year.

In a statement to Charity Times, Bell said the decision to pull the offer was made after the team felt it was “taking advantage of the offer without making improvements from their side to support the sector.”

“Everywhere+ have made the decision to remove our offer to use our virtual events platform free of charge for the Chartered Institute of Fundraising's National Convention.

“We are aware from conversations with sponsors, speakers, and the wider sector that the CIoF benefitted from our offer in terms of reputation and income. Despite this, they are continuing with their decision to host separate events and not a dedicated virtual Convention as we'd intended when the offer was made.

“Whilst we sometimes recommend hybrid clients to host at different times to manage team resource, the CIoF had already planned to host their virtual event later in the year and so our offer of the platform was not improving access to Convention as we'd hoped.

“They were open to us providing our platform for free for December's separate event but we felt like this was taking advantage of our offer without making improvements from their side to support the sector.

“Since the offer of the platform did not make a difference in giving fundraisers access to Convention, and the team refused to allow us to partner with them for July's event, we have revoked our offer to focus on customers that are dedicated to hosting quality events that provide access in an equitable way.”

The Chartered Institute of Fundraising has been approached for comment.

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