The legs might have been weary, but the conversation was still energetic as the donorflex team reflected on a record-breaking donorflex User Conference 2016.
More than 270 delegates made the University of Warwicks Rootes Building home as the two-day DUC 2016 delivered insights on BIG new donorflex, as well as the key issues challenging the sector.
The Preferences and Compliance Masterclass that opened the event on Wednesday, September 21, drew a unique gathering of luminaries to the platform for an up-to-the-minute discussion on the hottest of hot topics thats at the forefront of fundraising minds across the UK.
The Information Commissioners Offices Senior Policy Officer, Richard Marbrow, joined the Direct Marketing Associations Head of Preferences, John Mitchison, and the Fundraising Regulators Head of Policy, Gerald Oppenheim, to robustly set the scene from the perspective of those organisations that enforce and regulate the data protection and compliance rules that govern the sector.
Douglas Macmillan Hospices Director of Income Generation, Karen McKenzie, represented the assembled donorflex clients on the panel by detailing the areas of anxiety and interest that are driving conversations and planning in the heart of their senior management circles and fundraising offices.
The 100-strong audience debated a series of typical scenarios put forward by delegates, and then closed the three-and-a-half hour Masterclass with a lively Q&A session.
Thursdays main conference day saw more than 200 gathered for the unveiling of new donorflex, which was wrapped around workshops on the topics of Preferences and Compliance (John Mitchison, DMA), Gift Aid (HMRC), data protection (Gary Shipsey, Protecture), data-cleansing (Neel Pattni, DBS Data), social media (Aaron Bridgeforth and Lucy Kayne, St Nicholas Hospice), and the donorflex Journey (Clive James, Great North Air Ambulance).
"I knew, as we approached the conference, that we had a great tale to tell and that our achievement in bringing together the Masterclass panel would guarantee a worthwhile experience for everyone concerned," said donorflexs delighted managing director, Brian Todd.
"The positivity of the response from our delegates has exceeded my wildest dreams.
"We succeeded in securing and consolidating the vital sense of purpose and collaboration thats essential to dealing collectively with the the wave of change in technologies, regulation and the economy faced by our charity clients."
These tweets are typical of the messages and comments weve been delighted to receive since the conference closed on a sunny afternoon in Coventry.
Congratulations to @GNairambulance for being the first to add a record via @donorflex Anywhere! #DUC2016
donorflex (@donorflex) September 23, 2016
For me #DUC2016 really highlighted how confused the #thirdsector is on #dataprotection. Ill be doing whatever I can to help this situation
Matt J Bruce (@mattjbruce) September 22, 2016
#DUC2016 just want to say thank you to everyone for a brilliant well organised and informative conference. The future will be exciting
jan gamblin (@jannsammie) September 22, 2016
So excited for the new era of donorflex!! Ill be talking about all the way home! #DUC2016
Vicki Hedger (@VHedger) September 22, 2016
Lots of housekeeping to do ahead of new donorflex release #DUC2016 #brooms #dusters #polish
Jacqueline Leake (@JacquelineLeake) September 22, 2016
@donorflex another informative and well organised day #DUC2016
Donna Talbot (@DMTalbot) September 22, 2016
It was lovely to meet so many of the team at the conference and thank you for all your hard work in looking after us. It was a great event... albeit very thought-provoking! Jacqui Marsh, Lottery Operations Manager, Your Hospice Lottery
We work with the key drivers of the UK charity sector.