How can charities create lasting change when funding is falling and demand keeps growing?
In this special episode of Leaders with Purpose, recorded live at the International Fundraising Congress (IFC), Lou Lai sits down with Willeke van Rijn, CEO of The Resource Alliance, to explore why collaboration is essential to the future of civil society.
Drawing on a global community of over 30,000 fundraisers, campaigners and changemakers, Willeke shares how organisations can work towards a shared purpose, build stronger supporter communities and give emerging leaders the trust to act.
From why “80% is good enough” to the power of calling people in, this conversation explores what courageous leadership looks like when the pressure is on.
00:00 Welcome to Leaders with Purpose at IFC
00:39 Why is civil society shrinking?
02:25 Collaboration and putting purpose first
04:52 What collective action looks like in practice
06:19 Trust, emerging leaders and progress over perfection
08:55 Calling people in and building bridges
10:18 Courage and the power of community
13:50 Stories of people creating change
16:36 Narrative, misinformation and collective voice
18:34 The changing landscape of resource mobilisation
20:34 What’s next for the Resource Alliance?
25:14 Why attend IFC in 2027?
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Courage is telling the truth. Even when it's uncomfortable. Yes, and it can be very uncomfortable. Courage is looking also inward into yourself. What am I doing wrong? What I can I do different? How can I improve?
Willeke van Rijn, CEO - The Resource Alliance