Workshop 5 – Building sustainable funding: fuel for growth
As the fifth workshop in our From Growing Pains to Growing Gains series, this session brings together many of the themes explored throughout the series. In an increasingly competitive and uncertain funding environment, successful fundraising requires more than compelling proposals. It requires a clear strategy, strong donor relationships, a convincing case for support, and the ability to demonstrate impact.
Building on previous workshops in the series, this session will explore how organisations can strengthen their fundraising efforts by aligning resource mobilisation with their mission, strategy, and financial realities. Participants will gain practical insights into developing a diversified funding approach, identifying and engaging potential donors, and communicating their work in ways that inspire trust and support.
This workshop will explore the different sources of funding available to non-profit organisations, including foundations, institutional donors, corporate partnerships, individual giving, community fundraising. etc. Participants will learn how to build meaningful donor relationships, develop compelling funding propositions, and create fundraising plans that support both immediate needs and long-term sustainability.
About our facilitators
Elisabeth Kalman-Sarkis
Elisabeth is Chair of the Governing Board of International Social Service (ISS), a global NGO dedicated to cross-border child protection, family reunification, and child welfare advocacy.
She previously led corporate fundraising strategy and global fundraising efforts at Jesuit Worldwide Learning, an edtech nonprofit providing higher education opportunities to refugees and other marginalised communities. Elisabeth also contributes to thought leadership on nonprofit governance through the Stanford Directors’ Consortium, where she serves on the Executive Leadership Team.
Before moving into the nonprofit sector, Elisabeth spent a decade at Boston Consulting Group, leading strategy, M&A, and post-merger integration projects across multiple industries.
A dedicated member of Giving Women for more than eight years, Elisabeth currently serves on its Executive Committee.
Catherine Bukhal
Catherine is Partnership Lead at SIFI – the SDG Impact Finance Initiative, where she leads the initiative’s funder strategy and connects donor priorities to its programmatic direction across nature, climate, and social impact in low- and middle-income countries.
She brings nearly a decade of experience across development finance, working with bilateral donors, the EU, and international financial institutions. At the International Trade Centre, she developed project proposals across Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. At the EBRD, she led analytical and reporting work on technical assistance and blended finance for donors and the Board, and oversaw the financial management of the European Western Balkans Joint Fund, a multi-donor vehicle.
Prior to SIFI, Catherine worked at the Norwegian Refugee Council, where she advanced humanitarian financing advocacy and designed the NRC Capital Fund, an innovative vehicle to make humanitarian operations greener and more resilient.
As one of our newer members, Catherine has quickly embraced the spirit of Giving Women and become an active contributor to our community.
Ticket options & details
Members: Free
Not yet a member? You can purchase tickets for this workshop
Individual session ticket: You will receive the recording and supporting materials for that session.
Workshop 5 – Building sustainable funding: fuel for growth
As the fifth workshop in our From Growing Pains to Growing Gains series, this session brings together many of the themes explored throughout the series. In an increasingly competitive and uncertain funding environment, successful fundraising requires more than compelling proposals. It requires a clear strategy, strong donor relationships, a convincing case for support, and the ability to demonstrate impact.
Building on previous workshops in the series, this session will explore how organisations can strengthen their fundraising efforts by aligning resource mobilisation with their mission, strategy, and financial realities. Participants will gain practical insights into developing a diversified funding approach, identifying and engaging potential donors, and communicating their work in ways that inspire trust and support.
This workshop will explore the different sources of funding available to non-profit organisations, including foundations, institutional donors, corporate partnerships, individual giving, community fundraising. etc. Participants will learn how to build meaningful donor relationships, develop compelling funding propositions, and create fundraising plans that support both immediate needs and long-term sustainability.
About our facilitators
Elisabeth Kalman-Sarkis
Elisabeth is Chair of the Governing Board of International Social Service (ISS), a global NGO dedicated to cross-border child protection, family reunification, and child welfare advocacy.
She previously led corporate fundraising strategy and global fundraising efforts at Jesuit Worldwide Learning, an edtech nonprofit providing higher education opportunities to refugees and other marginalised communities. Elisabeth also contributes to thought leadership on nonprofit governance through the Stanford Directors’ Consortium, where she serves on the Executive Leadership Team.
Before moving into the nonprofit sector, Elisabeth spent a decade at Boston Consulting Group, leading strategy, M&A, and post-merger integration projects across multiple industries.
A dedicated member of Giving Women for more than eight years, Elisabeth currently serves on its Executive Committee.
Catherine Bukhal
Catherine is Partnership Lead at SIFI – the SDG Impact Finance Initiative, where she leads the initiative’s funder strategy and connects donor priorities to its programmatic direction across nature, climate, and social impact in low- and middle-income countries.
She brings nearly a decade of experience across development finance, working with bilateral donors, the EU, and international financial institutions. At the International Trade Centre, she developed project proposals across Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. At the EBRD, she led analytical and reporting work on technical assistance and blended finance for donors and the Board, and oversaw the financial management of the European Western Balkans Joint Fund, a multi-donor vehicle.
Prior to SIFI, Catherine worked at the Norwegian Refugee Council, where she advanced humanitarian financing advocacy and designed the NRC Capital Fund, an innovative vehicle to make humanitarian operations greener and more resilient.
As one of our newer members, Catherine has quickly embraced the spirit of Giving Women and become an active contributor to our community.
Ticket options & details
Members: Free
Not yet a member? You can purchase tickets for this workshop
Individual session ticket: You will receive the recording and supporting materials for that session.