How to Get in Front of Invite-Only Funders
4 WEEK COHORT BASED COURSE
A practical, results-focused 4-session course that transforms how your organisation positions itself to get on funders' radars.
Transform how you reach invite-only funders in just 4 weeks
180
fundraisers supported
17
countries in our community
81%
said it will significantly change their approach
91%
took action before the course even ended
Join 180 fundraisers already changing how they approach invite-only funders.
Sarah Hindley
British & Foreign Bible Society
"One of the best courses I've attended. Renewed my enthusiasm for fundraising and given me loads of practical tools to use."
Ben Rossi
Portland Charity
"Definitely one of the most engaging and inspiring courses I’ve taken in a long time. Connecting with fundraisers from across the globe added a whole new level of insight and energy to the experience.."
Jo Campbell
Greater Manchester Youth Network
" Best 6 hours of training I have done in a (very) long time."
Miranda Theobald
Family Fund
"It's definitely worthwhile. Insightful and some great and simple tips."
Anna Clark
The Difference
"Absolutely worth the money! You'll come away with so many ideas and strategies."
Victoria Ives
St John Ambulance
"I would definitely recommend this course. I came away feeling motivated with practical resources and ideas to put into action."
Alejandra Tellez
One Young World
"Highly recommended for the content and structure. All materials and tools were very clear and useful."
Robyn McAllister
Street League
"Really practical and manageable — and a great community of other fundraisers."
Kath Lee
Headway East London
"It was so helpful, and the practical templates make it really easy to implement."
Yes I want in!
Four weeks on how to get in front of invite-only funders will bring you:
A plan, not just ideas
You'll leave with templates, research tools and a clear next step — not a notebook full of inspiration you never act on.
A community of fundraisers who get it
You're not doing this alone. Every cohort brings together fundraisers facing the same challenges — and the connections you make are as valuable as the training itself.
A shortcut that takes years off your learning curve
Figuring this out on your own can take years of wrong turns. Four sessions condenses what actually works — so you stop guessing and start moving.
Newfound confidence
Most fundraisers know invite-only funders exist — but feel they're out of reach. Four sessions will change that. You'll finish knowing exactly how to get in front of them.
This course is for you if you're looking to...
Get on the radar of funders who never advertise
You've found the perfect funding match — only to discover they don't accept applications. You know they exist, you just don't know how to reach them. This is exactly where we start.
Build a proper strategy for relationship-led funding
You're not short of ambition — you're short of a plan. This course gives you a structured approach to identifying where to focus, who to engage, and how to make consistent progress rather than one-off attempts.
Make sure funders find you when they go looking
Invite-only funders don't wait for applications — they go looking. LinkedIn is one of the main places they search. If your profile and your organisation's presence aren't working for you, you're missing opportunities you don't even know exist.
Meet your trainer
Hello! I'm Michelle Stein
A former British Museum and WaterAid fundraising leader, I went from hovering awkwardly at donor events to landing multi-million-pound gifts.
Now I help charities and non-profits scale their impact through stronger donor relationships and smarter fundraising strategies.
Over the past few years, I've worked with clients to change how they approach grant writing. What worked for them five years ago (and what worked when I started my career as a trust & foundation fundraiser) was simply not working anymore.
The techniques they used to get in front of invite-only funders (and what I do in my own business) is what I'm bringing together in this course.
What's included in the course?
Live training
Four, 90 minute, interactive training sessions
All training is recorded and shared the next day
Tools, Templates & Reources
A comprehensive toolkit of templates so you can get started straight away
Linkedin templates and messaging worksheets to save lots of time
A community of other fundraisers
Opportunities to learn from other fundraisers
An online digital space just for your cohort
Yes I want in!
WHAT'S COVERED
Everything you need to get started getting in front of invite only funders
Each week there's a live online session and all the relevant worksheets to get started
Session 1: Visibility - where to show up so funders find you
Discover where funders are actively looking for organisations like yours
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Turn your whole team into funding ambassadors (without adding to their workload)
Strategic approaches to maximise sector events and existing connections
Strategic approaches to make the most of sector events and conferences
Session 2: LinkedIn as Your Strategic Funding Gateway
How to optimise your personal and organisational profiles specifically for funder research
Making the most of the search feature to get you in front of the funders you want
A lazy LinkedIn strategy to get the most out of the platform in 60 minutes a week.
Session 3: Credibility - becoming a safe pair of hands
What funders look for before they ever meet you
Website essentials that funders truly notice (and what sends them running)
Creating materials that busy foundation staff will genuinely read
Session 4: Positioning - making it easy for funders to say yes
Make your work instantly clear to funders who've never heard of you
Craft messaging that cuts through the noise
Apply everything you've learned to your specific organisation
Who this course is for
This course is ideal for:
Fundraisers struggling to break through to selective or hard-to-reach funders
Teams tired of hearing "we only fund organisations we know"
Organisations where funders are not based in your country
Teams with trusts and foundations as a key income stream
Small to medium organisations that don't have a well-known brand
Fundraisers seeking to build relationships with funders before applying
From small charities to global organisations
Ruth Patil
Carers Worldwide
"The input was very practical, a combination of small 'quick win' actions and longer-term strategic thinking."
Bradley Gill
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
"Michelle's clear, staged approach to structure and planning was excellent."
Lucy Vernon
Citizens Advice
"I found the course very practical - I liked having clear actions to take away and try."
I'm ready to get in front of more invite-only funders
What our participants are saying
Sarah Fox
Christian Blind Mission UK
"I liked the range of creative ideas for engagement that Michelle suggests - there are so many possibilities for charities big and small.
Laura Firth
The Outward Bound Trust
"Michelle explains things in a way that is easy to understand, using lots of examples. It is not only helpful in terms of invite-only funders but with all donor relationships."
Stephen Chamberlain
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
"I would absolutely recommend it."
FAQ section
Frequently Asked Questions
You've got questions. We've got answers.
Is this course just for large organisations?
Not at all. In fact, smaller organisations often see the most dramatic results as they're able to implement changes quickly and stand out to funders looking for fresh approaches. The strategies work regardless of your size or budget.
What if I can't attend all the live sessions?
All sessions are recorded and available for six months following the course. However, we strongly encourage live attendance for the implementation clinic to get personalised feedback on your specific situation.
Will this work for international organisations?
Absolutely. This course specifically addresses the challenges faced by organisations seeking funding from sources in different countries, with strategies tailored for both UK/US fundraisers and African-based organisations.
Is this just about invite-only funders?
No. While the strategies work exceptionally well for accessing invite-only funding programmes, they're equally effective for any competitive funding situation where relationships and visibility matter - which is virtually all foundation funding today.
I am based in the Global South and can't afford the training. What can I do?
I offer parity pricing to organisations based in the Global South. Contact me via michelle@handmadefundraising.com to find a price that's fair to both of us.
Can I have mutiple people from my organisation attend?
Of course. Please contact me for a group discount.
michelle@handmadefundraising.com
Count me in!
I'm ready to join.