India’s thriving social sector is transforming with growing demands, complicated funding dynamics, and demands for more effective leadership. Under such circumstances, the India Fundraising Conference (IFRC) has been found to be a very important tool among fundraisers as well as leaders in the social sector. Scheduled to take place on 5-6 February, 2026, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, IFRC 2026 aims to strengthen the capacity, sharpen the skills, and build the mindset required to mobilise funds for the social sector.
Organized by India Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS), and co-hosted by Resource Alliance, IFRC 2026 is more than a convening. IFRC is also designed as a learning and interaction platform for people shaping the future of fundraising for social impact.
ILSS and the Leadership Lens
Transformed Leaders. Transformed Society. Transformed World." – this is the vision with which ILSS has been driving its work at the intersection of leadership and social impact. With a network of more than 1,000 alumni in 400+ non-profits, ILSS offers learning programs like the flagship ILSS Leadership Program which works with senior corporate leaders equipping them with the right knowledge and mindset to effectively transition to the social sector. ILSS also works on strengthening sector-grown talent with other focused programs like ILSS Fundraising Program which strengthens fundraising skills and capacity in leaders from nonprofit organisations.
Looking ahead, by 2030, as a movement, ILSS will impact 5,000+ alumni across 1,000+ nonprofits, and the plans for IFRC 2026 are firmly rooted in this strategy, underlining the importance of fundraising as a leadership role and not merely an operational or transactional process.
Skills: Building Fundraising Capability
IFRC 2026 is all about strong fundraising enablement through structured learning. Masterclasses and practical sessions will be delivered by experienced practitioners at the conference. This will draw on the curriculum of the ILSS Fundraising Program and move past trial-and-error approaches to real-world challenges like effective donor relationship management, regulatory compliance, and funding diversification.
Through this training, participants will learn by doing an activity on storytelling, creating an effective pitch deck, and writing persuasive proposals for institutional donors, CSR partners, and HNWIs. The focus remains on building capability that is relevant, ethical, and sustainable.
Networks: Enabling Collective Learning
Aware that skills alone do not guarantee success, IFRC 2026 focuses considerably on networking and cooperation. In a sector characterized by silos, the conference offers opportunities for learning with peers, for funder-grantee exchanges, or for sector dialogues.
Non-profits, corporates, social enterprises, and funders join in to share their perspectives and explore collaboration. Partnerships have emerged in previous versions of this event. Formats like roundtable conversations, leadership lounges encourage candid dialogue and thought partnership advancing the sector’s thinking around mobilising capital for change.
One of the highlights of the event is the Pitch Fest, a unique platform showcasing great work of select organisations. This edition the focus is on organisations driving systems transformation. The presenters engage in dialogue and receive feedback from a jury of senior funders providing the audience the opportunity for learning.
A Conference Shaped by Experience
Building on the momentum of previous editions in 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025, IFRC 2026 is anchored in the theme of capacity & capital: powering impact. Feedback from attendees of previous editions consistently points to the amalgam of domain expertise and operational excellence ensuring a vibrant and useful learning and networking experience for participants.
As anticipation builds across the sector, IFRC 2026 stands as a timely response to the growing need for professional, collaborative, and values-driven fundraising practice in India.
For nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and corporate professionals engaging with social impact, IFRC 2026 is not just an event—it is a necessary investment in capability and connection. Registrations are now open. Stay updated through ILSS’s LinkedIn and Facebook channels and be part of a stronger, more connected social sector.
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