Collaborating for Impact - West Midlands Funders Network annual conference

West Midlands Funders Network’s 2026 conference, Collaborating for Impact, will bring together funders, social investors, public bodies and VCFSE partners to explore how devolution and new investment could better support community-led, place-based change across the West Midlands.

The conference will consider where collaboration can add value, what should remain locally led, and how different forms of finance, evidence and influence can work together without transferring inappropriate risk to communities. Participants will examine challenges including fragmented funding, short-term programmes, limited organisational capacity, unequal power, weak coordination and persistent inequalities affecting young people, housing and health.

Through practical discussion and shared learning, attendees will identify realistic opportunities, safeguards and proportionate ways to collaborate—from exchanging intelligence and aligning existing activity to co-designing or jointly supporting work. No commitment to future collaboration is required.

The event is for WMFN members that range from Lottery funds, national funders, local trusts and foundations. Local community foundations, Social Investors such as the Access Fund, Key Fund, Big Issue Investment, Charity Bank, CAF. Public Bodies: West Midlands Combined Authority, Local Authorities, eg Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Solihull. Key VCFSE infrastructure bodies, eg CVSs, key community based anchor organisations, regional and sub-regional strategic thematic networks and forums, eg young people, housing, health inequalities.

Please read more on the WMFN website: Collaborating for Impact - Annual Conference 2026 — West Midlands Funders Network and if you are interested in further information or would like to attend please directly contact Dipali Chandra, Executive Secretary, WMFN: dipali@wmfn.org.uk