Written by Nikki Bell and Simon Scriver, co-founders of Fundraising Everywhere.
There are so many talented people in our sector – and it’s always been important to us to give them a platform, pass them the mic, and pay them for their time.
Since 2019, Fundraising Everywhere have:
- Supported 1,000 speakers to speak at our events.
- Paid €227,000 in speaker fees (we’ve paid our speakers since day one).
- Launched, improved, and achieved our event inclusion commitments.
- And it’s always been a goal of ours since day one to platform the ‘new’ or ‘unheard’ speakers who don’t get the opportunity to take the stage; working with them every step of the way to boost their speaking skills and confidence.
Why Public Speaking Matters for Fundraisers
As we’ve seen with many of the people who speak at an FE event, putting yourself ‘out there’ leads to new opportunities.
Whether it’s new connections, a new job or moving into leadership, becoming a speaker gets your face and name in front of more people who could be the key to that next step you’re working towards.
Previous FE speakers have:
- Achieved promotions and new roles
- Started their own businesses
- Grown their networks and confidence
- Shared ideas that changed the sector
Tips to Improve Your Public Speaking Confidence
To celebrate our 1,000 speaker milestone, we’re sharing our top public speaking tips—so that you can feel more confident in conversations, meetings, or presentations.
These tips are drawn from years of working with fundraisers at every experience level.
1: Before you speak
I was always in awe of people who spoke clearly and confidently, wondering how they managed it – then I learned the secret, they practised.
Preparation is everything. The best speakers aren’t always the most confident—they’re the most prepared.
- Rehearse what you want to say, out loud, in front of a mirror, or even your pets
- Focus on key points, not a word-for-word script
- Keep it simple and clear—your audience will thank you for it
Remember, it’s not about delivering it word for word but knowing the key points you want to land and how you’ll land it. Don’t overcomplicate things and instead focus on simple, clear, to the point.
2: During your talk
These are the same tried-and-tested tips we give to our Fundraising Everywhere speakers:
- Don’t apologise – Most people won’t notice your mistakes unless you point them out. Just take a pause, have a drink of water, and move on.
- Speak slower – You’re speaking too fast. Slow down a bit. A little bit more. Perfect.
- Speak to the back of the room – Project to the back of the room (or the virtual room) and always use a mic when available.
- Pause – A pause is one of the most effective tools in speaking:
- It helps your audience digest what you’ve said.
- Gives you a moment to breathe.
- It emphasises the point you just made.
- It grabs people’s attention.
- It allows you to compose yourself and remember what’s next.
- Don’t be afraid to pause…even for 10 or 15 seconds – it feels a lot longer to you than to your audience.
- Look at your audience – Know your content well enough to avoid reading from notes or staring at the slides behind you. Keep a copy of your prompts nearby, but focus on making eye contact (even virtually). Even a single moment of eye contact can make someone feel like you’re speaking directly to them.
- Remember your audience is on your side – They’re here to learn and want you to do well…even if it doesn’t feel like it.
- Embrace the nerves – Speaking up will always feel nervewracking. Channel it into energy. The only way to get better at speaking is to do more of it.
3. The In-Between Bits
You don’t need a stage to practice speaking. Every meeting, team update, or informal event is an opportunity to improve.
- Speak up in conversations
- Watch other speakers and note what you like (or don’t)
- Join events to learn, connect, and get inspired
- Ask for feedback and celebrate small wins
Want to Become a Speaker?
We’ve always believed in giving space to speakers who may not usually get the chance to take the stage. If you’ve got a story to share or a topic to explore, we’d love to hear from you.
🔗 Submit your session idea here – we’ll guide you through the process and support you every step of the way.
And if you’re not ready just yet, why not attend an event or join as a Fundraising Everywhere Member to access all past and upcoming sessions? It’s the perfect way to build your skills and confidence.
A Huge Thank You
We’re so proud that many top speakers you see nowadays spoke for the very first time at a Fundraising Everywhere event.
A huge thank you to the 1,000 speakers who have shared their skills, time, and trust to be at a Fundraising Everywhere event to support our community – we couldn’t do it without you.
And don’t forget…
Opportunities to speak happen when you put yourself out there, so be sure to share your goals and accept help when it’s offered.
Get feedback, celebrate the little things, and keep looking for ways to apply what you learn.
