On 20 June, the West Midlands Funders Network welcomed over 100 delegates from across the region’s funding, public and voluntary sectors to STEAMhouse, Birmingham, for our 2025 Annual Conference: Digital Frontiers for Funders.

The aim? To explore how data, digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) are already shaping the future of funding and civil society — and what it means to respond with purpose, ethics and inclusion.

What followed was a day filled with insight, candour and energy. Through practical workshops, lightning talks, live demonstrations and shared learning, we heard from funders, tech innovators, charity leaders and community organisers about the opportunities and risks digital change presents. The conference offered a grounded, thoughtful look at the future — not in theory, but in action.

AI is Already Here — and It’s Helping

From charities using chatbots to reduce admin load, to funders piloting AI in grant assessments, one thing became clear: AI is already being used — and in many cases, it’s working.

Inspiring case studies, including those from Carefree, Plinth and the Birmingham City Observatory, showed how digital tools are helping organisations to work more efficiently, communicate more accessibly, and make better use of data. Attendees explored the potential of AI to reduce routine tasks, improve decision-making and unlock time for more relational, human-centred work.

But it wasn’t just about tools and efficiencies.

Confidence, Inclusion and Ethics Must Lead

Throughout the day, delegates raised concerns about digital exclusion, the environmental cost of AI, and the risk of bias in automated systems. We were reminded by the Good Things Foundation that 18% of UK adults still lack basic digital skills — a stark statistic that framed many of the discussions.

Workshops led by CAST, Lightful, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund brought ethics to the centre of the conversation. Speakers encouraged delegates to start with values, not features; to question hype; and to view policy as a living tool rather than a compliance exercise.

There was also a strong call for funders to lead by example — supporting safe experimentation, enabling upskilling across the sector, and creating space for honest, peer-led learning.

Feedback from the Day

A post-event evaluation revealed that:

95% of respondents rated the sessions as highly relevant to their work
78% said the event changed how they think about AI, data or digital technology
100% of respondents planned to apply something they had learned
The average overall event rating was 9.6 out of 10

Popular sessions included AI in Grantmaking, AI in Charity Operations, and Plinth’s Data Impact Workshop. Delegates highlighted the conference’s balance of inspiration and practicality, and its open, welcoming tone.