Have you ever felt that excitement when you come across a funder that seems like a great fit, only to be stopped in your tracks by those three deflating words: “no unsolicited applications”?

What should you do in this situation: Consign them to the scrap heap? Take a punt and apply anyway? Find a different way of engaging them?

Knowing how to approach this type of funder is becoming an increasingly important skill. With more funders going down the invitation-only route to manage increasingly high demand, and fundraisers often feeling like they have exhausted all their funding avenues.

This MASTERCLASS will equip you with both shorter-term approaches and longer-term tactics to unlock the potential of invitation-only funders. Our Trainer Mike Zywina will explain how to build relationships with invitation-only funders, even if you’re not a well-known charity with well-connected trustees or a big address book of contacts.

Who is it for?

Get Grants Accessing Invite Only Funders MASTERCLASS will be accessible for fundraisers and sector leaders alike. For individuals who are responsible for securing funding for their charitable organisation, pipelining prospects and developing relationships with funders.

The session will benefit those who feel they have exhausted their tried-and-tested fundraising opportunities and are looking to add a bit more strategy to their approach in order to survive and thrive in a competitive funding landscape.

What to expect?

This 1-hour MASTERCLASS session will explore:

The different reasons funders why funders adopt the invitation-only route
Where there are funding opportunities that are worthwhile trying to access
How to engage invitation-only funders, including by unlocking the overlooked potential of your existing network
Getting the online basics right to make your organisation more discoverable and accessible to funders
Longer term, more creative ways of getting your organisation more noticed

This 1-hour webinar-style session will be delivered online via Zoom.

All attendees of the live Masterclass will receive a copy of the session recording. We will also make the recording available to purchase on-demand via our website after the session.

Upcoming Dates

When: Thursday 2nd April 2026, 11am – 12pm
Cost: £15
Book your place today through Eventbrite.

Upon registering for a Get Grants Training Course please check spam, promotional, and junk email folders for Get Grants communications – thank you!

Alternatively, contact us to request a booking form.

About the Trainer

Mike Zywina is a charity sector consultant, trainer and fundraiser with over 15 years’ experience supporting charities and social enterprises to become more strategic, sustainable and well-funded. He founded Lime Green Consulting in 2014 and works closely with Boards and leadership teams to facilitate strategic planning, develop organisational and fundraising strategies, and design successful major funding bids. As a trainer, Mike delivers practical, engaging courses on fundraising and strategic planning, combining hands-on expertise with a strong commitment to championing the charity sector.