Data & Insight Forum
The Data & Insight Forum brings together senior professionals responsible for data, insight, analytics and CRM strategy. It offers a space to explore how evidence and behavioural insight guide decisions and improve organisational performance.
Members share trends, experiences and practical approaches to embedding insight across teams – covering CRM change, governance, AI, reporting, measurement and the cultural realities of using data well.
The Data & Insight Forum aims to:
- Accelerate learning by sharing approaches that save time, reduce duplication and improve quality.
- Drive cost savings and collective value through shared expertise and common data standards.
- Support responsible AI and analytics by exploring opportunities and risks in a trusted environment.
- Provide access to a hard‑to‑reach peer network to compare approaches openly and learn from others.
- Collaborate on shared challenges such as CRM strategy, governance, skills gaps and limited resources.
Forum hosts
Matt Smith
Managing Director
Fundraiser, futurist and strategist – helping organisations navigate innovation, transformation and digital change with confidence.
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Steven White
Director of THINK Data
Data Analysis specialist who draws insights from Fundraising data to drive better decisions.
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The Forum meets four times a year for full‑day, in‑person sessions, with a virtual option. Agendas are set by members and cover technical, strategic and cultural topics across the full data and insight spectrum.
Each full‑day session typically includes:
- Highlights, Headaches and Horizons – a round‑table for sharing successes, challenges and future plans.
- A major theme (half‑day) – an in‑depth topic such as CRM platforms, data quality, AI or insight culture. Often starts with an external speaker offering commercially informed but charity‑relevant insight, followed by discussion and problem‑solving.
- Optional full‑day deep‑dives – space to unpack complex challenges with minimal agenda structure, encouraging honest sharing and collective resolution.
- Member case studies – practical examples of tools, methods and team practices others can learn from. Content will vary throughout the year on both technical data work but equally those important people and business skills.
Members also receive:
- Virtual breakfast / lunchtime drop‑ins (c. four per year)
- A shared resource library: presentations, case studies, research and benchmarks
- Access to THINK consultants for expert guidance and sector perspective
- Ongoing peer support between sessions for questions, tools, ideas and feedback
Topics and themes
- Working effectively with IT, influencing CRM decisions, and choosing the right platforms and infrastructure
- Marketing automation vs. people‑led selections
- Best‑practice reporting, dashboards and KPIs
- Practical uses of AI tools (including Copilot)
- Recruiting and retaining insight and data talent
- Comparing geodemographic and external datasets
- Data governance, consent and effective collaboration with compliance and procurement teams
