Funding Socials: Meet Funders, Find New Resources & Connect with Your Peers

Schedule

Thu Feb 12 2026 at 10:00 am to 01:15 pm

UTC+00:00

Location

Edinburgh | Edinburgh, SC

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A series of events aimed at inspiring leaders in the social enterprise & charity
sector to take your business development to the next level.
About this Event

Funding Socials is an inspiring in-person event series designed for charity and social enterprise leaders looking for fresh ideas and connections to help boost income generation.

Our session in the Edinburgh will be held in Out of the Blue. You will have the chance to hear directly from both Funders and a local organisation working to raise funds.

The event is designed to help you cross the divide and connect with both funders and new peers, who can help you on your journey.

Please tell us a bit more information about you and your organisation within the registration, so we can match you up to potential funding, investment and support opportunities during the Funding Socials event.

Jane Bruce of Brilliant Leaders will facilitate the session with the aim of creating an informal and accessible event.

We are delighted to welcome along some guest speakers, funders from across the ecosystem including Conor Cross, Foundation Scotland, Nick Addlington, William Grant Foundation, Laura Bedford, Development Officer– Democratic Finance Programme, Development Trusts Association Scotland and Mary Portas, Revlab Family Office.

Kieran Daly, Head of Market Building at Social Investment Scotland and our guest speakers will explain the support and funds they offer charities and social enterprises and be ready to answer any questions you have.

You will be given a warm welcome with teas and coffees on arrival and the session will close with a light lunch, where you will have the chance to mix with funders and peers and make some new connections.

The hosts for this session are:

Jane Bruce, Brilliant Leaders

Jane is the Founder of Brilliant Leaders, a social business which offers coaching and development programmes to leaders and teams with a social purpose. Jane is a former charity/social enterprise CEO, accredited Executive Coach and experienced facilitator.

Before setting up Brilliant Leaders, Jane was Chief Executive of Social Bite in Scotland. In this role, Jane led a team of 100+ staff and 90 volunteers to run a chain of social enterprise cafes, mass fundraising events and innovative housing programmes. Previously, Jane was Chief Executive of Venture Scotland, which provides a wilderness-based development programme to young people facing tough challenges.

Alongside Brilliant Leaders, Jane is a qualified football coach having previously played football in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.

and Kieran Daly, Head of Market Building, Social Investment Scotland

Kieran Daly is Head of Market Building at Social Investment Scotland (SIS) and part of its senior leadership team, leading on all Market Building income generation, programme delivery, and business development to support social enterprises across Scotland. His career spans senior roles in enterprise, investment, and the arts, including Country Manager (Scotland) at Big Issue Invest, where he managed a £1.5m early-stage fund, and Chief Operating Officer/Deputy CEO at FoodCycle in London, where he scaled its social café model nationwide.

He is currently a Board Member at Impact Arts and a long-standing Board Member and former Interim Chair of Social Enterprise Scotland, with previous trustee roles at Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) and MsMissMrs CIC. A Glasgow School of Art graduate, Kieran is passionate about building ecosystems that enable mission-led organisations to thrive. A graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, he combines creativity with strategic leadership to support organisations tackling social challenges across Scotland and beyond.

For more information on our Data Protection Policy, please click here.

on will close with a light lunch, where you will have the chance to mix with funders and peers and make some new connections.

The hosts for this session are:

Jane Bruce, Brilliant Leaders

Jane is the Founder of Brilliant Leaders, a social business which offers coaching and development programmes to leaders and teams with a social purpose. Jane is a former charity/social enterprise CEO, accredited Executive Coach and experienced facilitator.

Before setting up Brilliant Leaders, Jane was Chief Executive of Social Bite in Scotland. In this role, Jane led a team of 100+ staff and 90 volunteers to run a chain of social enterprise cafes, mass fundraising events and innovative housing programmes. Previously, Jane was Chief Executive of Venture Scotland, which provides a wilderness-based development programme to young people facing tough challenges.

Alongside Brilliant Leaders, Jane is a qualified football coach having previously played football in the Scottish Women’s Premier League.

and Kieran Daly, Head of Market Building, Social Investment Scotland

Kieran started his career as a youth worker at The Prince’s Trust, devising and delivering training programmes. He has held senior management roles in business development for a range of arts, volunteering and youth organisations for over 15 years.

Kieran was Chief Operating Officer at food waste and food poverty fighting organisation, FoodCycle. While there, he grew the organisation’s presence from 14 to 30 locations around England in under two years, through a social franchising model.

Most recently, Kieran was Scotland Manager for Big Issue Invest, where he delivered a multi-agency partnership, engaging the private, public and third sectors in mentoring and lending money to early-stage social ventures. He is a keen cyclist who enjoys giving back by being on the Board of Social Enterprise Scotland.

For more information on our Data Protection Policy, please click here.



Event Photos
Event Photos
Agenda

🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Arrival Tea and Coffee - Networking
🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:35 AM
Welcome & Introductions
🕑: 10:35 AM - 10:55 AM
Who is in the room? Connection Activity.
🕑: 10:55 AM - 11:25 AM
Funding Fish bowl - let's hear from a local organisation
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:15 PM
Reflect on your learning in 2s and 3s
🕑: 12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
Linking you to support and event feedback
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:15 PM
Lunch and chat
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Where is it happening?

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

GBP 0.00

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