You know the type of conference I’m talking about. The ones where the air is thick with buzzwords, the panels are indistinguishable from a CRM onboarding session, and by the second keynote you’re thinking fondly of dental work.

IWITOT is not that.

For over a decade, SOFII’s “I Wish I’d Thought of That” (IWITOT) has been the rare event that fundraisers actually look forward to — a fast-paced, joyful celebration of other people’s brilliant ideas. No ego. No “next big thing” PowerPoint zombies. Just minutes-long lightning talks from smart, generous fundraisers saying, “Here’s something amazing that worked — and here’s why I wish I’d thought of it.”

13 Years of Good Ideas, Minus the Ego

IWITOT is celebrating its 13th year, and in that time it’s grown from a quirky London gathering to a global hybrid event. This year, you don’t even need a passport — it’s also online, so you can watch from your couch, your office, or while glaring at your database. You can even throw an IWITOT Watch Party with your team.

It’s also one of SOFII’s most important sources of support. SOFII (the Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration) is the free global library of fundraising brilliance — a place where thousands of case studies, campaigns, and ideas live, all open to everyone. Attending IWITOT is a way to keep that archive alive and refill your creative tank.

Oh, and because you’re an Agitator reader: you get 20% off registration. Consider it our way of saying, “Stop doomscrolling and start idea-scrolling.”

Past Hits: Toilet Paper & Truth

IWITOT has featured everything from brilliant legacy campaigns to cheeky, unforgettable stunts. One of my favorites? The “I Don’t Give a Crap” campaign, where Who Gives A Crap turned the humble roll of toilet paper into a symbol of generosity, humor, and environmental good sense. It was clever, low-cost, and wildly effective — the kind of idea you kick yourself for not inventing first.

That’s the essence of IWITOT. You’ll leave not with another 75-slide deck you’ll never read again, but with 3–4 ideas that make you say, “We could actually do that.”

What You’ll See at IWITOT

You can look forward to brilliant, wildly varied ideas that remind us why fundraising is equal parts art and ingenuity. Over the years, IWITOT talks have spotlighted:

• Personalisation at scale — like campaigns where each donor received a unique artifact (think kids’ drawings for every gift), making generosity tangible and shareable.
• Real-time mission connection, with live rescue alerts or on-the-ground updates pinging straight to donors’ phones.
• Turning donors into co-actors, letting supporters materially contribute as they give—reporting needs via apps, co-creating impact rather than passively funding it.
• Playful, interactive giving, from swipe-to-give installations to donation moments that literally slice bread or free tied hands, immediately followed by a smart nudge into regular giving.
• Volunteer micro-hero stunts that turn passers-by into instant helpers, then convert that spark into deeper involvement.
• Habit-forming micro-donations, slipping effortless giving into everyday taps and transactions.

Recent IWITOT session have leaned into joy, reassurance, and donor delight—pun-filled journeys, outside-the-sector inspiration, and “love bombs” that transform stewardship into memorable experiences.

You can view a decade-plus set of IWITOT case studies here.

 How to Join the Fun and Be Nourished By This Banquet of Great Ideas

• You can go to the live event in London or, for most of our US and Canadian readers, join the party live online for only $40 U.S.
• Register here today.
• Use your Agitator 20% discount. DVAGITATOR20

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 

• November 26^th, 9:00 am to 12:00pm [ In London:2pm-5pm GMT]
• ..if you can’t make that date you can get a recording of the entire event no worry—a recording of IWITOT 2025 will be available for one month after November 26^th, so BUY YOUR TICKET NOW and they’ll send you a recording to watch at your leisure.

In an age of beige AI copy, zombie dashboards, and breathless hype about “the next big thing,” IWITOT remains a rare oasis: real ideas, real inspiration, real fun.

Sign up today and get your 20% Agitator Discount [DVAGITATOR20]  You might not leave with a tote bag — but you’ll definitely leave smarter and with a pile of great ideas.

Roger