We’re long overdue for an intergenerational and intercontinental post. After all, both of us are nearing our sell-by date … The Agitator is edited from New Zealand and the US … and both of us care a bunch about encouraging the next generation of fundraising agitators.

To that end we’re delighted to join forces with our friends at SOFII to identify and foster fresh journalistic talent in fundraising.

Here’s the deal:

On December 4^th at the Royal Institution in London some of the world’s top fundraisers will gather for the Annual Lectures 2014 organized by the UK firm Revolutionise.

This is a ‘must-attend’ series. Great, experienced speakers … excellent, forward looking content. (We’re especially looking forward to the session “How can I stay eight minutes ahead of the competition”.)

Download the full program here.

AND … to surface young (under age 35) and talented fundraising writers, Revolutionise, SOFII and The Agitator have teamed up to offer five FREE places to aspiring writers.

THEN … the young fundraiser who demonstrates both the appetite and the ability to be a great fundraising writer will write up the ten key lessons they learned from the Annual Lectures and her/his finished article will be published on SOFII and in The Agitator and circulated to fundraisers around the world.

Here’s how to qualify:

• To be selected as one of the 5 ‘chosen writers’ please submit a short piece (500 words max) on the theme of ‘What’s next in fundraising?’

• We’ll then handpick the 5 winners who demonstrate the most fundraising writing potential and they’ll take their front row seats for a day of inspiration and insights on December 4^th.

• All you have to do is submit your entry to sue@sofii.org by Friday, November 21^st.

Special Opportunity for Not-So-Young Fundraisers:

If you believe in mentoring budding talent and have a young colleague who’s excited about attending the Annual Lectures, but doesn’t want to write, check out this special opportunity.

Thanks to The Think Foundation, 20 bursary/scholarship places will be made available at a reduced rate of €100 compared with the regular rate of €299 ($475 USD).

All you have to do to qualify is book your place in a seat next to your mentee for the full rate. Just email dave@revolutionise.com and he’ll take care of it.

For those fundraisers who just want to attend the Annual Lectures 2014 without worrying about age, writing, mentees or anything but learning and hearing a boatload of great stuff, you can book your place right here.

Roger and Tom