Organisation: Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF)
Team size: 40
Canopi customer: 3+ years
The challenge: Supporting connection in a remote-first organisation
As the professional body for fundraising, the Chartered Institute of Fundraising supports fundraisers across the UK. But internally, the organisation operates with a remote-first model.
While this approach offered flexibility for staff, it also created an important challenge: finding the right place to bring people together when it mattered most.
The CIOF needed:
- A professional base for in-person meetings
- Space for board meetings and strategic discussions
- A venue for quarterly all-staff gatherings
- A cost-effective alternative to maintaining a traditional office footprint
Most importantly, they wanted somewhere that supported collaboration without requiring employees to be office-based full time.
The solution: Flexible space for meaningful moments
Canopi provided the flexibility the Chartered Institute of Fundraising was looking for.
With six desks available for regular use, alongside meeting rooms and event facilities, the organisation gained a professional home that could adapt to different needs throughout the year.
Today, the team uses Canopi to:
- Host board meetings and leadership discussions
- Bring colleagues together for quarterly all-staff meetings
- Hold in-person team meetings
- Run larger events in the basement event space
- Provide desk space for team members who regularly work from the office
The result is a hub that supports both flexibility and connection.
The impact: A place people genuinely want to visit
For the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, the value of the space goes beyond practicality.
- A better experience for staff The team consistently enjoys coming into Canopi, benefiting from a modern, welcoming environment designed around collaboration and wellbeing.
- Professional surroundings for important conversations Whether hosting board meetings, strategic planning sessions, or staff gatherings, the organisation has access to spaces that reflect the professionalism of its work.
- Flexibility without unnecessary cost By avoiding a large permanent office, the organisation can invest in workspace only when and where it adds value, while still maintaining a physical home for its people.
A moment that mattered
For a remote-first team, bringing everyone together successfully is essential. The Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s quarterly all-staff meetings have become a standout example of that value. With plenty of room for presentations, discussion and breakout sessions, the gatherings create opportunities for connection that simply aren’t possible online. These moments help strengthen relationships, reinforce culture, and ensure colleagues remain connected to one another and to the organisation’s mission.
A home for collaboration
The organisation believes that charities achieve their greatest impact when people work together.
Canopi helps make that possible by providing a space where collaboration happens naturally, in an environment designed specifically for purpose-driven organisations.
“Charities are built on collaboration. A dedicated home to charities that is such a professional and friendly environment makes coming into the office a real joy.”
Rob Cope, Executive Director Membership & Operations, Chartered Institute of Fundraising
Who is Canopi right for?
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s experience highlights a strong fit for:
- Remote-first organisations seeking a professional base
- Membership bodies and charities running regular meetings and events
- Teams that want flexibility without the cost of a full-time office
- Organisations looking to bring people together in a purpose-driven environment
The bigger picture
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising demonstrates that remote-first doesn’t have to mean disconnected.
By combining flexible working with access to a vibrant, professional workspace, the organisation has created the best of both worlds – giving people the freedom to work where they work best while maintaining a place to connect, collaborate, and build culture together.