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NewsBlog: CVAA Conference 2025 – 3 Takeaways for Nonprofits

Blog: CVAA Conference 2025 – 3 Takeaways for Nonprofits

One week on from our annual conference, it’s striking how little we talked about adoption. That’s no oversight. Voluntary adoption agencies are already experts in adoption. CVAA’s role is to fill the gaps elsewhere – surfacing insights from adjacent sectors and helping leaders prepare for what’s coming next.

Throughout the day, we viewed VAAs not just as adoption specialists, but as nonprofit organisations navigating the same pressures as others: sustaining services, adapting fast, and delivering impact.

Here are three standout takeaways for nonprofits – adoption-focused or otherwise:

Commercial language has a place

‘Selling’ isn’t a popular word in the nonprofit world. It can feel at odds with our charitable values and purpose. But can a reticence to embrace a commercial approach hold us back? We can’t escape the fact that nonprofits must win contracts and funding to survive, and only by surviving can we serve our beneficiaries.

If we feel overlooked at times, perhaps it’s time to reframe our pitch. “They will listen to you if you have something that’s in their interests to hear,” said nonprofit consultant Martyn Drake.

Embracing AI isn’t about technical understanding – it’s about mindset

AI is reshaping every sector, and nonprofits are no exception. Tim Flagg, CEO of UKAI, urged us to embrace the overwhelm and stay curious. Let staff experiment. Test, learn, scale what works. If it doesn’t, move on.

Start with a service user journey audit. Where are humans bogged down by repetitive tasks? That’s where AI can help.

And when it comes to trust, don’t talk about AI as a technology. Show what it can do through stories that resonate.

Be on the front foot with digital

Relationships are at the heart of nonprofit work. But today, trust is also built online. People expect seamless, responsive digital experiences – and nonprofits must keep up.

Laurie Kilby, Practice Lead & Co-Founder at Now Foster, shared how their Weekenders programme reimagines fostering for a new audience who demand a different experience. Their small team includes Tech and Experience Leads so that filling out fostering forms is as simple as using your banking app.