Our partnership and fundraising strategy has continued to evolve, helping to future-proof IWF’s vital work reducing child sexual abuse material online. We have strengthened collaboration across government, our Members, trusts and foundations, and companies committed to protecting children online, alongside investment in growing our team and deepening our collective impact.
A key priority has been developing more strategic, long-term partnerships. By moving beyond transactional support and cultivating holistic relationships, we are ensuring our partners remain engaged and able to contribute in multiple ways. This provides a more sustainable foundation for our mission and reinforces the shared responsibility required to keep children safe.
A major development in the coming year is the launch of the Innovation Circle - a new initiative for philanthropists, family foundations and emerging donors. The Circle will inspire investment in innovation, technology and global solutions that enhance the safety of children in the digital world. It will complement the work of IWF teams across Technology, Hotline and Policy, accelerating progress on multiple fronts.
Our ambition is to raise £2 million through partnerships. This effort has been significantly strengthened by our adult sector Member, OnlyFans, whose £250,000 donation will help establish a dedicated Data & Insights Team. This new capability will improve the way we centralise and analyse critical data produced by our analysts, supporting faster insights and more impactful action.
Major renewals included an additional £466,000 from the UK Home Office to support the CAID Taskforce in 2025/26, and £714,000 from the Oak Foundation over the next three years. Nominet continued to be a steadfast partner in innovation, providing £250,000 in 2025 to support the development of new technology for our Hotline.
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IWF also joined a new consortium, ECHO Survivor Hub, with the International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI) at Anglia Ruskin University, Child Rescue Coalition and Protect Children. Funded by Safe Online and the Graham Dacre Foundation, this pilot project will launch a survivor-focused response to online child sexual exploitation.
Pinsent Masons continued to demonstrate outstanding commitment as a corporate partner. Their flagship fundraising campaign, Move for a Safer Internet, returned for its third year, bringing together organisations across cybersecurity, technology and legal sectors in a collective effort to support IWF’s mission. Participants logged thousands of hours of physical activity throughout the month-long fundraiser. The closing celebration on 16 October, attended by Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Olympian, BBC Gladiator and Strictly Come Dancing star), recognised achievements across categories including Best Route, Best Photograph and Most Funds Raised.
Over three years, the campaign has raised more than £60,000, galvanising engagement across Pinsent Masons’ teams and inspiring wider support across the cyber sector. This partnership demonstrates the essential role of corporate backing in enabling our front-line work and driving collective responsibility for online safety.
The Security Institute continued to raise funds for IWF as part of their Charity of the Year commitment, including more than £1,000 through a raffle at their 25th Anniversary Annual Conference in October 2025. As part of this collaboration, the Partnerships Team also attended the inaugural Security Institute Celebrating & Elevating Women in Security Conference on 5 March, which brought together a diverse mix of professionals committed to strengthening the role of women in the security sector.
Supporters across the community also took on major challenges to fundraise for IWF. Among them was Alexandra Nightingale, who is preparing to trek Mount Kilimanjaro with a fundraising goal of £10,000.
Another source of support came through our partnership with Collection4Clothes, turning everyday wardrobe clear-outs into direct contributions to IWF. Cambridge residents dropped off unwanted clothes and shoes into Collection4Clothes units, ensuring items receive a second life in underdeveloped countries while proceeds support IWF’s front-line work. With support from partners including Bupa, The Hive Leisure Centre (Ely), Mick George, Parkside Pools and Neurobox, these units collectively raised more than [NEED TO ADD FIGURE] over the past year.
We remain deeply grateful to all our partners for their ongoing support. We also acknowledge members of the public who contributed through online donations, providing more than [WILL INSERT FIGURE]. These contributions directly strengthen our ability to protect children from sexual abuse online.
Thanks to funding from Nominet, the Technology Team began development of a new Report Management System, Iris, which will form the foundation for transforming how our Hotline operates. This system will allow analysts to process and remove child sexual abuse material with greater efficiency.
Continued Home Office funding has supported the Taskforce’s work categorising imagery from CAID, while also supporting staff wellbeing through access to counselling and psychological assessment.
Evaluation of our 53 international Reporting Portals, conducted by Altai Consulting and funded by Safe Online, confirmed that actioned reports continue to grow at a global scale. International portals have enabled the removal of extreme content that may not have been taken down otherwise. These insights feed into our new international strategy and will shape future mechanisms for swift removal of CSAM worldwide.
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