About a month or two ago, I changed my LinkedIn title from ‘Interim CEO and Charity Consultant’ to ‘The Mary Poppins of the Charity Sector’. It’s something I often say in passing when I describe what it is that I …
Dear Commissioners,
It’s time we had a proper talk. I must warn you – this is not like our usual conversations where you pat us on the head and tell us how wonderful you think we are, and then everything stays the …
How to get a strategic planning process right – a case study with NAPAC
Many charities approach strategic planning with trepidation, not to mention a hefty dose of confusion. The whole idea of Board ‘ownership’ of strategic plans means that some Boards don’t involve staff in the process at all. In others, CEOs who …
Why it’s time we stop using the term ‘critical friend’
Here’s a secret it’s time I reveal: I loathe the term ‘critical friend’. As a term, its intentions are pure: it aims to reflect the balanced approach between challenge and support that a charity Board is supposed to demonstrate towards …
Setting your values as a charity – how and why it matters
It may be seen as just one step in the branding or strategic planning journey, but setting a charity’s values are of central importance and should be taken seriously. Why? Because a charity’s values set out what it prioritises. It …
Getting started with a Big Lottery Fund Organisational Strength Review
If you’re thinking about applying for, or have already won funding from, the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) Building Capabilities programme, you might be wondering about how to get started with your organisational strength review. Why does the BLF offer this …
The Presidents Club: a scandal with lessons for all Trustees
The ongoing Presidents Club Charitable Trust scandal will strike most Trustees across the country as something that could never happen to them. It is sordid and hugely embarrassing for all involved: how could they not see this coming? But, all …