What happens when you realise that your work is done...? In the charity world, we often talk about growth, resilience and sustainability. However we don’t talk enough about something equally important: knowing when a charity has fulfilled its purpose so well that it no longer needs to exist. It can feel uncomfortable to imagine closing something that so many people have poured passion, time and heart into. Yet sometimes, closure isn’t failure at all - it's success in its pure

Charities are founded by people who have a real passion and drive to address an inequality and/or make a difference through action. Some of the best charities are founded by those who have lived experience of their cause, with up to 38% of charities with a turnover of under £1m* being founded by those who have first hand experience of the causes they are supporting. ‘Place Based’ charities, i.e. those with founders living within the communities they work in make up 82% of sma

I have done a lot of work with Boards, CEOs and founders. One thing that always interests me is the difference in the relationship and dynamic of a Board and a CEO, and a Board and a founder  CEO. Very different animals, very different agendas and very different priorities.   As a personal example, I set up my CIO charity in 2014 – it was registered in 2015 and my Board of trustees were, frankly, a means to an end in terms of registration as a charity. In my head, I was recru

Did you ever hear the story of 'The Girl and the Starfish'? "One day, a young girl arrived at an empty beach on a sunny day. She was...

There are three little words that often get glossed over in the day-to-day chaos of running a small charity: Mission. Vision. Values. They’re the kind of words that appear on websites, in strategy documents and Board reports. But here’s the thing: these three words are far more than corporate-sounding concepts. For small charities, they’re everything. They’re not “nice to have.” They’re your compass, your rallying cry, and your moral grounding—all wrapped into one. Let’s be h

When we think of leadership, especially in the charitable sector, we often imagine purpose-driven individuals surrounded by a community...

This week the report into the Sentebale charity highlighted grave concerns about how the charity was run in a number of key areas. Good...