Insight Articles
Our straight-talking articles and guides are designed to cut through charity professional industry jargon and answer your pertinent questions.
How to make volunteering more inclusive
Volunteers are a lifeline for many charities, so it’s important to treat them with equity and fairness. Everyo...
Welcome to Admincontrol' s Board Evaluation Tool
Admincontrol' s Board Evaluation is developed through years of experience with evaluating boards and optimisi...
Action Planning and the Stephen Lloyd Awards – incubating brilliant ideas
Now in its 10th year, the Stephen Lloyd Awards is an invaluable catalyst for bright ideas. Since 2015, wh...
Happy Easter from Admincontrol!
We hope you had a productive first quarter of the year and are looking forward to the Easter Break.At Admincon...
Charity boards that are short on women are missing out
How many women do you have on your board or senior leadership team? The answer for most charities is, not enou...
What do charities need from digital? Join our steering group
Charity Digital and Dot Project are collaborating to deliver year three of a digital resilience programme fund...
Why you need cyber security?
Cyber security is important because our devices have become essential to our ability to deliver services, rais...
4 lessons from supporting 5 social enterprises - simultaneously
As my work supporting five social enterprises to become more adept at marketing and business development comes...
Your Guide to the Boardroom in 2024
Admincontrol' s essential guide to the global trends shaping boardroom agendas helps board directors focus on ...
How to stop repeating your recruitment mistakes
In case you missed it, Friday 2nd of February was Groundhog Day, a date that has become synonymous with r...
Foundations of a Robust Charity Investment Strategy: Risk, Return and a bit of maths
This article continues our exploration of Strategic Investment Framework for Charities, a series of articles f...
Foundations of a Robust Charity Investment Strategy: Thinking About Risk
This article continues our exploration of Strategic Investment Framework for Charities, a series of articles f...
Foundations of a Robust Charity Investment Strategy: Setting your objectives
This is the second article in the series on Strategic Investment Framework for Charities that we worked on in ...
Foundations of a Robust Charity Investment Strategy: Starting with the Basics
Introducing our new series of articles on Strategic Investment Framework for CharitiesWe are excited to announ...
The importance of taking independent investment advice
The importance of taking independent adviceNavigating the world of investments can be difficult and often da...
February freebie – what will you do with the extra day?
How often do you hear yourself saying, “I wish I had more time”? Well, every four years your wish is granted –...
How to recruit trustees for your charity
This free guide, sponsored by Rathbones, seeks to demystify the process and promote the practice of open recru...
One from the heart – How to add some love to your fundraising campaigns
By Tim Glynne-Jones, with Naomi Buckler, Supporter Communications specialist, and Faith Chrisp, Customer and S...
An A-Z of charity terms and definitions
We have compiled an extensive glossary of all phrases and terminology related to the charity sector, philanthr...
10 reasons why we built our digital operations software
Here is a quick guide on why we built our digital operations software:Click here to review1) Staff and volunte...
OpsPal overview - making your operations digital
So we here at OpsPal have teamed up with Charity Intelligence to offer you a highly discounted rate on our dig...
Sustainable Finance: Balancing Financial Goals with Social Impact
In a recent discussion at the Navigating Change event, our audience heard from Guy Davies Co-Founder of Ch...
Five ways to improve your fundraising copy
By Claire SmithYou have an incredible opportunity this Easter – an opportunity to love your donors, remind the...
Telling research for reaching young people
By Laura TreneerThis month Youthscape has published the first part of its ambitious ‘Translating God’ research...
Broadstone Small Charities Investment Consulting Service
Broadstone launches investment consultancy service for small charities• Innovative subscription service for sm...
How A.I. can help charities confront the Cost-of-Living crisis
The benefits of using emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), are vast. Here are some of ...
Top tips to set you on the road to net zero
What does net zero actually mean?The UK Government has pledged to achieve ‘net zero’ by 2050. That means that ...
Building on COP28 – next steps for the charity sector
By Tim Glynne-JonesAnother United Nations climate summit has been and gone (that’s 28 now), so what has been a...
Good governance
This time last year I was in the middle of a national speaking tour on governance for a network of food banks....
How artificial intelligence is impacting finance
The ramifications of artificial intelligence (AI) are widespread across the local and global economy. The fina...
12 priorities for 2024
Find out the top tips that emerged as we asked Action Planning Associates to complete this sentence with chari...
Compelling findings from recent donor research
By Laura TreneerDigital fundraising tech company Enthuse carries out donor research and publishes its findings...
Buyer personas: the most powerful tool in a marketeers toolbox?
Author: Ned Wells, Director at Cicada ConsultingEmail: [email protected] a person...
Free advice - resist change!
In Paul Johnson’s book, ‘Follow the Money’ he explains that all governments know the top three things they sho...
Unlocking the power of customer experience (CX) for non-profit leadership
By Faith Chrisp How seriously do you consider your customers’ perception of your organisation? While cust...
What does the Bible say about being a charity trustee?
By Kate NicholasThe Bible is full of wisdom for charity executives, but what about being a charity trustee or ...
Foregoing the fundraising: how can charities harness the power of marketing to increase their unrestricted revenue?
It’s not a great time to be a charity.There it is. Not an easy thing to hear, but it’s probably not news to yo...
Embracing Cybersecurity in the Charity Sector
In today's digital age, charities are not immune to the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats. As s...
How charities can bridge the gap in Black and Asian representation on trustee boards
By Malcolm John, founder of the campaign organisation Action for Trustee Racial Diversity and a trustee of the...
What is a CIO and do I need one?
Beware the additional costs of outsourced investment services.
How to write an incredible blog
Here we outline some of easy-to-follow steps for blog content. Blogs have evolved since the journal-type forma...
Free Guide on HR & Health and Safety complaince checklist
We have put together a guide of some information needed to ensure you stay compliant in your buisnesses. click...
Christmas planning: plan like a church leader if you want to reach churches
By Laura TreneerJanuary may be the start of the calendar year, but for many church leaders the real launch mon...
Putting your charity on the map
This article was written for Action Planning by Dr Diego Arenas and Nicole Holgate of DataKind UKHow mapping c...
Top tips for charity Chief Executives on board effectiveness
The Board of Trustees is fundamental to the success of any charitable organisation but keeping it running smoo...
Social Enterprise business models - how does yours work?
Author: Ned Wells, Director at Cicada ConsultingEmail: [email protected] the summer of 2023 I fou...
An interview with Catherine Eadie, Director of MHSCOT Workplace Wellbeing
Meet Catherine Eadie, Founding Director of MHScot Workplace Wellbeing CIC. It’s a fab social enterprise t...
An interview with John Shaw, Founder of Chiltern Rangers
Meet John Shaw, Founder and MD of Chiltern Rangers, a social enterprise in Buckinghamshire focusing on tw...
Christmas planning: plan like a church leader if you want to reach churches
By Laura TreneerJanuary may be the start of the calendar year, but for many church leaders the real launch mon...
The key to harmonious strategy development
By Tim JefferyHealthy, effective organisations have one vital thing in common: clarity of direction. Whilst th...
An interview with Stuart Dawks, CEO of PECT
Meet Stuart Dawks, CEO of PECT, an environmental organisation working in education, natural env...
An interview with Adam Bastock, Founder of Small 99
Meet Adam Bastock, Founder of Small 99, a business offering carbon reduction plans for companies of up to...
Charity Commission updated guidance
Latest guidance from the Charity Commission on investing charity money
Navigating strategic change: Striking the balance in nonprofit organisations
By Andrew MiddletonChange, an undeniable force, shapes the journey of nonprofit organisations. While often a s...
A brief guide to charity insolvency (and how to prevent it)
Insolvency is a subject that most people tend to avoid. It’s no secret, however, that since the pandemic, ch...
Beating FOMO at a conference: which seminar to choose?
With some major conferences coming up, Laura offers her tips for getting the most from the menu of speakers1 C...
The essential CFO: revisiting the reserves policy
The pandemic exacerbated financial sustainability issues faced by charities. Many have already had to redefine...
The essential CFO: aligning finance with strategy
Every charity needs a financial strategy, supported by well-documented, monitored and reviewed internal f...
How to finesse financial decision-making
Balancing investment, spend, and operations is a tough matter for financial teams. This is especially true giv...
2023 Social Impact Report
Charity Bank, the loans and savings bank for social good, is proud to unveil its 2023 Social Impact Report...
Case study: Turning inspiring vision into practical steps
Background:BANG is a youth-focused organisation that encourages young people to become community leaders who w...
An interview with Andy Gullick, CEO of Rift Social Enterprise
Meet Andy Gullick, chief executive of RIFT Social Enterprise, a not-for-profit organisatio...
Practical steps for keeping your capital appeal spirits high
This week I’ve spoken with two church pastors who are struggling to raise the funds they need for their church...
Charity partner – how to make the most of other people’s events
By Tim Glynne-JonesIf you watched Glastonbury, the thought may have crossed your mind, “Wouldn’t it be great t...
Leadership and the dangers of hubris
By Kate NicholasWhat do Achilles, Odysseus and Icarus (plus some contemporary political leaders) have in commo...
Analysing digital performance – tips for small charities
By Laura TreneerSmall charities tend to have a healthy respect for digital communications. If you’re small, yo...
The lonely HR - Who’s looking after the person who looks after everyone else?
By Shelley PooleWorkplace isolation is a hot topic in HR circles. As I write, it is Loneliness Awareness Week ...
Mission aligning?
There are thousands of charities across the UK helping to promote worthy causes or solve social injustices, a...
Kingdom KPIs – What the Bible tells us about measuring success
By Kate NicholasOne of the most important parts of strategy development is the identification of Key Performan...
An interview with Dan Sherrard-Smith, CEO of Mother Tree
In the first of my discussions on social enterprise business models, I chatted with Dan Sherrard-Smith&nb...
New personas for UK evangelical Christians
By Laura TreneerAnyone who works in communications will know that before you can really connect with your audi...
The art of attracting a Royal patron: tips and strategies for success
By Andrew MiddletonGaining royal patronage can be a game-changer for a charity, bringing attention to its caus...
Investment consultants or Investment Managers
The Charity Commission’s guidance says that “Trustees must take advice from someone experienced in investment...
The ultimate guide to working with Royal Patrons – Top tips for maximising the benefits, navigating the protocols and avoiding common pitfalls
By Jean CollingwoodI’ve had the honour and pleasure of working with Royal Patrons throughout my career as a ch...
Why choose Bondsmith Treasury?
At Bondsmith Treasury, we specialise in cash deposits, serving as the leading Independent Deposit Specialist i...
Life Planning in a Modern Digital World: A Necessity for the 21st Century
In the digital age, individuals manage multiple dimensions of their lives online, from social media accounts a...
The problem with numbers
Numbers are not too difficult and having financial confidence is the hallmark of a successful charity.
How to communicate organisational change
Clear communication is vital when letting staff know about changes happening in your charity. From a new leade...
The AI debate – Could ChatGPT be the extra resource your charity needs?
By Laura TreneerUnless your head has been buried far too far into your inbox for the last few months, you won’...
Why Charities should take Cyber Risk seriously in 2023 and beyond
In short, Cyber Risk is the risk all organizations face today from cyber criminals, opportunists or ‘bad actor...
How can charities face 2023’s financial hurdles?
How can charities face 2023’s financial hurdles? The job of finance professionals in the charity sector can be...
Fundraising review - is it time well spent?
By Emma GouldsIf you’re in the throws of leading a charity or social enterprise, it can feel hard to justify c...
The Emperor's New Clothes
Helping charities with investments is more than choosing the correct assets or manager. It is understanding ho...
How can small charities create bigger impact?
By Kathryn SlackImpact can be a little Marmite: some embrace it as the core of everything they do; others push...
Leading for the long haul – valuable lessons learned in life
By Joy GascoigneLeadership expert John C Maxwell defines leadership as “influence, nothing more, nothing less”...
Brevity is the soul of wit
How clever people can express intelligent things using very few words.
Climate change: how charities can transition to net zero
Charities have a big part to play in helping the UK reach Net Zero by 2050. In this article, we share tips and...
Appreciative Inquiry: a positive approach to problem solving
By Simon ClaridgeProblem solving is an important attribute for any charity leader, or indeed consultant. Histo...
Climate change: take our climate change survey
Our new survey aims to help us understand the current state of environmental sustainability in the charity sec...
Four ways inflation will affect your charity
Below we cover some of the most important things your charity needs to know in an era of high inflation. Infla...
FJ Philanthropy expands to London and doubles in size with two new strategic appointments
Download Dee (L) Kim (R).jpgThe award-winning specialist management consultancy, FJ Philanthropy is delighted ...
Charity reviews – how to spot a good one
By Felicia Willow, Action Planning Associate ConsultantI spend quite a bit of my time doing reviews. I do orga...
A little gift from me to you
I’m gifting you some time! Since August, time seems to have taken on a life of its own, everyone I have spoken...