The perils of founder's syndrome and how to avoid them
Julian Lomas
Much has been said and written about “founder syndrome” in charities and social enterprise but what is it and how can you avoid the problems it can bring?
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Stay up to date with developments in the sector and our latest thinking on issues affecting charities and social enterprises.
The indispensability of planning for small charities and social enterprises
Julian Lomas
Was Eisenhower right when he reputedly said “Plans are useless, planning is essential”? This short article discusses that in the context of small charities and social enterprises.
Read MoreWhat is the future of infrastructure support for small charities?
Julian Lomas
With the closure of the Small Charities Coalition in spring 2022 and of the Foundation for Social Improvement in 2023, what is the future of infrastructure support for small charities?
Read MoreTrends in volunteering and charitable giving
Julian Lomas
The Government has recently published the findings of the 2021/22 Community Life Survey, which reports on trends in volunteering and public donations to charities. There are some worrying trends that all charities need to address if they are to sustain giving and volunteering.
Read MoreIs charity law too complicated for small charities?
Julian Lomas
We’ve helped register countless start up charities and their founders are frequently dumbfound by the questions they need to answer to gain registration. Is the law too complicated for small charities?
Read MoreWhat's the point of Community Interest Companies?
Julian Lomas
With around 30,000 Community Interest Companies now on the register, and continued growth in registrations , this short article asks, “what is the point of a CIC?”.
Read MoreCharity Commission Annual Return: What is the regulator really interested in?
Julian Lomas
The Charity Commission has published the new set of questions it will be asking charities in their annual return from 1 January 2023 but what does this tell us about what the regulator is concerned about?
Read MoreTop fundraising tips for tough times
Julian Lomas
What can charities do to maximise fundraising in difficult times. We offer a few ideas in this short article.
Read MoreWishing you a peaceful Christmas and New Year
Julian Lomas
We wish all our clients, and everyone working to sustain vital charity services, a restful and peaceful Christmas and New Year and look forward to working with you in 2023
Read MoreWhat tax reliefs do charities get?
Julian Lomas
The subject of charities and tax can be hard to navigate. While we cannot offer formal tax advice, we hope this article provides some useful pointers on charity tax matters.
Read MoreCharity Trustees's safeguarding responsibilities
Julian Lomas
The Charity Commission is getting more and more involved in making sure that safeguarding in charities is led by Trustees. This short article explores what this means in practice for small charities.
Read MoreBuilding effective partnerships between charities and businesses
Julian Lomas
Effective partnerships between charities and business can and should be about so much more than money or in kind donations. This article explore a range of options for enriching and sustaining these partnerships.
Read MoreHow safe is your charity from fraud?
Julian Lomas
Every charity and not-for-profit is susceptible to fraud and cybercrime by criminals exploiting the current global crisis. Is your charity doing enough to protect itself from these risks?
Read MoreTrustees week: 7-11 November 2022
Julian Lomas
Trustees Week is an annual celebration of trustees and everything they contribute to charities. This year the theme is making a difference in changing times. Ongoing learning and development for Trustees is essential and Trustees week provides a good way for Trustees to do just that.
How many directors should a CIC or other company have?
Julian Lomas
Many small companies, including small Community Interest Companies (CICs) have a small number of Directors, but what is the “legal minimum”?
Read MoreCost of living squeeze on charity giving
Julian Lomas
This short article explores in a little more depth the impacts of the cost of living crisis on charity giving and what charities might be able to do to respond.
Read MoreWhy delegated authorities and financial controls matter for charities
Julian Lomas
Robust (and proportionate) financial controls and delegated authorities policies are essential for protecting your charity, its Trustees, staff and volunteers but many small and even medium sized charities don’t have them in place. This short article explain why these policies are so important.
Read MoreCovid-19 mission drift amongst small and medium sized charities
Julian Lomas
While the pandemic has been a tough time for many charities, others have been hugely successful in winning new funding and work over the last two years. Has this resulted in mission drift for those charities and is a course correction now needed for some?
Read MoreTrends in charity fundraising
Julian Lomas
This short article explores some emerging trends in charity fundraising following the volatility of the last two years during the pandemic, particularly in individual giving and grants from trusts and foundations.
Read MoreDo your charity Trustees understand their duties?
Julian Lomas
Do your Trustees understand their legal duties? Our experience is that in small charities they often don’t and this can lead to problems. This article provides a simple synopsis of charity Trustee duties..
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