The Charity Sector Procurement Group (CSPG) is a thriving network of over 200 procurement professionals across diverse charities. This article from CSPG's Chris Day outlines how the member-driven group is shaping the future of charity procurement.
In the dynamic world of procurement, the Charity Sector Procurement Group (CSPG) stands as a beacon of professional collaboration and excellence within the non-profit space.
To further strengthen its network, CSPG is building stronger partnerships with Charity Finance Group and others, including Crown Commercial Services. This means that CFG members can enjoy the benefits of CSPG membership too!
Empowering procurement professionals in the charity sector
Procurement plays a critical role in ensuring that charity funding stretches further to maximise impact on service users and charitable missions.
CSPG is designed specifically to support procurement professionals within registered charities by providing a free-to-join professional networking space that fosters expertise, resource-sharing and strategic growth.
CSPG’s goals are deeply aligned with the principles of best-practice procurement, offering members:
- A forum for exchanging knowledge and strategies that optimise procurement performance.
- A networking platform to foster collaboration among purchasing professionals.
- Training and development opportunities to enhance procurement proficiency.
- Advocacy and representation to external bodies, including CIPS.
- A commitment to raising professional standards across the charity procurement sector.
- A dedicated space for diversity and inclusion, ensuring representation across various charities.
CSPG’s key offerings
Procurement professionals in the charity sector gain access to a variety of CSPG-led initiatives, including:
- Quarterly meetings: Members convene every quarter, with Q1 and Q3 sessions hosted virtually, and Q2 and Q4 meetings held in hybrid formats.
- Expert-led discussions: Members are encouraged to contribute agenda items and discussion topics, while industry experts frequently share insights in presentations.
- Secure knowledge-sharing platforms: CSPG provides members with Huddle, a secure digital forum hosted by Ideagen, where best practices, procurement resources, and sector-specific challenges are actively discussed.
- LinkedIn community: CSPG maintains a closed LinkedIn group, allowing members to engage in peer learning and knowledge exchange.
- CIPS benefits: CSPG members affiliated with CIPS gain access to an array of procurement-related perks, including discounted training courses to strengthen their expertise.
A member-driven community
Unlike traditional procurement associations, CSPG is not a legal entity but a member-led initiative. Its success hinges on the active engagement of procurement professionals who contribute ideas, strategies and insights to strengthen the group.
The community spans UK registered charities and non-profits, with some members engaged in international operations. CSPG facilitates sector-wide improvement, ensuring accessibility for all charity procurement professionals.
Shaping the future of charity procurement
By fostering a collaborative and knowledge-driven procurement ecosystem, CSPG continues to elevate procurement standards across the charity sector. Its impact goes beyond individual organisations, it strengthens the entire non-profit landscape by optimising purchasing strategies, encouraging professional development and advocating for sector-wide best practices.
For procurement professionals dedicated to driving meaningful change, CSPG is an invaluable resource that champions the strategic role of Procurement in maximising charitable impact.
Join CSGP today!
Simply complete and submit the CSPG Membership request form. You will be invited to join the CSPG Huddle Platform. Membership is active once you have completed the Huddle registration process.
To find out more, please email CFG's Membership Team or visit the CSPG page.