Knowledge Hub

A number of recently released reports look at the topic of charitable giving from different angles: trust, payments, donor sentiment, disintermediation. Together, though, they tell a remarkably consistent story about the challenges that charities are facing, as well as some potential opportunities.

In this article, Neil Baldwin, Director RI at BHP, outlines how a difficult economic environment is causing reserves policies to be tested, and provides an auditor's viewpoint on how trustees can distinguish between the strategic use of reserves and the warning signs of a deteriorating financial position.

In the first of a series of articles, CFG’s Director of Finance and Operations, Sarah Ann Moore, talks about a recent review of CFG’s payment terms, and how this fits into a wider picture of digital transformation and continuous improvement.

This article from Dr Teresa Dumasy, Research, Advisory and Policy Department Director at Conciliation Resources, outlines the complex area of law that is counter-terrorism, and introduces a new guide to help charities understand when they need to seek legal advice, and what questions to ask if they do.

Damian Bailey from LCP explains what practical steps organisations participating in Verity defined benefit pension schemes should take in advance of the High Court's ruling later this year.

New research from University of Bath on board composition and effective decision-making should give us all pause for thought, says CFG associate Nigel Kippax. In part one of his series on effective boards, Nigel takes a look at the report's findings on bias and the implications for trustee recruitment.

Robert Nieri and Michele Price, Partners in gunnercooke's charities team provide an overview of some of the recent developments in the world of governance, legal and regulation, and outline how these may affect charities. 

In this article, Richard Snelling from Menzies outlines the recent news that the rules for filling company accounts with Companies House are changing as part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. He explains what this means for charities and non-profits that operate as companies and what steps you should be taking to prepare for the change.

This article from Bates Wells' Caroline Morris, Olivia Hyland and Laura Hobbs, explores how charities are using new forms of technology, and the challenges and opportunities that are presented as a result. 

In the final instalment of this three-part series focusing on financial culture, Simon Perks investigates the role that rituals and routines, symbols and stories play in helping organisations to create a culture of financial awareness and accountability.

The first article in this three-part series introduced the cultural web as a way of understanding an organisation’s financial culture. In this second instalment, Simon Perks takes a deep dive into organisational structure, power structures and control systems, and explores how we can use them to bring about positive cultural change.

Clare Mills, Co-CEO, Charity Finance Group, shares her reflections since the launch of CFG’s Charity Banking Report, and considers how to build resilience for when the systems and services we rely on falter.