Celebrating women in charity finance
24 March 2025
The month of March is when people across the world celebrate the achievements of women and the contributions they make. We speak to a few women about leading the way ...
CFG's highlights of 2024
18 December 2024
As the year ends, we wanted to share some of our community’s 2024 highlights. It’s fair to say we’ve had an impactful and busy year.
Q&A with Tony Wells, CFG Trustee
22 November 2024
We spoke to one of CFG's Trustees, Tony Wells, who shared his experiences and perspectives on the vital role of trustees in the charity sector.
Resilience of charity income
16 May 2024
In this second part of his series on resilience, Robin Aitken takes a look at what to do when the going gets tough and the income streams dry up.
A legacy that will live on
9 April 2024
After eight years on CFG’s board of trustees, Gary Forster has bid farewell to CFG. Talking to Emma Abbott, Gary reflects on his time as chair, the many highlights, the ...
Getting to know you... Dionne Sturdy-Clow
5 April 2024
Thanks to generous funding through The Rank Foundation's Time2Shine programme, CFG has created a brand new post for an aspiring leader. Dionne Sturdy-Clow talks about her new role, how she'll ...
We're celebrating The Finance Journey at 10!
13 February 2024
CFG's finance development tool celebrates its tenth birthday this year. Simon Hopkins - author of The Finance Journey - explains why it's more important than ever and shares a call ...
Looking ahead with fresh perspective
19 December 2023
After another challenging year for the charity sector, CFG's CEO, Caron Bradshaw OBE, shares some personal reflections on looking ahead with renewed hope and fresh perspectives.
Creating Hope Through Action: WSPD 2023
13 September 2023
**TG: This content is about suicide, prevention and bereavement which some people might find distressing or emotionally challenging. Find out how CFG's Eve Trotman is 'creating hope through action' as ...
Exploring the future role of charity Chairs
23 August 2023
Important research on the role of the future charity Chair and why its critical to the future of charities is underway. Read on to find out more and about how you ...
Meet our conference sponsors: PIB Insurance
14 June 2023
Ahead of CFG's Annual Conference, Stewart Archdale from conference sponsors PIB Insurance Brokers talks about surviving and thriving in a world of continual change.
To boldly go, into a charity merger
12 May 2023
Ben Clarkson, Chief Operating Officer at Asthma + Lung UK, explains what it takes to lead a successful merger of two charities and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
Evolving leadership styles in a post-pandemic world
3 April 2023
Earlier this year, Robin Aitken shared his thoughts on how changes in our working environment are affecting styles of leadership. Here, Robin summarises his thinking and gives some tips for ...
Creating a supportive space for finance leaders
24 March 2023
Managing a charity's finances can be daunting, especially if you're new to the sector. Jon King, Head of Finance and Corporate Resources at SCIE, explains how he developed a new ...
Are you on The Finance Journey?
14 March 2023
How can your charity finance team become truly transformational? What does that even look like? Emma Abbott takes a look at CFG's flagship development tool, The Finance Journey, to find ...
Great values: the beating heart of charity
7 March 2023
CFG’s HR Manager, Laura Millar, talks about the work CFG is doing to understand the charity’s values and how these can drive the charity’s impact, culture and wellbeing.
Recruitment and small charities
7 March 2023
When small charities begin, it’s likely that everything is done by trustees and other volunteers. But in time, if your charity grows, you could be in a position to take ...
Remote working, works! Here's how…
26 July 2022
Does remote working really work? Presenting at this year’s CFG Annual Conference on 30 June, Kirsten Buck and Katy Stanley from PTHR, shared how they’ve made ‘remote first’ work for ...
Meet our Sponsors: HW Fisher
17 May 2022
With CFG’s Annual Conference 2022 just around the corner, we talk to Carol Rudge from HW Fisher about this year’s Annual Conference theme – Purposeful and Empowering – and what ...
Taking control of your energy costs
16 May 2022
CFG corporate partner Utility Aid takes a look at the utilities market and shares advice on how to keep costs as low as possible.
Finance Focus Mar/April 2022
4 April 2022
How can we connect with our purpose and empower our communities? This year's Annual Conference will explore those questions and more. Also in this edition, we take a look at ...
Building a home for members
24 March 2022
What does it mean to be a member of the CFG community? And how are members helping to shape the benefits and services CFG provides? We talk to Jit Mistry, ...
Economic Outlook Briefing 2022/23
10 March 2022
Charity Finance Group and Pro Bono Economics provide an overview of the key economic issues and trends that may affect charities in the UK over the 2022/23 financial year. PDF ...
Finance Focus February 2022
28 February 2022
How can we shape tomorrow's world? In this edition, we take a look at the issue of leadership and how charity finance professionals can play a leading role in creating ...
Innovation: How do you do yours?
28 January 2022
Ahead of CFG’s Innovate for a Better Future event on 2 February, we talk to three of our expert speakers about what great innovation looks like and how you can ...
Finance Focus January 2022
28 January 2022
Welcome to the first edition of Finance Focus in 2022! This month, we welcome some new faces to CFG and dive into what the year ahead holds for policy and ...
Finance Focus November/December 2021
10 December 2021
This month, we take a look at CRM solutions, data and fundraising and employer branding. We also explore what organisations are doing to ensure employee wellbeing.
Finance Focus October 2021
29 October 2021
This month, we consider reputational risk and what it means to charity finance leaders, and we share some of the stories of organisational change from this year's Annual Conference. We ...
In pursuit of partnership
18 October 2021
Civil society stands ready to build a brighter future in partnership with the new Minister for Civil Society, says Caron Bradshaw, CEO, CFG.
Finance Focus September 2021
29 September 2021
This month, we look at some of the issues charities are tackling post-pandemic, including flexible working and what's to become of the office. Also in this edition, interviews with National Children's ...
Finance Focus July 2021
29 July 2021
Inclusivity - why does it matter to finance professionals? We speak to charity leaders this month about equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI). We also meet a small member charity - Jodie ...
Finance Focus June 2021
30 June 2021
'Leading the Way: Effective, Inclusive and Resilient' is the theme of this year's CFG Annual Conference. Dive inside to find out all about it - who's speaking, who's sponsoring, and ...
Finance Focus May 2021
28 May 2021
Responsible investment is the focus of this month's edition. Our corporate partners share their advice and insights on how to invest responsibly and ethically. We also hear from Rachel Hewitt ...
Finance Focus April 2021
30 April 2021
Welcome to the April 2021 edition of Finance Focus. This month we take a look at mental health and wellbeing in the run up to Mental Health Awareness Week in ...
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow...
23 April 2021
When CFG's Mentoring Scheme was launched for members in October 2019, no one could have predicted just how successful and valued it would become. Jessica Meddick, Senior Member and Insight ...
Finance Focus March 2021
30 March 2021
Welcome to the March 2021 edition of Finance Focus! In this edition, we take a look at how the use of digital technology in the sector has evolved in the ...
Bullying and leadership
1 March 2021
As more shocking accounts of bullying in parts of the sector unfold, Caron Bradshaw, CEO, shares her experiences and thoughts.
Finance Focus February 2021
26 February 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of Finance Focus! In this issue, we explore the art of reinvention with the help of a pop superstar. And Simon Hopkins from Blind Veterans ...
Finance Focus January 2021
29 January 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of Finance Focus! In this issue, we take a look at the subject of Risk and new ways to recognise and manage it. Plus, we ...
Putting members at the heart of CFG
15 December 2020
CFG’s Senior Membership and Insight Manager, Jessica Meddick, shares some personal reflections on life at CFG during the past 12 months, and looks ahead to what promises to be another ...
Finance Focus November/December 2020
4 December 2020
Welcome to the latest edition of Finance Focus! In this issue, we ask charities and CFG's trustees about what they've learned in 2020 and what lays ahead. Topics also covered ...
Gone with the wind
16 November 2020
Caron Bradshaw shares the valuable lessons learned from failing to prop up a much-loved, ancient apple tree while it was still bearing fruit.
Finance Focus October 2020
23 October 2020
Welcome to the October 2020 edition of Finance Focus. Issues covered inside: Mental health; fraud; audits; training; Brexit and much more!
Planning for the future in light of Covid-19
3 August 2020
Finance Focus July
17 July 2020
As Caron Bradshaw celebrates a decade at the helm, we ask what next for CFG?
The one constant in these changing times
25 November 2019
In Caron Bradshaw's speech at the CFG Annual Dinner this November and shared here, Caron reflects on the changing political climate, and why we must not forget our focus on ...
Why safeguarding is vital for finance leaders
16 October 2019
If you work in the voluntary sector, the chances are you’ll have spotted that safeguarding has suddenly been rocketed up the list of concerns for charity leaders. As NCVO launch ...
The lessons for Oxfam and the wider sector
7 August 2019
Karl Wilding, shortly to take over as chief executive of NCVO, reflects on the lessons of Oxfam, and talks about the importance of getting your safeguarding and governance right.
What does financial leadership look like?
27 June 2019
Sarah Noak, Director of Finance, Lessons for Life Foundation and Clare Jenkins Director of Finance and IT, SOS Children’s Villages UK share their experiences of CFG’s Inspiring Financial Leadership training ...
CFG Annual Handbook 2019
19 June 2019
The aim of The Pink Book is to provide you and your wider colleagues, trustees and stakeholders with the resources, support and assistance to drive social change. Read it, pass ...
Seeing the wood for the trees
26 February 2019
A subject that it frequently on charities’ minds and in the public domain is transparency. Caron Bradshaw discusses how we should start re-evaluating measuring transparency in the sector and helping ...
Working together for a stronger sector
7 January 2019
By Caron Bradshaw, Chief Executive, Charity Finance Group At the close of a turbulent year, and facing the beginnings of a new one, Caron Bradshaw talks about why our sector ...
Mergers - Made Simple Guide No. 12
1 December 2008
The topic for research was “do mergers in the voluntary sector provide financial stability for the newly formed organisation?”