Consultants who help charities grow & guide them on their journey

While other consultancies specialise in one aspect of charity work, we have expertise across the board, enabling us to identify the best opportunities for each client, provide the most appropriate services for each situation and deliver a seamless solution across multiple needs.

How can a consultant help?

Do you really need to hire a consultant? How do you know they’re not just going to waste your precious funds? What if they lack the expertise to solve your particular problem? What if you don’t get on? These are common questions and thoughts that our years of experience can quickly dispell.

4 good reasons to trust us to support you and add genuine value

1. Our DNA

Action Planning is a diverse network of expert strategy and fundraising consultants, united under the leadership of Chairman David Saint by their passion for the charity sector, and their desire to help charities succeed. Over more than 25 years, we have helped thousands of not-for-profits including local authorities and churches to achieve their aims. All of our associates have first-hand experience of working in the charity sector, as trustees, senior management, staff or volunteers, and between them they have a comprehensive range of relevant skills. Our approach makes us unique in being able to provide a thorough overview of each organisation’s opportunities and threats, so that nothing is overlooked as we focus on the areas of greatest need and impact.

 

2. Our Approach

We take an intelligent, analytical approach to each assignment, taking time to listen and learn the subtleties before working with our client to agree the best way forward. Whatever the brief, we will assess the overall picture to see if there are other influences impacting on the situation, before concentrating our efforts on an agreed, outcomes-based solution. This efficient, logical approach is softened by a sensitive, empathetic way of working with people that encourages confidence, enthusiasm and effectiveness.

 

3. Our Values

We recognise the faith that our clients invest in us, and we place high importance on justifying their trust. Much of our work comes from repeat business and referrals and we have an incomparable track record for working with faith-based organisations, disability charities, advocacy groups and many others, who trust us to represent their brands and values respectfully in the course of our work. In the pursuit of our mission to help charities succeed, we always develop a pragmatic and cost-effective workplan that recognises the financial constraints under which they operate and delivers real added value.

 

4. Our Promise

When you commit to hiring Action Planning, we commit to delivering a meaningful return on your investment. We will approach the brief with thoroughness, thoughtfulness, expertise and care and will provide you with the most appropriate people and service to help solve the problem, or develop the opportunity. Our diverse skills base means we sell you the service you need, rather than the one we want you to buy.

Consultancy Guides
  • Working with Action Planning was an enriching experience for me and the team. We gained valuable knowledge and insights and underwent some extremely useful self-examination, which delivered a strengthened position for my service and our future plans.

    NORMA SPARK, BUSINESS LEAD, EVERY CHILD PROGRAMME, LONDON BOROUGH OF NEWHAM
  • I was absolutely happy with the service we received from Action Planning. The way David handled the workshop was very good. He threw in a few hand grenades and made us think hard about what we needed to do.

    DAVID WISDISH, TRUSTEE, HIGHWAY TRUST
  • Our relationship with Action Planning goes back many years and during my time here we have worked together on a number of projects. Outsourcing and having Hayley assigned to our benchmarking exercise again this year has saved a lot of time. Knowing she will conduct the exercise in a professional and timely manner, offers great peace of mind.

    PORTIA BORRETT, HEAD OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND OFFICE MANAGER, AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED
  • David Saint has been around a long time and knows the industry very well. I like his thoroughness – he goes deeper than others to get to the root of a problem – and I knew that the Americans would trust him.

    JENS LEWELING, MANAGEMENT – MEDIA AND NONPROFIT, JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES, GERMANY
  • I was really happy across the board with the service we received from Action Planning. It’s not often that we get together and think about things in that structured way. The whole process has been a really positive one and David’s report is already impacting on what we’re doing.

    DEBBIE HUGHES, CEO, LIVING WITHOUT ABUSE

    Read the case study >

  • “We had been considering who should do our rebranding and were very impressed with Action Planning. We loved the quality of their work. They have the breadth of experience to do the whole job, from A to Z.”

    JOLITA PATON, EUROPEAN DIRECTOR, MIDDLE EAST MEDIA

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  • We help focus your ideas and decide what steps you need to take to achieve the goals you have. 

    We help focus your ideas and decide what steps you need to take to achieve the goals you have. 

David Saint
Third Sector Strategy, Management, and Fundraising Consultant

Andrew Johnson
Charity Sector Fundraising & Marketing Consultant

 

Dave Tyler
Charity Project Management Consultant

 

David Bull
Third Sector Management Consultant & Mentor

 

Kate Nicholas
Charity Sector Management & Communications Consultant

 

Peter Campbell Smith
Charity Information Technology Consultant

 

Felicia Willow
Third Sector Governance & Strategy Consultant

 

Robin Hamilton
Charity Crisis Management Consultant