The charity and not-for-profit landscape is constantly changing and we are always developing new thinking, picking up good ideas and coming across valuable information that we like to pass on, in our mission to help our clients achieve even greater success.
This blog is our platform for sharing these insights as they arise, and engaging with the whole sector in the spirit of collectively striving towards excellence.
Tim Glynne-Jones
Jul 12, 2019, 8:00 AM
Extra time to apply for The Big Give Christmas Challenge
The UK’s biggest online match funding campaign, The Christmas Challenge from The Big Give, has extended its deadline for applications by a week to next Friday, 19th July.
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Jul 5, 2019, 8:00 AM
GSK IMPACT Awards supporting health and wellbeing charities in 2020
Nesta Challenges is inviting charities and social enterprises to bid for grants from a £1m fund, called the Tech to Connect Challenge, launched to help the development of tech-based solutions to social isolation.
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Jun 27, 2019, 8:00 AM
Nesta Challenges puts up £1m to tackle social isolation through technology
Nesta Challenges is inviting charities and social enterprises to bid for grants from a £1m fund, called the Tech to Connect Challenge, launched to help the development of tech-based solutions to social isolation.
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Jun 27, 2019, 8:00 AM
National Heritage fund to hand out £100m over three years
UK heritage organisations are being invited to apply for grants worth £5million and more, as part of a new awards programme from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Jun 20, 2019, 8:00 AM
New funding available for community green energy projects
The Government’s Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) is inviting new community projects across England to apply for feasibility study grants of up to £40,000 to support renewable energy initiatives.
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Jun 20, 2019, 8:00 AM
Nationwide offers housing project grants in Northern Ireland
The Nationwide Building Society is awarding grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 to local housing projects that; prevent people from losing their home, help people into a home, and/or support people to thrive within the home environment.
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David Bull
Jun 18, 2019, 8:00 AM
Leadership teams: you can’t do it all by yourself!
If you are a charity CEO, you know you can’t do it all by yourself. Which is why the Leadership Team is so important. The most effective organisations are led by a committed, unified team sharing responsibility for the whole. Expert David Bull tells us why – and how to make your leadership team the best!
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Jun 18, 2019, 8:00 AM
Futures for Women: The Next Episode
Back in January we published a case study on our work with Futures For Women, helping the 160-year-old charity to examine its relevance today and establish a vision and mission that would carry the charity forward with renewed vigour. Last week, we heard from FFW secretary Jane Hampson with some encouraging news.
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Jun 13, 2019, 8:00 AM
Discounted housing grant scheme unveiled
Getting together to give is not new. People have acted collectively to donate their money or time for generations. But over the last decade there has been renewed interest in “giving circles”. Philanthropy specialist Rob John discusses why this is important for the charity sector.
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Jun 13, 2019, 8:00 AM
Co-op Foundation invites funding applications from Welsh community groups
Community groups in Wales have two more weeks to apply for funding from the new £1million Co-Op Foundation fund.
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Jun 13, 2019, 8:00 AM
Government opens fund to reduce food waste
Organisations that help to cut food waste by redistributing surplus food to people in need are being invited to apply for grants from a new round of DEFRA funding.
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Jun 13, 2019, 8:00 AM
Lloyds open last round of Enable grants
Lloyds Bank Foundation has announced its last round of Enable grants, offering up to £15,000 to help charities develop or trial new approaches to service delivery.
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Jun 13, 2019, 8:00 AM
£5 million fund launched for supporting unpaid carers
A new Carers Innovation Fund has been launched to help finance innovative ways of supporting unpaid carers.
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Rob John
May 24, 2019, 8:00 AM
Virtuous Circles: collective giving is a powerful way to develop better donors
Getting together to give is not new. People have acted collectively to donate their money or time for generations. But over the last decade there has been renewed interest in “giving circles”. Philanthropy specialist Rob John discusses why this is important for the charity sector.
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Layla Moosavi
May 24, 2019, 8:00 AM
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP: PREPARE TO SUCCEED
As fundraisers, we all know how difficult it is to get through the door of a corporate. So when we do, it’s crucial we use the opportunity effectively. Fundraising expert Layla Moosavi Rivers tells us how to prepare to succeed.
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Eleanor Mitchell
Apr 16, 2019, 8:00 AM
Management: what, why, and how to do it
While management is often described as the coordination and organisation of business activities to meet a defined purpose, the management of people is not always valued. Yet as Action Planning Associate Eleanor Mitchell explains, it is the people within an organisation that create its success.
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David Saint
Apr 16, 2019, 8:00 AM
Action Planning Associates: introducing Mark Goldring
Action Planning has an extensive team of outstanding and highly-experienced Associate Consultants. This month we are delighted to introduce – and welcome - one of the newest members of our network, former Oxfam CEO Mark Goldring.
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Sally Denbigh
Mar 14, 2019, 8:00 AM
Why would anyone be a charity trustee?!
The role carries a lot of responsibility, has legal and financial liabilities, can be extremely hard work, is frequently stressful, often under-valued… and it’s unpaid… So why on earth would anyone be a charity Trustee?! For a number of (very good) reasons, in fact…
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Tracy Madgwick
Feb 14, 2019, 8:00 AM
Managing Underperformance
Managing people’s performance is one of the key issues facing any charity. After all, in most cases the people are the charity. If, however, your organisation is faced with underperformance issues, HR professional Tracy Madgwick advises on how to manage these effectively.
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Karen Morton
Jan 17, 2019, 8:00 AM
Awaydays: Holding the Space
New Year is the perfect time to ‘health check’ not just ourselves, but our charities too. And what better way than with an awayday? Action Planning Associate Karen Morton tells us how we can “hold the space”.
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David Kirby
Jan 17, 2019, 8:00 AM
Trading Subsidiaries: Using one, or think you should be?
Recent developments have affected the way in which payments from a trading subsidiary to its parent charity must be shown in the accounts. If your charity has a trading subsidiary – or you think perhaps it should have one – then you need to read this article by charity specialist lawyer David Kirby.
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Sally Denbigh
Dec 13, 2018, 8:00 AM
Charity at Christmas
Working in the voluntary sector, we spend most of our time thinking about and helping others - it’s in the job description, after all! Just occasionally however, maybe we should take a moment to really think about what we do and the good that we do for charity. And give ourselves a well-deserved pat on the back. Not often of course… maybe just once a year, at Christmas!
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David Saint
Dec 13, 2018, 8:00 AM
You Can't Tickle Yourself!
Interviewed at the recent Christian Resources Exhibition, Chairman David Saint speaks candidly about how Action Planning started almost 30 years ago (spoiler alert, he was fired!), and what the organisation can offer to help charities.
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David Bull
Nov 8, 2018, 8:00 AM
Protective Organisational Culture
In the wake of the recent crisis in the International Development sector following revelations of unacceptable behaviour by some staff, expert David Bull deliberates culture change to achieve safeguarding objectives, and advocates ten key elements to ensure a protective organisational culture.
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Fiona Lewis
Nov 8, 2018, 8:00 AM
What Is A Content Strategy, And Do You Need One?
Online content is the most cost-effective way to reach large numbers of people. But what is meant by ‘content’, what should it address, and what actually is a ‘content strategy’…and does your charity need one? Marketing professional Fiona Lewis helps explains!
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Felicia Willow
Oct 9, 2018, 8:00 AM
Employing Trustees: Navigating The Minefield
One of your charity Trustees (or ex-Trustees) may seem like the perfect candidate to join your staff team. However, as expert Felicia Willow explains as she ‘navigates the minefield’, employing Trustees is not straightforward, and in some cases not even possible.
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Sally Denbigh
Oct 9, 2018, 8:00 AM
Salaries and Benchmarking
Determining the appropriate salary for a job is not always easy, and also of course depends on what your organisation can afford to pay. Charity specialists action planning consider how to decide the right remuneration for a role, including salary benchmarking.
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Oct 9, 2018, 8:00 AM
Are you a Charity That Helps Women Enter the Workplace?
Are you a charity that helps women enter the workplace? If so, you may wish to join forces with Futures for Women to help disadvantaged women in the UK attain their career ambitions and become financially independent.
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Layla Moosavi
Sep 13, 2018, 8:00 AM
Marketing And Communications In Small Charities
Marketing and Communications in small charities has its own particular challenges and requirements. Expert Layla Moosavi advises that it’s about going back to basics, knowing your audience, reviewing your strengths and resources, focusing and prioritising, and planning, planning, planning.
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Sally Denbigh
Aug 9, 2018, 8:00 AM
Finding and Recruiting the Hottest New Candidates
It’s August, it’s Summer and it’s too hot to be thinking about recruitment. Right? Wrong! With one of the peak times of year for recruitment only a few weeks away, charities should already be starting to think about and getting ready to hire the best and hottest new candidates.
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Emily Petty
Aug 9, 2018, 8:00 AM
Building Meaningful Lifelong Relationships with Supporters
What does relationship fundraising look like in today’s world? And how should charities be balancing short-term need with lifetime value? By putting our supporters first, argues Emily Petty, valuing every way they engage with us and focusing on the experiences that they have.
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Felicia Willow
Jul 12, 2017, 10:41 AM
Charity crisis: Do you know what to do when something goes wrong?
All of us, obviously, want things to go smoothly at our charity; but what to do when things go wrong? How we handle a crisis could well mean make or break. Expert Felicia Willow gives her ‘five priorities’ to best manage a crisis – and come out the other side!
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Sally Denbigh
Jul 5, 2018, 10:41 AM
Legacy fundraising: don’t leave it to luck!
Legacies are an important source of funding, yet more than half of charitable bequests are left by previously ‘unknown’ donors. Lucky? For the charity, yes. But effective legacy fundraising is about much more than luck. We look at the potential for your charity to develop a long-term, sustainable legacy fundraising strategy.
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David Saint
Jul 12, 2017, 10:41 AM
How To Plan A Capital Appeal
For most organisations, major capital projects are not common occurrences – they only come along perhaps once every five to ten years. From a fundraising perspective, what’s the best way to prepare for this, in particular to ensure that ongoing revenue...
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Felicia Willow
Jul 12, 2017, 10:41 AM
Trustee appraisals – have you got yours in place?
The Charity Governance Code recommends that the Boards of all charities – large and small – review their performance and effectiveness. Do you have a plan in place for doing that? And are you implementing the plan?! Felicia Willow discusses the many benefits of the process.
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David Saint
Mar 21, 2018, 10:41 AM
Where are the Visionaries?
Charities pride themselves on making a difference, yet so often we seem to get caught in the rut of doing the same old same old – usually with fewer resources! How can we lift our eyes from the treadmill, and scan distant horizons?
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David Saint
Mar 14, 2018, 10:41 AM
The answer’s Yes. What’s the question?
Action Planning gets asked to help with an extraordinarily diverse range of issues, from an equally diverse range of organisations. Take a look through our recent caseload, and see whether any of these resonate with some of the challenges you are facing in your charity.
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Lucinda Shaw
Mar 14, 2018, 10:41 AM
Focussing on People rather than Performance will get you to Excellence
Almost every organisation will say that its people are its greatest asset. And yet far too many organisations pay lip service to ‘training and development’. Top athletes achieve astonishing feats – often more than they themselves believed possible, and often because of the support of their coach. How much more could your people achieve if properly coached? And what is coaching anyway?
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Robin Hamilton
Feb 8, 2018, 10:41 AM
Learning lessons from Oxfam - To disclose or not to disclose? That is the question.
It is sad to see so many media outlets and commentators jumping on the Oxfam-bashing bandwagon – mostly with comment and posturing – so instead here is some practical advice about how to set up a framework for dealing with reputational risk – before disaster strikes.
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David Saint
Feb 8, 2018, 10:41 AM
How to diversify income
Any organisation that is dependent on one source for more than 30% of its income is at risk. Many charities are dependent on one source for 80% - 90% of their income! Diversification is the name of the game – but where to start? And how can we make sure it doesn’t all go horribly wrong? We explore some practical and pragmatic approaches.
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David Saint
Feb 8, 2018, 10:41 AM
Procurement Obscurement?
Does your Procurement Department always get you the best deal? We share some experiences of disastrous procurement processes – and one excellent one!
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David Saint
Feb 8, 2018, 10:41 AM
Recruiting your first fundraiser
If your organisation is planning to employ a fundraiser for the first time, here are some essential things to do - and some things to avoid - to maximise the chances of success.
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Felicia Willow
Feb 8, 2018, 10:41 AM
Five Indications of Failing Trustee Boards
Poor trustees – always being bashed these days! But these observations, from an experienced governance consultant, will help trustees and Chief Executives take an objective look at how they are doing, and take some simple steps today that will help avoid problems tomorrow.
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David Saint
Dec 5, 2017, 10:41 AM
Downloadable policies – just papering over the cracks?
In our increasingly complex society, we now need an astonishing array of policies to cover every conceivable (and occasionally inconceivable!) eventuality.
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David Saint
Dec 5, 2017, 10:41 AM
How to recruit a Fundraising Director
In recent issues we have considered the best approach for recruiting trustees, and Chief Executives. Now it is the turn of the Fundraising Director.
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David Saint
Dec 5, 2017, 10:41 AM
Simple Governance Review – here’s one I prepared earlier!
Andrew Betts, Director of Advantage Africa was very quick off the mark, by turning the piece in our last issue into a self-assessment questionnaire for his trustees.
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David Saint
Dec 5, 2017, 10:41 AM
'Preference Diversity' The Essential Team Ingredient
First, what is diversity? Diversity is ‘the fact of many different types of things or people being included in something’. So how do we apply this when looking to build a successful team, or board of trustees? How do we know who to include?
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David Saint
Dec 5, 2017, 10:41 AM
How to Recruit a Chief Executive
We turn our attention to the recruitment of a Chief Executive. But surely recruitment is recruitment isn’t it? Well, yes and no. Some posts need to be handled in very particular ways – especially in the early stages.
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David Saint
Dec 5, 2017, 10:41 AM
Governance – what could possibly go wrong?
The Charity Commission recently reviewed their ‘problem cases’, and came up with a list of the nine things that trustees most commonly don’t do, that could have prevented most of those cases happening at all
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David Saint
Dec 5, 2017, 10:41 AM
How to recruit trustees
Perhaps we should start with ‘how not to recruit trustees’ – because frankly the wrong way is the most common way, yet there are some very good reasons why it’s the wrong way.
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David Saint
Oct 3, 2017, 9:41 AM
The £1.19m answer: Einstein’s Theory of Happiness
I was fascinated to read recently that Einstein’s ‘Theory of Happiness’ had been sold at auction for £1.19m. Spoiler alert – at the end of this piece I’m going to tell you what it is!
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Kate
Oct 3, 2017, 9:41 AM
Managing Reputation - Inoculating Against Crisis
It was Warren Buffet who once said “It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it” – a statement that resonates more today than ever before; except these days when a damaging social media post can travel the world in a click of a mouse, it can only take five seconds.
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Ian
Aug 30, 2017, 10:41 AM
The Value of a Mentor
The most honest feedback I receive in life is after the final whistle is blown and I’m sitting in the pub with my mates. For me, the feedback is often brutal as they take turns to analyse my football skills, detailing my ‘lack of pace’ in trying to keep up with the pacey 17-year-old...
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Gavin
Aug 30, 2017, 10:41 AM
Challenge Events – An Antidote to GDPR - The Great Depression of People Raising (money)
Over the last few years I feel we have been in a ‘great depression’ within the charity sector. This has been fuelled by numerous negative media stories and more recently the introduction of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
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David Saint
Aug 30, 2017, 10:41 AM
CV Tips – From The Recruiter’s Perspective
Having recently read 79 applications for one role, and 6 for another, I have become a bit blasé about ‘passionate’, ‘committed’, ‘high achiever’, ‘driven’, ‘results orientated’ ….. you see the same words and phrases coming up again and again.
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Tim Glynne-Jones
Aug 30, 2017, 10:41 AM
Website woes? Here’s a solution
When it comes to publicising the work of your charity, a good website is essential. We hear from a lot of people who know this but feel hamstrung by cost, saying it will require £20k or more. Well, you might be encouraged to learn that our new website was designed, built and written for less than £10k.
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David Saint
Aug 30, 2017, 10:41 AM
When the problem is having too much money
This may seem an extraordinary topic to explore in a charity sector newsletter, but over the past 12 months Action Planning has worked with at least 6 organisations for whom this was a significant issue.
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Dave Tyler
Aug 30, 2017, 10:41 AM
Project management? Never heard of it…
I’ve been a professional project manager for over 20 years and freelance for about 10. Because of that, I take it for granted that ‘project management matters’ and assume that everyone feels the same way.
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David Saint
Jul 12, 2017, 10:41 AM
When is it the right time to do a capital appeal feasibility study?
An appeal for a major capital project is not an everyday occurrence for most organisations, and if this is outside the experience of all the key people (eg trustees, senior management team) it can be very difficult to know where to start.
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