Small Charity Week 2025 - how resilient is your charity?
Julian Lomas
A brief reflection on Small Charity Week 2025 and why resilient small charities matter.
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Stay up to date with developments in the sector and our latest thinking on issues affecting charities and social enterprises.
It's vital to have the right trustees on your charity's board
Julian Lomas
A common area in which we are asked to advise new and well-established charities is board development, particularly what is the right mix of skills and experience needed on the board.
Read MoreFundraising for Community Interest Companies
Julian Lomas
With more and more people choosing to set up a Community Interest Company rather than a charity, what doe stash fundraising landscape look like for CICs.
Read MoreCompulsory ID checks for company directors are coming: are you ready?
Julian Lomas
There are big changes coming at Companies House, is your organisation ready for this?
Read MoreWhy can't the charity sector get it's act together on EDI?
Julian Lomas
Despite years of intensified focus on equity, diversity and inclusion in the charity sector, the evidence continues to suggest that charities can and must do better.
Read MoreIn tough times merging with another charity is worth thinking about.
Julian Lomas
The most recent Good Merger Index report shows that charity merger activities has recovered to pre-pandemic levels and that, with a perfect storm facing many charities, now is the time charities should be thinking about mergers as a path to sustainable growth.
Read MoreGuest blog: Funding alone is no longer enough.
Julian Lomas
The guest blog from Shelley Hathaway-Batt, Head of Strategic Partnerships & projects at Clarion Futures, reflects on recent experience on the work we have been doing with their partners through The Resilience Programme.
Read MoreWhat is your charity's 'risk appetite'?
Julian Lomas
We hear a lot about ‘risk appetite’ as a concept in risk management for charities and social enterprises. but what is it and how do you work it out for your organisation?
Read MoreTrends in Trust & Foundation Fundraising
Julian Lomas
Gifted Philanthropy have recently published the 2025 Trusts and Foundations Insights survey, which include some interesting information about how things are changing in this area of fundraising.
Read MoreAnd still the woes of charity banking persist
Julian Lomas
Despite guidance from Charity Commission to help charities navigate banking issues and UK Finance’s Voluntary Organisation Banking Guide, banking for charities seems to continue to be a nightmare. What can you do to avoid the troubles other charities have faced?
Read MoreShould charities use AI for bid writing?
Julian Lomas
There’s a lot of hype around about AI and how it can transform just about anything. Can Ai help with bid writing and what are the pitfalls.
Read MoreBoost charity fundraising campaigns using behavioural science
Julian Lomas
A recent report suggests that most individual campaigns (including event fundraising) could be boosted by adopting a few simple lessons from behavioural science.
Read MoreWe wish you a peaceful Christmas and New Year
Julian Lomas
Wishing you a peaceful and restful Christmas and New Year from everyone at Almond Tree Strategic Consulting Limited
Read MoreIs there a crisis in volunteering in the UK?
Julian Lomas
The 2023/24 Community Life Survey reveals that the number of people volunteering in England has fallen to a record low. How could small charities navigate this apparent crisis?
Read MoreWhy charities should work together
Julian Lomas
As competition for funding in the charity sector gets ever more intense, we offer some thoughts on how collaborations could give your charity a competitive edge.
Read MoreTrustees' Week 2024
Julian Lomas
Trustees’ Week is an annual celebration of trustees and everything they contribute to charities. Ongoing learning and development for Trustees is essential and Trustees week provides a good way for Trustees to do just that.
Read MoreWhy compliance matters for charities?
Julian Lomas
With whistleblowing complaints to the Charity Commission at all time high, and charity law feeling ever more complicated by the day, compliance is more important than ever. How can small charities cope?
Read MoreIndividual giving to charities: emerging trends
Julian Lomas
Blue State have recently published their UK Giving Behaviours Tracker: 2024 report. What does it tell us about emerging trends in individual giving?
Read MoreThe challenges of corporate fundraising for charities
Julian Lomas
A recent report suggests corporate fundraising is getting tougher. What can small charities do to maximise their chances?
Read MoreA new fundraising code of practice
Julian Lomas
The Fundraising Regulator has launched a consultation on the proposed new Code of Fundraising Practice. Is it an improvement on the current code?
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