elliot@strategyandgovernance.co.uk
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So what does an ex-accountant know about choosing a new advisor? Well as the one often being asked to tender for my work over the years, quite a bit as it happens! Also one advantage of being a long-term advisor yourself, you are the trusted professional that clients come to for advice as to other professionals.
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The Charity Commission have recently issued some accounting templates for Charitable Companies whose income is less than £500k.
I have always thought that the month of February is the most important month in the year; and not just because it contains my birthday, my wife's birthday and my wedding anniversary!
Last weekend I facilitated a two day meeting to formulate a new strategy for an international learned society. The first day was spent considering where they were as an organisation and where they would like to be. The second day consisted of formulating ideas as to how to get there.
People who have known me for a while have listened to me bang on before about charities wasting resources by not collaborating more with one another. So I was interested in an article contained in the Midlands edition of an Insider Media bulletin which contained the following paragraph:
This blog, although based on a report from the Charity Commission makes points equally valuable to both charities and SME's. The Commission recently reviewed ten charities who showed signs of being "at risk of financial distress".
Having set up my own consultancy as of 1st August last year and my website on 1st May this year, one of my biggest worries was how to get my name out there with a limited (in fact non-existent) advertising budget?
During a recent marketing exercise I was carrying out with local charities, I emailed approximately 250 charities, using their contact details on the Charity Commission Website.
A number of years ago,an article in Third Sector Finance published a report commissioned by the Charity Finance Group and others indicating that from their survey, most charities would be unable to add to their reserves. I would not be surprised if the same survey, published today would not say exactly the same thing. It made me ask another question which I would still ask today; are they really unable or is the truth that they are not prepared to make some hard choices?
I attended a seminar last Saturday and the speaker referred to her experience as a former head teacher and a government schools inspector which she now used in her new role as a resource for local schools in her area.
At long last the Charity Commission are seeming to tackle the long awaited opportunity of converting from a Charitable Company to a CIO (Charitable Incorporated organisation).
For those charities who are in receipt of donations under gift aid, remember to keep your gift aid forms up to date. For further details go to www.gov.uk/claim-gift-aid/gift-aid-declarations for further details
Have any questions or want to find out more?
Call Elliot Harris on 07896 894 711 or email elliot@strategyandgovernance.co.uk.
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