Small Charity Essentials (E-Learning)
"Bloomin' heck, I wish I’d had Small Charity Essentials 8 years ago, the time I would have saved."
- Sam Holdsworth, Clowns Without Borders
Small charity leaders: I understand how busy you are (and how overwhelming it can be to lead a small charity). You have a lot on your plate - from admin to fundraising, supporting volunteers to the people who use your services. And, on top of it all, you’re needed now more than ever. (Phew!)
That’s where Small Charity Essentials comes in. This self-paced online course covers all the fundamentals of running a successful small charity. With six modules that you can complete at your own pace, you’ll learn a tonne.
Psst. Feel free to share this course with others at your organisation, too. Sharing is caring (just not with the whole internet please!).
Oh and here's something pretty cool - Small Charity Essentials is currently being piloted by Lloyds Bank Foundation for their small charity grantees.
What to expect
Let's be real. Navigating small charity management can be daunting. You’re wearing ALL the hats and there is not enough time or money to do everything well and keep your head above water. (Trust me, I've been there - and I understand the feeling of overwhelm all too well.) This course takes you through what I believe are the fundamental building blocks of an effective small charity and will help you build solid foundations in the things that matter most.
I think it's important to learn at your own pace, on your own terms and I know that some of you will be running your small charity on top of day jobs, in your evenings and weekends (legends!). That's why this e-learning course is 100% self-paced. Travel and scheduling conflicts? No problem, here. I've made it easy for even the busiest small charity leaders to fit into their schedule.
And when it comes to content, I've covered all the bases. With Small Charity Essentials, you'll learn everything you need to know to run a successful small charity - including:
-
People, systems and Governance
-
Strategic planning
-
Programme design and monitoring
-
Finance management essentials
-
Fundraising and communications
-
Ongoing organisational development
-
How to cope with managing it all
-
And more!
I've made it easy for you to take all of that in, by breaking it down into six manageable modules. Better yet, each module is designed to take just one hour to complete.
Also available with British Sign Language interpretation and closed captions.
By signing up, you’ll have access to...
Small Charity Essentials is also available with BSL interpretation.
What will I get out of it?
You'll finish Small Charity Essentials feeling in control of (and able to enjoy) your work. How? By picking up practical strategies for the fundamental building blocks of managing a small organisation.
From strategy and branding, to finances and wellbeing. Nothing too overwhelming, we’ll focus on the essentials. Feel confident, knowing you've built solid foundations for your organisation to thrive.
P.S. You and your team will have lifetime access to this course and any updates that are made to it over the years!
The run-down
Module 1: Getting your house in order
Ready to go? Dive right in, with:
-
Assembling your team
-
Recruiting and managing Trustees and volunteers
-
Good Governance foundations
-
Systems to make your life easier
Module 2: Getting your strategy right
Discover the key elements of an effective strategy. This module will cover:
-
Finding your North Star
-
Needs assessments
-
Co-Production
-
Theory of Change (a powerful tool for mapping out the pathway from inputs to outputs).
.
Module 3: Designing and monitoring your programmes
(You’ve made it halfway!) Module 3 will focus on:
-
Programme design
-
Logical frameworks (ensuring your programmes are structured effectively)
-
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning.
Module 4: Budgeting to support fundraising
In Module 4, you’ll hone in on one of the most important aspects of running a small charity: budgeting for fundraising. You’ll learn all about:
-
Full cost recovery (making sure your budget covers all of your costs)
-
Budgeting including stretch budgets to inform fundraising
-
Financial monitoring and reporting - providing you with the tools to keep track of your finances and make informed decisions for the future.
Module 5: Fundraising, marketing/branding and communications
Module 5 is all about the bread and butter of any successful charity. You’ll pick up best practices for:
-
Fundraising strategies - our top tips on how to raise funds from a variety of sources
-
Storytelling and communications, so that you can spread the word and engage your audience online.
Module 6: Organisation development, resilience, wellbeing and ‘managing it all’
(Time flies when you’re having fun!) By now, you’ve gained a wealth of practical knowledge. But we all know it doesn’t end there. For the last module, you’ll be equipped with the confidence to:
-
Keeping organisational developing going
-
Manage multiple responsibilities
-
Finding balance at work
-
Wellbeing tips and techniques
-
Resources for further support.
Remember: there's no rush. Take as much time as you need to work through each module. Just focus on absorbing all those handy skills!
Got questions? I've got answers...
About me
I've spent 15 years in the small charity sector. For the first several years I felt my way through, attended a lot of training and learned loads by making mistakes and trial and error.
I went back to university and did a Masters in Charity Management, graduating in the top 10% of my class.
I went on to lead a small charity from a state of crisis to being multi-award-winning and having supported more people in a single year than their previous 20 years combined.
I've created this course so you don't have to spend 15 years working out how to effectively run your small charity.
-
Who can sign up to this course?Small Charity Leaders Club is great for anyone that wears all the hats at their small organisation. You might be a founder, a trustee, a manager, or a CEO. Basically, it’s designed for anyone who has the weight of the world on their shoulders - and wants to learn the skills to help their organisation thrive. It's open to any social good structure whether you're an unregistered group, a registered charity, CIC, social enterprise or individual.
-
When does it happen?The course runs once a year from April to October with a break in August. Cohort 2 is currently running. Cohort 3 will kick off April 2025.
-
Where does it happen?Online (but we will try to get together in person for a friendly cuppa, if people want to and locations allow).
-
Why is it a group course?Because I believe in the power of community! By taking this journey with a group of like-minded peers, you’ll access peer support. Plus, this means I can make the course more affordable (and accessible) to a wider range of organisations.
-
How do I secure my place?The 2024 cohort is now closed for sign ups. To add your name to the 2025 waitlist, just pop some details here.