Vic smiling at an open laptop, wearing headphones, hands clasped together. Vic is a white women with short brown hair and glasses

Small Charity Leaders Club™️

Join the 2026 waitlist

Welcome to the club, you fit right in.

Join the 2026 Waitlist

"This is like an MBA!"

It’s easy to feel like you’re on your own when you’re running a small charity. Navigating the ins and outs of managing everything can be challenging, overwhelming, and, well, lonely.

Feeling seen? You’re in the right place. I've designed this 6 month online course to support you through every step - the highs and the lows. The live workshops, group problem-solving sessions, a bank of resources and a dedicated online community are here to guide you when you need it most.

And there’s more! You’ll be welcomed into a group of like-minded folk, where judgement is left at the door - and support is available in abundance.

Small Charity Leaders Club runs once a year April-October. The 2025 cohort is now closed. Join the waitlist to be the first to join the 2026 cohort.

"Thank you so, so much Vic- best course I've ever done!"

What to expect

Leading a small charity can feel like a juggling act. An endless one - with countless tasks and responsibilities vying for your attention. All while feeling as though everything is on your shoulders.

This 6-month online course covers the essential building blocks that all small charities need, to be effective and highly impactful. Plus, you’ll be doing it alongside a supportive community of other small charity legends - all on the same journey as you!

"I didn't know how much I needed this. As a small charity director it can feel awfully lonely when you feel as if its just on you to handle everything, you end up filling so many gaps and dealing with a different set of challenges on the daily that you often feel as if you can't come up for air. This course help to not only demystify a lot of the stereotypes of what a leader should be but include so much valuable advice about how to thrive in the role rather than surviving it." Lisa Atkinson, CEO, Wave Forward , 2023 cohort.

By joining the club, you’ll have access to...

Online workshops

For 2.5 hours each month, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the fundamental building blocks of running an effective small organisation and share learning with your peers. You'll also benefit from contributions from diverse and talented guest speakers.

So, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting well-rounded teaching, from a variety of perspectives.

Peer problem solving

I know that the best solutions often come from bouncing ideas off others who have been there and done it. That's why I've set aside 1.5 hours each month for online group problem-solving sessions (think Action Learning but a bit more chilled...).

These sessions will give you the opportunity to brainstorm ideas, work collaboratively with your peers to tackle tricky challenges (or maybe just have a little cry!)

A bank of resources

Throughout the course - and beyond! - you’ll have access to a comprehensive bank of:

Template documents
Workbooks to guide you through each step of the course.

I've carefully curated these resources, to help you save time and focus on what really matters (making a positive impact in your community!).

A friendly community

As a member of the club, you get lifetime access to an exclusive online community. This is the ultimate spot for all things troubleshooting, brainstorming, and support.

Connect with a private small charity leader community, exchange ideas, share the highs and lows of running a small organisation and get the support you need to thrive as a leader.

A close up of Vics hands holding a notebook that says Small Is Powerful on the front

You'll finish the course with...
The complete toolbox!

Strong foundations: from strategy to fundraising, you’ll be well equipped to confidently lead your small charity to do amazing things in the world.

Confidence: this course will support you to feel in control (and enjoy your work!)

Connections: say “bye” to loneliness, and “hello” to friendly faces - your peers, who’ll happily support you at each stage of your journey.

The monthly run-down

What do charity leaders have to say?

"Being in the first cohort of Vic's Small Charity Leaders Club has been absolutely brilliant. If you are thinking about which course or resource to consider, do this one.

I have met amazing peers, been given brilliant shared resources, and had training on every aspect of charity CEO roles (of which we all know there are many hats!), been really challenged about how we do things, but most importantly, we have all been supported, inspired, listened to, no longer isolated.

Vic also teamed up with other awesome people from a variety of brilliant orgs across our sector for a really interesting mix that covered such a range of skills and experience." - Melissa Santiago-val, Founder - Sew Positive

Oh and here's something cool, Lloyds Bank Foundation commissioned a custom version of this course for their Grant Officers, so they can really 'get' what it takes to run an effective smaller charity.

Screen shot of a Zoom call with some of the Small Charity Leaders Club members - they are smiling at the camera and waving

Pricing

The course costs £850 for six months of support, monthly live teaching, peer support groups, lifetime access to a huge bank of resources and a private WhatsApp community.

Instalments are available, some folks pay monthly - I get that budgets are tight and cashflow is crucial.

P.S. I've done the maths, and when I deliver this work as 1:2:1 consultancy, it cost a minimum of £3,500. By delivering this as a group programme, I can make accessing this learning as affordable as possbile for smaller organisations. Plus you get to meet and learn from some amazing peers. A win-win!

Join the 2026 Waitlist

Month 1: Getting your house in order

After the introductions (and non-cringy icebreakers), we’ll focus on:

Assembling your team
Getting others involved (trustees, directors, committees, volunteers, staff, freelancers.)
Good governance foundations
Systems to make your life easier.

Month 2: Getting your strategy right

We’ll dive into the key elements of developing an effective strategy. Including:

Finding your North Star
The importance of needs assessments
Co-design and participatory strategic planning
Theory of Change

Month 3: Designing and monitoring your programmes

(Halfway, already?) Month 3 will focus on:

Programme design, and identifying the key elements of a successful programme
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

Month 4: Budgeting to support fundraising

In Month 4, we’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)
Stretch budgets, and ways to be innovative in your fundraising strategies
Financial monitoring and reporting - providing you with the tools to keep track of your finances and make informed decisions for the future.

Month 5: Fundraising, marketing, branding and communications

Month 5 is all about the bread and butter of any successful charity. We’ll dive into:

Fundraising strategies - my top tips on how to raise funds
Storytelling and communications, so that you can spread the word and engage your audience.

Month 6: Ongoing organisational development, resilience and wellbeing

(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. Our final month will equip you with the confidence to:

Manage multiple responsibilities
Find balance at work

Plus

Wellbeing tips and techniques
Resources for further support.

Sounds like a lot, right? Well, that’s because it is.

The goal is to give you the strong foundations you need to excel as a small charity leader and create real social change. As we progress through these 6 months, you’ll be able to implement what you’ve learned straight away - drawing on new knowledge, resources and techniques to grow your organisation.

Ready to join the Club?

Join the 2026 Waitlist

Got questions? We've got answers...

Vic standing in front of greenery, outside. She is wearing a white t shirt and animal print trousers and smiling at the camera

What do your peers say?

"I wholeheartedly recommend this training to leaders at all levels. It is a worthwhile investment of your time and resources. Thank me later." Marlene Kawira, Afrikala Arts, 2023

"This programme was utterly invaluable." Beth House, Let's Talk Loss, 2023

"I feel much more confident in our charity now and am really motivated to put it into practice." Kat Jennings, Talking Taboos, 2023

"Vic knows the world of small charities so well, has brought in excellent speakers, and creates a really comfy space to learn and share. Highly recommended!" Anna Ambrose, Workwhile, 2023

"Thank you so much. This programme has helped me through a really challenging period of leadership and a testing time sector wide. I hope to access more of your courses in future!" 2023 member

" I couldn't imagine another course that gives you the breadth of information that Small Charity Leaders Club does. It is brilliant for those starting out in the charity sector, starting small charities or individuals who want a wider view of charities as a whole. Great speakers, wonderful community and delivered in a really supportive and encouraging way." Owen Day, Envision, 2024

"This course was amazing - Vic's inclusive and embracing style brought together leaders from a real diverse mix of organisations and together we learned, built skills and confidence, had a laugh and created new supportive relationships. I would absolutely recommend this course - it is 100% worth the money for the resources alone - but you benefit from SO much more!" Fiona Sandford, Visionary, 2024

"I have loved the course, and found Vic to be a wealth of knowledge and experience. It has been worth its weight in gold to be able to come together with like minded people, to share and learn from each other. I would recommend this to everyone leading a small charity. It should be commissioned nationally to help us all!" Laura Williams, 2024

"The course isn't just about learning - although that is great - but also about mutual support and problem solving. Food for the soul as well as the brain." Susannah Walker, Make Space for Girls, 2024

"If you're a small charity leader you NEED to do this course. Its really flexible which means event the busiest of leaders can access the resources and insights Vic and her team of experts offer to participants." Club Member, 2024

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.

Vic Hancock Fell

Small Charity Leaders Club™️