Charity Pulse

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:

• Charity Commission branded "toothless" by Lord Walney, sparking debate on the regulator's effectiveness and resource allocation.
• Fundraising regulator suspends charity for code breaches, highlighting the importance of compliance and reputation management.
• Charity mergers up 31% to a total of 63, driven by financial challenges, but still a small fraction of the 170,000 registered charities.
• AI in charities presents opportunities for efficiency gains, but raises concerns about data security and ethical implementation.

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In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:

• Save the Children: Facing significant cuts, with plans to reduce 200 jobs out of their 751 staff, alongside other major charities experiencing similar redundancies and budget constraints.

• Grant makers: Experiencing overwhelming application volumes, prompting some, like RL Glasspool, to revise their distribution strategies and application processes.

• Toxic workplace culture: Cited as main reason for staff resignations, along with burnout and work-related stress.

• Naomi Campbell: Granted permission to appeal against her disqualification as a charity trustee.

• Gary Mond: Overturns Charity Commission trustee disqualification. Which raises the question: should social media use be grounds for disqualification?

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CharitEpulse: Resilience, recognition, and controversy

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:

• Positive Signs: Three quarters of charities have maintained or increased fundraising income over the past year, defying previous expectations.
• Treat Civil Society as equal to businesses: A ‘hot mic’ comment by the Health Secretary has sparked controversy.
• Barriers to trusteeship: The Association of Chairs has opened a consultation on trusteeship, focusing on paid trustees and professional qualifications, igniting a debate about diversity and inclusion.
• Rumbling on: The Captain Tom Foundation has changed its name to the ‘1189808 Foundation’, dropping “Captain Tom” at the family’s request, amid ongoing controversy about funds owed to the charity and personal benefits.

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CharitEpulse: Charity challenges - from grants to governance, and ‘charity’ CEO pay controversy

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:

• The challenges faced by grant-making charities and the valuable lessons learned.

• The release of the Charity Investment Governance Principles – examining their purpose and necessity.

• A letter from the Charity Commission to the General Synod of the Church of England addressing safeguarding concerns.

• The controversy surrounding charity CEO salaries, with criticism of its biased reporting and lack of context, along with the Charity Commission’s inadequate response.

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CharitEpulse: From Gift Aid gaffes to a royal ruckus

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:

• Gift Aid tribunal loss: A father and his three daughters, serving as trustees, lost a £420,000 gift aid tribunal due to improper circular transactions.

• Omaze – a force for good?: Concerns are raised surrounding Omaze’s regulation, transparency and risk to reputation.

• The King’s Foundation investigation: Formerly known as The Prince’s Foundation, an OSCR investigation reveals governance failures and misuse of donations.

• Charity Commission consultation: A discussion on the Charity Commission’s consultation regarding terrorist financing.

• Royal Society of Literature governance review: Insights into the governance review that led to leadership changes at the Royal Society of Literature.

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CharitEpulse: Charity scandals exposed — from pug rescue to Gift Aid fraud

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:

• HMRC Gift Aid fraud: Clearer messaging is needed to protect the sector's reputation, even if such fraud is rare.

• Challenges in the charity retail sector: Decline in profits, increased NIC, and financial pressures leading to the closure of some charities.

• Place-based philanthropic strategy: Is the focus on community too narrow and restrictive? The trio critique Secretary of State for Culture Lisa Nandy's recent plans.

• Governance issues in charities: Recent cases of financial abuse in charities, particularly the Muffin Pug Rescue case. The panel stressed the importance of proper governance and timely submission of accounts to the Charity Commission.

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CharitEpulse: Fraud, banking woes, and leadership changes

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:

• Gift Aid fraud case: Two sisters have been jailed for embezzling nearly half a million pounds in Gift Aid over six years while allegedly volunteering for a charity.

• Banking woes for charities: A report by the Civil Society group reveals 92% of charities encountered banking problems in the past two years, ranging from difficulties in updating mandates to a lack of understanding from bank staff.

• Captain Tom Foundation inquiry: The Charity Commission’s two-year investigation has uncovered unauthorised trustee benefits and fraudulent misrepresentation within the Captain Tom Foundation.

• Charity Commission changes: Orlando Fraser, chair of the Charity Commission, will step down in April. The search for a suitable successor is now underway.

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CharitEpulse: Post budget – what does this mean for charities?

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio delve into the implications of the recent budget on the charity sector and more:

• National insurance increase: With a £1.4 billion rise in national insurance contributions for charities, does this signal a neglect of the sector in light of ‘The Covenant’?

• Charity tax reliefs: The HMRC’s plans to restrict tax reliefs: a necessary safeguard or an overreaction?

• Whistle-blowing protections: What does the latest tribunal ruling mean for trustees?

• Trustee ‘crisis’: The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has highlighted a shortage of charity trustees. Is this truly a crisis, or could it be diverting attention from more pressing challenges?

• Refusing donations: The Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s stance on donation refusals prompts a discussion on the ethical implications of inconsistent decision-making based on a charity’s values and morals.

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CharitEpulse: Should every charity have a social media policy?

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:

• A convent rather than a compact: will the proposed initiatives reset the sectors relationship with Government?
• Government/sector relations: MP Lisa Nandy’s announcement to restore charities to ‘centre of national life.’
• Reflections of a CEO: the outgoing RSPCA CEO shares insights on the challenges of meeting everyone’s expectations.
• Charities and social media: should every charity have a social media policy?
• Holiday season challenges: charities are preparing for a tough Christmas season due to the rising cost of stamps.

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Too precious, too disjointed, too defensive

Join the CharitEpulse hosts as they tackle the hot topics shaking up the sector:

• 700,000 charity trustees in the UK holding 1 million roles – revealed by the Charity Commission CEO!
• The Prime Minister’s bold new ‘covenant’ for charity partnerships.
• Growing concerns about reputational risks and brand damage.
• The financial challenges faced by grant-making charities.

Subscribe to our monthly charity newsletter (trustEnews): https://www.quiltercheviot.com/subscribe/