If you are running a charity or social enterprise, the chances are that you are working with a small team who are all multi tasking. Chances are too that you are working with tight budgets, resources are stretched to the full, and there are lengthy wish-lists and to-do lists. Evidence of this will be seen in the carefully managed checklists of tasks that you have around you (or, just possibly, the number of Post-it notes and other reminders scattered throughout your life).

In a small charity a board will often find themselves weighing up the need for more resources and trying to decide whether to recruit. Investment in staff is vital, but how can a small social enterprise or charity be sure that payroll increases are sustainable?

An option is temporary staff, or short term contracts? But that brings its own risks – the best quality people want permanent work and, let’s face it, who would leave a steady job for one fixed at a year? Even if someone does take that opportunity, how can you be sure of their commitment, especially in the latter months of a fixed term contract when that employee’s effort switches to looking for their next job?

So it’s not surprising that many charities turn to consultancies such as CITOC for the resource or expertise needed from time to time. This might be anything from a one-day project (for example, objectively facilitating a strategic planning meeting, or hosting a user consultation session) right through to several months in an interim post or managing a specific project. Using a consultancy allows an organisation to buy in exactly the right expertise, without long term commitment, to prove a venture or progress it through a certain phase. The risks, costs, management time, delays, legalities and potential frustrations of recruiting are replaced by a simple selection process based on the skills required, mutually agreed supplier agreement, known and fixed price or rate, and speedy expedition. On top of all that, if things don’t work, exit is simple, immediate, and in most cases free of cost.

So what tasks could you ask a consultancy like CITOC to tackle? Any one of 101 things is the answer … and in fact probably a lot more. I’m not saying that CITOC would be the best bet for every item on this list, but many of these do fall within our skill set and remit, so we should certainly be on your “maybe” list!

101 things you could ask a consultancy to do for your charity or social enterprise

Governance

1. Review your constitution and objectives
2. Recruit, introduce and induct new board members
3. Facilitate a board away-day and planning session
4. Co-ordinate, facilitate and document a review of strategic plans
5. Mediate over a complaint, dispute or disagreement
6. Contribute to robust and sustainable operational planning and budgeting
7. Advise on regulatory issues
8. Develop governance policies and procedures
9. Facilitate discussion and agreement on ethical issues
10. Research and prepare a status report on any issue or project
11. Undertake staff satisfaction / motivation surveys and report
12. Research and report on the impact of activities or project work
13. Prepare reports for funders or prospective funders
14. Facilitate and author an annual report
15. Research and facilitate work on a merger or collaborative project
16. Advise on due diligence issues
17. Undertake due diligence checks
18. Carry out benchmarking and develop KPIs
19. Hold a non-Exec Directorship
20. Record and document meeting proceedings
21. Conduct a GDPR review
22. Advise on crisis management/avoidance
23. Advise on charity and trustee insurance issues

Infrastructure

24. Advise on IT infrastructure
25. Develop an IT strategy
26. Implement a transformative IT project
27. Revise a website structure, or manage a full website re-write
28. Develop policies and processes
29. Write manuals and procedures
30. Manage an office relocation or refurbishment
31. Negotiate with suppliers
32. Plan and facilitate a recruitment process
33. Identify, implement and train your staff to use efficiency tools
34. Advise regarding databases and donor management systems

Communications

35. Review and revise website content
36. Develop and author outward facing materials
37. Design and implement an internal communications programme
38. Design and implement a social media strategy
39. Facilitate a brand review
40. Facilitate rebranding decisions and planning
41. Implement a rebranding project
42. Construct, implement and report on a survey of users or other stakeholders
43. Produce press releases and other PR materials
44. Develop a co-ordinated organisation-wide communications strategy
45. Advise and assist with gaining high level political influence
46. Develop a stakeholder map and integrate with strategic plans

Stakeholders

47. Assess grant applications
48. Visit and assess grant funded projects, and report
49. Facilitate engagement/consultation with grantholders, users, and other stakeholders
50. Research and report on diversity and inclusion issues
51. Develop and implement programmes to improve inclusion
52. Research user needs
53. Manage relationships with key donors
54. Develop donor management protocols
55. Develop volunteer policies and protocols
56. Develop and implement a volunteer management process
57. Advise on safeguarding issues

Staffing

58. Review and revise roles and job descriptions
59. Assist with various stages of a recruitment process
60. Join a selection panel
61. Develop HR policies and procedures
62. Mediate over disputes or difficulties
63. Conduct a rewards and remuneration review
64. Plan and facilitate a staff away-day
65. Develop a teambuilding programme
66. Mentor a new or developing staff member
67. Undertake a training needs analysis
68. Deliver or source training on specific skills
69. Advise on redundancy or redeployment options
70. Source other expertise or specialism

Project Management

71. Facilitate the development of a project plan and budget
72. Conduct a feasibility study and report
73. Interim manage a project whilst staff are appointed
74. Cover for maternity or sickness absence
75. Author a report to a project funder
76. Develop an exit strategy for a failed or ending project, and implement
77. Supplement project workers at peak times
78. Facilitate follow on funding bids
79. Review and troubleshoot a failing project

Finance and Fundraising

80. Develop reporting tools for executive teams and boards
81. Advise on appropriate accounting tools and implementation
82. Troubleshoot finance queries and problems
83. Assist with project costings and develop full cost recovery models
84. Advise on regulatory issues and financial best practice
85. Reconcile financial discrepancies and investigate anomalies
86. Contribute to fundraising ideas and events
87. Develop a capital campaign
88. Research funding opportunities
89. Develop funding concepts and bids
90. Research and advise on purchasing decisions
91. Develop cash flow tools
92. Advise on reserves policies

Event planning

93. Plan an event venue and programme
94. Source and steward speakers and VIPs
95. Facilitate, compere or host
96. Assist with marketing and generating an audience
97. Live report an event online and on social media
98. Assist with event logistics planning
99. Collect and report on event feedback
100. Research and report on event impact

And finally

101. Make tea and bring cakes for the team (CITOC doesn’t charge for this!)

NB This post was originally published in August 2019 and was revised and republished on 01 October 2020