The Small Charity Finance List 

The Small Charity Finance List

This is a work in progress.

A living, breathing list of all the finance resources for small charities that we signpost to regularly, with some additional recommendations by small charities and people who work with small charities. Usual caveats apply; always seek proper professional advice where needed. Please take this list, make it better and pass it on.

The Essentials

Where to start - going back to first principles

• Charity Commission The Essential Trustee The gateway to it all
• Charity Commission 5-minute guide to finance Not sure where to start on the finances? Start here!
• Our very, very brief guide Small Charity Finance - Where to start
• Our blog on why all social leaders need to embrace finance

Where to start with key finance reports

Free templates:

• A budget to tell you if you can survive
• A cashbook to keep good financial records
• A cashflow forecast to tell you if/when you are going to run of cash
• Charity Excellence Framework, WYCAS, CA Plus
• Our blog on cashflow forecasting
• Our blog on management reports

A set of annual accounts to file with the Commission:

• Charity Commission guidance CC15d on reporting and accounting
• Not sure what type of accounts to prepare? Check here
• Charity Commission Receipts and Payments Annual Accounts Template
• Charity Commission Accruals Accounts Template 
• Charity Commission example accounts
• Charity SORP - essential if you are going the DIY route – probably easier to get a professional!

Get on top of the financial controls:

• Charity Commission financial controls checklist Super helpful. Tick off and triage with a cup of tea.
• NCVO Financial procedures manual - guidance is in front of the paywall, template is behind

Where to start with asking smarter questions

We are often told by social leaders that it can difficult to know where to start and know what finance questions to ask even. As a social leader, asking good finance questions is a super power. Below are some of our go to finance question banks:

• Charity Commission 15 finance questions 
• Lloyds Bank Foundation’s Guide to Organisational Resilience
• Out blog on why questions are our superpower

Find your inner finance director

Where to find free and affordable charity finance training

• NCVO - Charity Finance Skills and Finance Skills for Trustees (paid)
• Getting on Board - To infinity and beyond and Trustee Learning Programme (free)
• Directory of Social Change - Finance for non-finance managers, financial governance for Trustees (pd)
• ICAEW - Online finance training for trustees (free)
• Sayer Vincent - Great range of short 1 hr sessions (free)
• Money4You - various programmes for social leaders
• Embrace Finance - commission a bespoke training session or book in  121 professional mentoring (pd)

Guidance on managing financial difficulties

• NCVO guidance pages  - good starting point and overview
• Charity Commission guidance on managing financial difficulties arising from the cost of living crisis - know what to do
• Arts Council England Managing Financial Difficulties - superb guide and toolkit with practical suggestions
• Stewarding Loss - interesting resources relating to charity closure
• ACCA technical factsheet: Going concern and the alternative basis of accounts preparation for charities reporting under UK-Ireland Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP) - if you do accruals accounting , this is a very helpful guidance on what to consider when you have concerns about the financial future. Best to read early when the sun is (relatively) shining.
• Charity Finance Group and Association of Chairs have insolvency helplines for members
  
  

Bring in some free expertise

Where to start with finding great volunteer support

• Reach Volunteering – to find finance volunteers
• Charterpath – to find chartered accountant volunteers
• ICAEW volunteers – for accountant volunteers

Where to start with finding great pro bono support

• Cranfield Trust – for pro bono consultancy support
• Pilotlight – range of opportunities

Where to start as a Treasurer



• The Charity Treasurer’s Handbook - my Treasurer's bible, updated version coming soon
• Honorary Treasurer’s Forum – (brilliant) membership organisation for Treasurers with good website with example JD

Small Print

• Working in the commons At Embrace Finance we believe the world’s problems are too tricky to resolve without sharing and learning together. Our resources are provided on a Creative Commons License basis. Please read these terms when using https://www.embracefinance.org.uk/open-working-commitment
• Disclaimer Any guidance provided herewith is illustrative only and is not intended to replace professional advice. Please consult an appropriately qualified professional adviser as appropriate.
• Third Party Disclaimer When working with Third Parties the usual caveats apply. Always due your due diligence.