Knowledge Hub

In the first of a series of articles, CFG’s Director of Finance and Operations, Sarah Ann Moore, talks about a recent review of CFG’s payment terms, and how this fits into a wider picture of digital transformation and continuous improvement.

New research from University of Bath on board composition and effective decision-making should give us all pause for thought, says CFG associate Nigel Kippax. In part one of his series on effective boards, Nigel takes a look at the report's findings on bias and the implications for trustee recruitment.

In the final instalment of this three-part series focusing on financial culture, Simon Perks investigates the role that rituals and routines, symbols and stories play in helping organisations to create a culture of financial awareness and accountability.

The first article in this three-part series introduced the cultural web as a way of understanding an organisation’s financial culture. In this second instalment, Simon Perks takes a deep dive into organisational structure, power structures and control systems, and explores how we can use them to bring about positive cultural change.

An organisation’s culture lies at the heart of everything it does, including the way it thinks about and manages its financial resources. In this three-part series, Simon Perks explores how charities can better understand their financial culture, and how this understanding can drive financial awareness and accountability.

At this year's CFG Annual Conference, Sarah Fletcher, Chief Operating Officer at Alder Hey Children's Charity, led a session titled ‘Why putting people at the heart of strategy supports organisational growth and sustainability’. Her simple message was that the charities that invest in their people don't just do right by their staff, they grow faster, raise more, and become more resilient in the process.

CFG’s 2026 Annual Conference opened and closed with two inspirational speakers – Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE, CEO of Ploughshare and Chair of Refuge, and Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, former CEO of Turning Point and current Chair of the NHS Confederation. Together they explained how finance professionals are key to change and progress.

Carol Rudge from HW Fisher talks about what CFG's 2026 Annual Conference theme – 'Empowering Change, Inspiring Progress' – means to her and her team, and shares why she's excited that HW Fisher are once again supporting the event.

Leading a charity today means juggling competing priorities: financial sustainability, organisational culture, and delivering meaningful impact. Some days this balancing act can feel relentless. How do leaders keep the mission alive while ensuring the numbers add up? This article explores practical ways to navigate these tensions and build strong foundations for the future.

With rising demand, resource pressures and a rapidly changing funding environment, many charities are exploring whether collaboration or merger could strengthen their resilience and impact. This article from Hugo Walford and Jean Tsang at Bates Wells, sets out key considerations for charities contemplating collaboration or merger, along with top tips and common pitfalls to avoid.

The charity sector is at a crossroads, particularly around finances and operations. The pace and scale of change your organisation needs will vary but standing still is not an option. Knowing how far to push, and how fast to move, is one of the hardest calls you’ll face. PwC’s Amy McEwan & Emily Beatty provide a practical framework to getting it right.

Moving from dialogue to true collaboration isn't always a straight path, but it's one worth travelling. CFG's Emma Abbott shares the lessons learned through recent collaboration with some of the UK's biggest banks, and invites you to be part of the conversation too.