Services

Introduction

My consultancy operates in four primary areas:

• Charitable and not-for-profit consultancy
• Mentoring leaders in the charitable sector
• Public speaking, pitching and presentations
• Working with Patrons, personalities, celebrities and VIPs

Please do feel free to ask me about work outside of these areas and if I feel I have the skills and experience to help you, I will.  If I don't then I can signpost you to someone who would be better placed to help.

Charitable and Not-for-Profit Consultancy

Charities can experience a number of teething problems or difficulties in their journeys and growth.  This can often feel quite traumatic for those governing or leading these organisations.  However you will almost certainly not be the only charity to have experienced such problems.  Invariably they are all part of the organisations growth and with the right approach they can be seen as opportunities to address often long-standing tensions, and develop new and exciting approaches to the organisation's future.  Although not an exhaustive list, some challenges might include:

• 'Founder syndrome' - where the organisation relies too heavily on the amazing and dynamic individual who created it.  In some cases there may also be difficulties when new leaders are appointed, and, or, where the founder's role needs to re-evaluated or re-framed.
• Tensions at Board level.  These might include Boards dominated by individuals; *Boards who are split, or Boards who do not understand their role and how that differs from the operations of the Charity.
• Conflict between Boards and their Chief Executive, and, or Senior Management Team
• Charities who are struggling to move forward
• Charities who are struggling to generate income
• Charities who struggle with creating an infrastructure that will secure their future.

 Mentoring

Some charity leaders, be they The Chair or The Chief Executive can benefit from mentoring from people who understand and have experienced the same pressures and dilemmas.  Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed and not know which way to turn, or what the right course of action is.  Often it helps to talk to someone who is independent and can listen and help you find the right solution for you, and for the organisation you work for. 

Public Speaking, Pitching and Presentations

Standing up in public and presenting, as well as pitching for funds are part of charity life.  However not everyone feels they are natural born presenters.  Nevertheless there are ways to structure presentations and pitches to ensure you cover all the pertinent information in an entertaining and engaging way that will result in your message being delivered effectively and you achieving the result you wanted.  In some cases the prospect of speaking in public can cause people great anxiety.  I can help people:

• create engaging presentations, pitches and speeches
• ensure the most appropriate information and messages are included
• create sequence and flow that makes sense to the audience
• approach public engagement calmly and confidently
• secure funds and gifts in kind from pitches to potential sources of support

Patrons, Personalities, Celebrities, and VIPs

Having high profile patrons and celebrity support for your charity can help raise awareness of your cause and the profile of your charity.  Knowing how to approach major donors can drive funds to your organisation and open doors that might otherwise have remained closed.  Securing such support can be daunting and is often hampered by people who are paid to 'gatekeep' and limit access.  Accessing such support is of course only half the battle.  Keeping such support and knowing exactly how to look after high-profile and well connected people is in many ways even more important.  I can help you:

• decide who to approach and why
• identify the best method of approach
• guide you during any approach
• understand how best to nurture any relationship to ensure it will be a long and happy one

Costs

I don't charge for any initial discussions and assessments.  I might not be the best person to help you.  If I'm not I will signpost you to someone or an organisation that has more appropriate skills and experience.  If I can help you, we will discuss your charities income and expendable resources and agree between us the amount of work required at a cost you can afford.  If a charity's primary issue is income then I have no desire to make that worse by charging fees that will further hurt the charity's capacity to survive.  On the other hand, like most people I operate to make a living, and therefore in most cases I have to charge something for my time and skills.  The take-home message is if you think your organisation might benefit from my help, get in touch and we will sort the rest out as we go.