Viewpoint

Take a look at the latest opinion pieces from the Cause4 team.

Feature story

State of the Sector 2020: what should we be aiming for?

19th May, 2020 | By Naomi Chapman

Cause4 reflects on NPC's State of the Sector report 2020 and considers what the charity sector should be aiming for in the next report. 

Topics: 
Support and advice

Charity Commission Chair weighs in on the ethics of charitable donations

17th November, 2023 | By Rebecca Ward

Many will have seen the article published by the Guardian on the 9th November, in which the current Chair of the Charity Commission weighs in on the debate regarding the ethics of accepting or refusing charitable donations. The article recalls how he recently challenged trustees who may be refusing charitable donations on the basis that their own “personal worldviews or preferences” are incompatible with those of the donor – be the donor a corporation, wealthy philanthropist, or trust. The comments are a warning to trustees that, if they are rejecting donations, they must have a very good reason for doing so.

Pick of the Month - February 2021

2nd February, 2021 | By Edward Drew

As we refocus and rebuild from 2020, we spoke to four people who are shaping the sector. From a Charity Leader who is connecting asylum seekers and English language volunteers, to a Trustee leading a student union through Covid-19.  

Topics: 
Current interest

Lessons from Social Entrepreneurship in 2020

26th January, 2021 | By Erin Hughes

In 2020 Cause4 had the great pleasure of being inspired by our Social Entrepreneurs of the Month. Here, we look back at some of the Social Entrpreneurs we met in 2020.

Topics: 
Current interest

What trusteeship in 2020 can teach us for 2021

15th January, 2021 | By Naomi Chapman

During 2020, we were delighted to feature a Trustee each month as part of our ‘Pick of the Month’, a publication highlighting the extraordinary people working across the charity sector. In the last year, the Trustees featured have supported charities across impact areas, from social care and cancer research, to publishing and youth leadership.

So what can we learn from these case studies of trusteeship, and how can they can inform governance practice going forwards?

Topics: 
Support and advice

Pick of the Month - January 2021

6th January, 2021 | By Edward Drew

This month we spoke to four people about how they plan to rebuild back from the experiences of 2020, including a Trustee helping implement an Equality Action Plan for their organisation and a Charity Leader developing an app for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and their parents to use in hospital. 
Topics: 
Current interest

Three ways to onboard a Trustee inclusively

15th December, 2020 | By Edward Drew

It’s no secret that despite effort from many charities, Trustee Boards remain chronically unrepresentative of society. At Cause4, we believe that making the Trustee onboarding experience inclusive makes a crucial difference.  

Topics: 
Support and advice

Michelle Wright comments for Working Wise

11th December, 2020 | By Naomi Chapman

Michelle comments for Working Wise on how to engage older volunteers. Engaging in voluntary work can be of enormous benefit to over-50s looking to change jobs or careers, especially when faced with so much competition in the jobs market right now.

Topics: 
Programme design and innovation

Five things we’ve learnt from lockdown

3rd December, 2020 | By Michelle Wright

National and international research has examined the pandemic’s impact on fundraising, marketing and audience development strategies, but what do the findings mean for the arts, culture and heritage in 2021? Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy looks to the challenges that now lie ahead. 

Topics: 
Support and advice

Pick of the Month - December 2020

1st December, 2020 | By Naomi Chapman

After a year like no other, December is here and with it 2020’s last Pick of the Month. This month, we feature the Chair of a publishing charity, a social enterprise using coffee to transform lives, and the new Chief Executive of Child.org.

Topics: 
Current interest

The Elephant in the Room: Should Trustees Give?

1st December, 2020 | By Naomi Chapman

Today is Giving Tuesday, an annual day of philanthropy designed to counter the individual consumption of Black Friday with generosity to charities a few days later. This year, we wanted to use this day to consider the debate around whether Trustees should give to the charities that they govern.

Topics: 
Training

Michelle Wright writes for East Life

16th November, 2020 | By Michelle Wright

Many of East Anglia’s charities have been hit hard. However, despite the challenges, there have been local charities using their ingenuity and resourcefulness to find ways to raise money and to reach out to their communities. What's to become of our charities?

Topics: 
Support and advice

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