Small Charity Essentials E-Learning™
Leading a small charity
is amazing, but it can
be tough.
"Bloomin' heck, I wish I’d had Small Charity Essentials 8 years ago, the time I would have saved."
- Sam Holdsworth, Clowns Without Borders
Learn how to lead your small charity with confidence, structure, and less stress - on your own schedule.
With 20 years of hands-on experience in small charities, I’ve faced the same fires you’re putting out: the funding gaps, the governance headaches, the never-ending to-do list. That’s exactly why I created this course - to give you the tools I wish I’d had.
Inside this course, you’ll find practical guidance, ready-to-use resources, and a designed structure that helps you work smarter - not harder.
Go at your own pace, dip in when you need it, and feel more in control of your leadership.
Trusted by:
What You'll Get
6 focused, practical modules you can complete any time
Downloadable templates and cheat sheets to save you hours
Real-world strategies that actually work in small, stretched teams
The confidence to make smart decisions and stop second-guessing
Is this for you?
If you’re thinking...
A private WhatsApp community that actually adds value
Join over 100+ small charity leaders in a private WhatsApp community that’s full of support, real talk, and practical advice.
This isn’t just another noisy group you'll want to mute immediately - it’s a curated space where we share wins, challenges, templates, and the odd well-timed meme.
Because leadership’s less lonely when you're in good company.
Lifetime access and regularly updated content and resources
You get lifetime access to Small Charity Essentials E-Learning™ so you don't have to worry about completing it in a certain timeframe.
I also review the content regularly making sure it's all up to date with the current sector.
When new resources, legislation etc is released they're added in so your learning keeps developing as the sector does.
Designed with Access in Mind
Accessibility is part of how I do things - not an afterthought.
That’s why this course is available with British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation, making sure Deaf charity leaders can fully take part and benefit too.
If you need support in another format, just reach out - this course is here to work for you.
Small Charity Essentials is also available with BSL interpretation.
Module 1
Get Your House in Order
Build strong foundations from the start.
Recruit and support trustees and volunteers
Put the right systems in place
Set up good governance without the guesswork
Module 2
Nail Your Strategy
Get clear on where you’re going and how you’ll get there.
Find your North Star
Use needs assessments & co-production
Map it all out with a simple Theory of Change
Module 3
Design & Measure What Works
Confidently shape programmes that deliver real impact.
Plan strong, structured programmes
Use logical frameworks
Monitor and evaluate without drowning in data
Module 4
Budget Smart for Fundraising Success
Get your numbers working for you, not against you.
Build full-cost recovery budgets
Use stretch budgeting to guide your fundraising
Track your finances with confidence
Module 5
Fundraise & Communicate with Confidence
Raise funds and tell your story with purpose and personality.
Build multi-income fundraising strategies
Nail your messaging and brand
Connect with the right audiences online
Module 6
Lead Well & Stay Resilient
Small charity leadership can be tough - but it can be joyful.
Keep developing your charity (and yourself)
Manage the juggle
Prioritise wellbeing without guilt
Know where to turn for support
Take It at Your Pace
No deadlines. No pressure. Just practical tools, expert advice, and a supportive community - ready when you are.
What It Costs (and Why It’s Worth It)
£295 for everything - no hidden extras.
Pay once and get lifetime access to the full course, downloadable templates, monthly drop-in sessions, and our private WhatsApp community of 100+ small charity leaders.
Prefer to spread the cost? You can pay in four instalments of just £75.
20 Years of Learning - So You Don’t Have to Work it Out the Hard Way
I’ve spent 20 years in the small charity sector, leading through chaos, learning the hard way, and earning a Master’s in Charity Management (top 10% of my class).
I turned a charity in crisis into a multi-award-winning organisation that supported more people in one year than in the previous 20 combined.
Now I’ve distilled everything I’ve learned into this course - so you can skip the overwhelm and lead with confidence from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Small Charity Essentials E-Learning™ is the perfect resource for those who wear multiple hats in their small charity. You might be a founder, a trustee, a manager, or a CEO. This course is tailored for anyone who works in or leads a small organisation and wants to feel confident in taking their organisation to new heights. It's suitable for unregistered groups, registered charities, Community Interest Companies and social enterprises.
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There are six modules, and I estimate that they’ll take you around an hour each to complete. It’s then up to you how much of your new learning you put into place back at your organisation. It doesn’t matter if you’re super speedy, or if you like to go over things again (and again, and again). Spend however long you like on your learning - that’s the beauty of self-paced courses!
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The course is self-paced - which means you’re in control. You might like to do a bit on your lunch break, or perhaps you have a spare hour one morning (yeah, right). Whether you're completing the course in the bath, on the train - it's your call. Small Charity Essentials E-Learning™ is flexible to suit you. So, take your time, and rest assured: you'll have access to these resources for life.
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I don't charge VAT, so £295 is the total cost of the course.
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Small Charity Essentials™ and Small Charity Leaders Club™ are designed to do slightly different (but complementary) jobs.
Small Charity Essentials™ is a self-paced, DIY learning resource. It’s there to give you clear, practical foundations for running a small charity - things like governance, strategy, fundraising, finance, people, and systems. You can dip in and out, go at your own pace, and return to it whenever you need.
It’s particularly helpful if you want straightforward guidance, templates, and clarity without needing to show up live. It doesn’t come with the accountability of learning alongside a group or cohort, but if you know you’ll prioritise it, it can be a really solid option.
Small Charity Leaders Club™, on the other hand, is a cohort-based leadership programme. It runs over 6 months and includes live teaching (covering the same core topics as Small Charity Essentials™), plus guest speaker sessions, and structured peer support.
As well as covering the fundamentals, the Club goes deeper. The guest speakers offer focused deep-dives into specific and timely sector topics, and the programme creates space for sense-making, reflection, and leadership practice - thinking things through, talking them out, and learning alongside other people doing similar roles.
A simple way to think about it is:
Essentials gives you the what and the how
Leaders Club gives you the what and the how, plus thinking space, guest-speaker deep-dives, peer support, and real-time application
Many people do both. Some start with Essentials to build confidence and understanding, then join Leaders Club when they want deeper learning, connection, and support over time.
If you’re deciding between the two, a helpful question to ask yourself is:
Do I mainly need practical guidance I can work through in my own time - or would I benefit from live learning, shared reflection, and being part of a group of peers?
Let’s chat
Want to learn more about how Small Charity Leaders can support you?