Charities

A range of resources and links from the ICAEW Library & Information Service on the charities sector.

Contents:

The ICAEW has a Charity and Voluntary Sector Group, which aims to provide practical support and to promote Chartered Accountants within the sector.

Articles and books

The Library & Information (LIS) collection covers a wide range of subjects and includes useful print and online resources on the charity and voluntary sector.

View a list of recent books in our collection on charities.

View a list of recent articles in our collection on charities.

You can find more resources by searching LibCat, our online catalogue. For details of how to obtain articles, reports and extracts by post, fax or email please see our Document Supply Service.

Charities Act 2006

See our Charities Act 2006 resources page for information on the Act, including articles and guides.

Accounting for charities

We maintain a separate guide to resources and information on accounting for charities.

Organisations

Association of Charitable Foundations
Support organisation for grant-making trusts and foundations. The site includes a publications catalogue, guidelines for funders, an A-Z of trusts and helpsheets on how to apply for grants.

Association of Charity Independent Examiners
Body representing independent examiners with information about the role of the organisation, membership and independent examination.

Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Sectors (ACEVO)
The ‘only professional organisation in the third sector that is dedicated to chief executives’. The website provides details of ACEVO publications and events.

Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
News, information and links to CAF websites supporting charities and charitable giving. Includes links to country-specific charity support services provided by the CAF. The CAF now includes CharityNet which provides free e-newsletters, and a searchable database of charities.

Charity Finance Directors' Group
Specialist organisation, which assists charities to manage their finance functions. The website contains details of membership and abstracts of information sheets for the charities sector. Full text documents are available by email for members on request.

Charity Law Association
A membership organisation which exists to support those concerned with charity law by acting as a forum for exchange of ideas and experience. The site contains model documents, working party documentation and a member's forum.

Government Funding
Online portal to grants for the voluntary and community sector from a number of UK government departments. The site provides a grant search and news updates, along with a range of help and advice on grant applications and sources of funding.

Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)
The national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England

Institute of Fundraising
The ‘professional body for fundraisers, working to promote the highest standards in fundraising practice and management’. The website provides advice on fundraising and information on the self-regulation of the fundraising profession.

National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA)
NAVCA acts as a voice for the third sector nationally, and aims to promote the sector. The site contains a publications section with links to annual reports and monthly bulletins and information on funding resources, governance and salary scales and allowances.

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
The umbrella body for voluntary organisations in England, providing an online gateway to voluntary sector information and a selection of briefings papers on topics from legal issues to trustees.

National Housing Federation
The representative body for not-for-profit housing associations in England. The site offers publications such as housing bill bulletins, factsheets and consultation documents.

Office of the Third Sector
The cabinet office that coordinates support work across government for charities and voluntary groups. The site includes a newsletter, statistical information, consultation documents and news and speeches. Highlights include the Charity law section, a dedicated section of the site focusing on reforming the law affecting charities in England and Wales. The site includes the latest information on the Charities Bill and its stages.

ProHelp
Network of professional firms supporting the voluntary sector, including many accountants. The website includes information about the organisation, a guide to how professionals can help, and a regional listing of ProHelp groups.

Public Fundraising Regulatory Association
Body that regulates ‘charities and fundraising organisations engaged in public fundraising by personal solicitation on the street and door-to-door’.

Sustainable Funding Project
An initiative from the NCVO aiming to help voluntary and community organisations explore funding options. The project provides a range of introductory materials on strategic planning, grant diversification and income generation, plus a free newsletter and regular events.

Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)
Body which represents and campaigns for voluntary organisations, volunteers and communities in Wales.

Information and guidance

Caritas Data
Specialist UK financial information provider analysing the financial performance of charities.

Charities (HMRC)
Dedicated section of the HMRC website focusing on the charity and voluntary sector. The site includes manuals, leaflets and guidance relating to the sector.

Charity Choice UK
An online encyclopaedia of UK charities on the internet, with over 10,000 charities and organisations listed.

Directory of Social Change
Publisher of the Company Giving Database of company support available to voluntary and community organisations.

ICSA Knowledge Bank
A full range of ICSA guidance notes for the not-for-profit sector that can be downloaded in full text, including guidance notes on:

• model job descriptions for chair of the board, charity trustees, trustee secretary, trustree treasurer
• trustee code of conduct
• model letter to be sent to a trustee of an incorporated or unincorporated charity on appointment
• model checklist for charity secretaries in companies limited by guarantee
• model conflict of interest policy
• model declaration of interest form
• model register of interests
• specimen induction pack for trustees

Guidestar
A free public US database of non-profit organisations, with details of 1m American charitable non-profit organizations.

Trusteenet
An information provider for charities, aiming to develop understanding of trusteeship and governance in the charity sector. Site highlights include a resource section with information on accounts, finances and investments and VolResource, an information portal for voluntary and community organisations that gives news and guidance across all elements of voluntary organisations from administration to human resources.

Publications

Charity Finance
Monthly magazine for charity sector professionals.

Governance
Magazine addressing governance issues aimed at charity trustees, chief executives and company secretaries.

Inputs Matter: Improving the Quality of Reporting in the Charity Sector (PDF 362KB/68 pages)
Report published by the Charity Finance Directors' Group in November 2003 which makes a number of proposals to ‘improve the quality and consistency of charity annual reports’, ranging from the valuation of volunteer time to redefining management and administration costs as governance costs. The consultation focuses on the inputs into charity accounts and it is anticipated that the report will contribute to the next annual SORP review.

ThirdSector
Weekly magazine covering the voluntary and not-for-profit sector.

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