Pro bono services and free resources for charities
Proud to be have been supporting charities to thrive for more than 35 years.
Announcing the appointment of our new Chief Executive
The Board of Trustees has confirmed the appointment of Dan Francis as the new Chief Executive of Cranfield Trust.
Dan will begin the new role at Cranfield Trust at the end of September 2025, joining from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) where he has been Principal Consultant, with responsibility for the organisation’s training and consultancy practice.
Speaking of his appointment, Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chair of Cranfield Trust's Board of Trustees, said,
“We are thrilled that Dan will become our next Chief Executive later this year. His leadership qualities and expertise in supporting frontline charities will be invaluable in leading the brilliant Cranfield Trust team to protect and grow the impact they make every single day.”
Five years of insight and impact
Today, we’re proud to launch our new insight and impact report: ’Five years of insight and impact: Cranfield Trust’s Journey to Excellence’.
Based on five years of assessment data from over 600 charities, the report shares a unique perspective on the highs and lows of charity management in the UK, revealing key trends in leadership confidence, strategic capacity, and areas of ongoing vulnerability.
Our Journey to Excellence© (J2E) framework enables charities to assess their own strengths and development needs, while helping us measure the impact of our support.
The full report offers a clear view of where support and investment are most needed, particularly in leadership development, succession planning, and financial sustainability.
Our next webinar is available to book now!
Feelings of burn-out in the voluntary sector can lead to people in key positions leaving their roles, often without time for a handover with the incoming person.
Join us for our Succession Planning webinar
Wednesday 17 September, 12-1pm
In this session Michelle Clarke and Emma Bingham will outline why they started thinking about succession planning and what they learnt, before sharing some straightforward steps you can take in your own organisation.
Find out more and book your place
'Hot' resources, guides, and on-demand webinars
One of our most popular webinars this year 'Getting started with AI language tools for charities' was most definitely our hottest resource in June.
So, we are delighted to say it is now available to watch on demand.
Whether you're curious about what these tools can do, want to explore practical examples, or are simply unsure where to start, this session is a great first step.
Our impact
Celebrating our 35th anniversary in 2023-24, the Trust provided more support than ever before. We started 527 new consultancy projects and mentoring assignments in the year, and had an extraordinary 919 projects active in the year in total. In challenging times, frontline welfare charities have needed support, and our volunteers and team have responded to their needs.
It is our pleasure to present our Impact Report for Cranfield Trust’s 35th anniversary year, and to share the stories of some of the great activities we have worked on, and great charities we have worked with, during the year.
Our year in numbers
Cranfield Trust is the UK’s leading provider of pro bono management support, mentoring and development to small charities. Find out more>
National impact, local presence
It has been a record-breaking year for the Trust, with delivery of services far exceeding expected activity levels. Learn more>
Supporting across sectors
We provide our range of pro bono services to welfare charities and other non-profit organisations across the sector. Learn more>
Case study spotlight
Financial management & sustainability: Hackney Playbus
Discover how Hackney Playbus, a small East London charity, transformed its financial management with Cranfield Trust's support.
Facing challenges with disconnected financial systems and reporting inefficiencies, Hackney Playbus sought assistance to streamline their processes. We paired them with a volunteer consultant who helped to:
- Organise and simplify their accounting systems
- Automate reporting and unify budgeting processes
- Introduce cash flow forecasting and planning
As a result, the charity now operates with more efficient financial systems, including an annual budget aligned with the financial year and real-time access to financial data for trustees. Their reserves have grown to three months’ worth of income, providing greater financial stability.
Find out more about how we helped.
Do you need help with your charity's strategy, business plan, financial management, governance, or impact reporting?
Check if your charity is eligible for our free and pro bono management support and discover how we can help.
Call us on 01794 830338 or send us an email.
