Improving Impact in Small Charities
Small charities, big impact.
Improving Impact is split into two different categories based on the size of the organisation: (a) a category for charities with 0-3 paid staff and (b) a category for charities with 4-30 paid staff.
Small charities are at the heart of communities, tackling inequalities daily and punching above their weight when it comes to impact.
This award is for organisations that can demonstrate how the Board has contributed towards the increase of the charity’s impact in relation to its cause, mission and values. We are looking for examples of increasing social impact, not fundraising or increasing income.
What the judges are looking for
The judges will be looking at the longer-term increase in impact that the board helped achieve for its beneficiaries and mission. Alongside this, we are interested in how impact is described and measured, and how this has changed, as a result of the role that the Board played. The entry should look to create a compelling narrative throughout, which explains the organisation’s context, why you made the decisions you made and the role the Board played in supporting this.
The entry must focus on the work of the main Board, and clearly explain how the Board or its members contributed to or affected the successful outcome. If any sub-committees or other governance groups outside the main Board made a contribution, you are welcome to tell us about that as well.
Tips from past judges
Keep it simple: Measuring impact doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. For example, Home-Start Slough ask volunteers to gather evidence and feedback on each of their visits as part of their duties. This helps highlight the difference they make to beneficiaries.
Bring stories to life: Qualitative data is useful for bringing alive the real-life stories behind the stats. For instance, The Arch-Way Project captured a quote that revealed the value of their events to an 84-year-old woman: “The highlight of my week was getting my hair done because I looked forward to chatting to the hairdresser. Now I have a reason to get my hair done.”
Listen to service-users: Successful organisations make sure that service users shape the direction of the organisation. The board behind Thornham Village Hall makes sure what they offer directly responds to the community’s needs – taking in everything from a kids’ club to ballroom dancing.
Inspiration for your entry
Click here for advice from past judges.
Hear from the past award winners: APARU, Edinburgh School Uniform Bank, OCAY, Green’s Windmill Trust, Home-Start Slough and St Peter’s Community Wellbeing Projects
Hear from the other past winners and shortlisted charities talking about governance in their organisation and what it meant for them to win.
