Change support for charities that can't afford to get it wrong.
When change is funded by donors, delivered by stretched teams and overseen by volunteer trustees, there is very little room for a false start. We help charity leaders recover stalled programmes, build their own capability to lead change, support executives and teams through it, and give boards the confidence to govern it well.
See the invisible, create the impossible.
Your change carries more than a business case.
In a charity, a change programme is also a promise: to beneficiaries, to funders, and to the staff and volunteers who chose you because of your mission. That changes what good change support looks like.
Every pound is accountable
Restricted funds, grant conditions and public trust mean a failed programme costs more than money.
Capacity is already stretched
Change lands on teams who are still delivering services, often with no spare people to absorb it.
Motivation is mission-led
People stay for the cause. Change that seems to threaten the mission meets resistance a plan alone can't fix.
Governance is shared
Trustees carry ultimate responsibility, often with limited time and an incomplete view of what's really happening.
Four ways we support charities through change
Each fits a different need. Many charities start with one and draw on the others as the work develops.
Programme Recovery
For a new CRM that nobody uses, a restructure that has lost the room, or a strategy that hasn't moved off the page. We find out what's really in the way and help you get moving again.
What we do
- An independent diagnosis of why the programme has stalled
- Conversations with staff, volunteers and leaders to surface what the reports don't
- Rebuilding alignment between the senior team and the board
- A practical, costed recovery route your team can own
You leave with
A clear picture of the real blockers, a recovery plan, and the confidence to report honestly to trustees and funders.
Talk to us about recoveryChange Capability Development
Change in the sector isn't a one-off project; it keeps coming. We build your own people's judgement to lead it well, so the next change doesn't depend on outside help.
What we do
- Accredited APMG Change Management Practitioner training
- Leadership development for heads of service and managers leading change
- Practical tools sized for charity teams, not corporate programme offices
- Building a small internal network of change champions
You leave with
Leaders and managers who can plan, sequence and land change themselves, with a shared language across the organisation.
Talk to us about capabilityCoaching for Teams and Executives
Leading change in a charity can be lonely, especially for chief executives and senior teams caught between trustees, staff and funders. Coaching gives leaders space to think clearly and lead well under pressure.
What we do
- One-to-one coaching for chief executives, directors and new leaders
- Team coaching for senior leadership teams working through change together
- Support for leaders stepping into a new role mid-change
- Delivered by an ILM Level 7 qualified coach
You leave with
Steadier, clearer leaders and a senior team that works as one, rather than a collection of individuals managing their own corners.
Our coaching is separate from our advisory work. Coaching helps you find your own answers; advice gives you our independent view. We'll always be clear which one you're getting.
Talk to us about coachingCharity Governance Support
Trustees are responsible for decisions on major change, but rarely have the time or the inside view to scrutinise them properly. We help boards ask the right questions and govern change with confidence.
What we do
- Independent assurance for boards before approving a major programme
- Briefings and workshops to help trustees oversee change effectively
- Strengthening the working relationship between the board and the executive
- Clarifying decision rights, reporting and escalation during change
You leave with
A board that understands the change it is accountable for, and reporting that tells trustees what they actually need to know.
We're change advisers, not lawyers or auditors, and we work alongside your legal and finance advisers rather than replacing them.
Talk to us about governanceChange rarely fails because of the plan. It fails because of what the plan didn't see.
Inside out, people first
We start with how your staff and volunteers actually think, feel and work, because that's where change holds or breaks.
Independent and straight-talking
We're not a delivery agency or a software reseller. You get an honest view of what's working and what isn't.
Capability, not dependency
Charities shouldn't need consultants every time change comes round. We aim to leave you stronger and needing us less.
Start with the Change Maturity Index
A structured, independent assessment of your charity's readiness for change across seven dimensions. You receive a scored readiness report, an executive summary and a briefing deck ready to take to your board. Fixed fee from £3,500 + VAT, with scope confirmed on a free discovery call.
Find out more about the CMI →Charities we've supported
- Global international aid charityFacilitated a global gathering on service delivery, team dynamics and readiness for change.
- A major animal charityAssessed its readiness for change and the digital solutions supporting its services.
- Faith-based retreat centreImplemented Salesforce Nonprofit to replace a legacy database, covering bookings, invoicing and contacts.
- International choir charitySupported its understanding of philanthropy and preparation for philanthropic and commercial opportunities.
Questions charities often ask
Do you only work with large charities?
No. We work with charities of different sizes, from local organisations to national and international ones. What they share is a change that matters too much to get wrong. We scale our support to your size and budget.
Our change programme has stalled. Where do we start?
Book a 30-minute conversation. We'll talk through what's happening and whether a short recovery diagnosis or the Change Maturity Index is the better first step.
Is your coaching the same as your advisory work?
No. Coaching helps leaders find their own answers; advisory work gives you our independent view and recommendations. Some charities use one, some use both, and we're always clear which you're getting.
Can you work directly with our trustees?
Yes. We work with chairs and boards as well as chief executives and senior teams, including briefing trustees on major change and providing independent assurance before key decisions.
Do you provide accredited change management training?
Yes. Matt Goddard is an accredited APMG Change Management Practitioner trainer and holds AgilePM v3 Practitioner certification. Training can be delivered in-house as part of a Change Capability engagement.
How much does it cost?
The Change Maturity Index is a fixed fee from £3,500 + VAT. Other work is scoped and priced with you after an initial conversation, so you know the cost before you commit.
Facing a change your charity can't afford to get wrong?
Book a 30-minute conversation. No pitch: just a straight discussion about where you are and what would help.
hello@thirtysixtwentysix.co.uk