Where We Are Now

With 40,000 members (Jan 23), growing at arate of 2000 a month, we are now the largest and fastest growing UK charity community: nearly half rate us 10/10.

In 2021, CEF charities supported 6 million beneficiaries and this year that number will be very significantly higher. All credit for that is due to the charities themselves, not us, but supporting beneficiaries is what the sector exists to do, so that number is a key target for us.  Another is 100,000 members. The CEF was built to deliver systemic change and our best guess is that this is the minimum number to begin doing so.

That's our target for end 2024.  Despite our very rapid growth in members that'll be a huge challenge but with our stretgic deployment of AI through '23 and into 2024 and, if we secure funding to do so, the other strategic deployment to create up to 100 CEF make it potentially achievable. 

Our Strategy 2022-24

There aren’t nearly enough resources and probably never will be, so we will exploit the sector's collective expertise, technology and data to create a charity eco system that will enable the sector to deliver the maximum impact possible, using the limited resources it does have.  Our #SurviveAndThrive campaign has been our most ambitious increase in capabilities ever and is providing an immediate response to the crisis, which we will then build on in 2023 and 2024 to not only provide ever greater and more effective support to all UK charities, but also deliver increasingly valuable data for sector level decision makers.

The way in which we will do that is to bring partners' functionality into the eco system and also 'outsource' ownership of key elements of the CEF functionality to them using our social franchising framework. The charity, supported by a sector strategic leadership group, will manage the social franchising network and develop our strategy.    

Web based and scaleable at low cost and, with the charity remaining very small, longer term costs are estimated to be £170k pa.  This will be funded by a small contribution by very large group users, sponsorship, advertising and other income. That is projected to generate revenue far in excess of our needs. 

Charity Sector “Big Data” Is Already Here

User input is anonymously aggregated into its Sector Data Store, which enables every aspect of performance to be analysed in-depth, in near real-time and historically.

The CEF tracks 529 metrics, of which 174 are at red or amber (1 Nov 22), offering us the opportunity to target our limited resources to maximum effect. The interactive dashboard displays 21 top level metrics, including impact, resilience, sustainability and keeping people safe from harm. It also has sub models that assess issues, such as diversity, wellbeing and innovation.  

The data store already has more than 0.3 million scored assessment statements . Big Data for the charity sector – a growing, consistently collected and objective data set that covers every area of activity.  Here's an example of how we used that to support charities during the Covid crisis. 

From the outset of the crisis in March 2020, Covid statements and resources were created and continuously updated. This enabled CEF charities to easily identify key priorities, then access the specific resources and support they needed. The data store tracked how well they were responding and identified problem areas, so that new toolkits and resources could be uploaded, enabling them to respond quickly and effectively to the rapidly escalating crisis.  The initial 5 toolkits and Covid funder list were accessed more than 38,000 times.

“Undoubtedly, we would not still be here without this brilliant resource.  For smaller charities you are an absolute lifeline”.

Federation of Disability Sport Organisations  

A Charity Sector Eco System To Deliver Far More To Far More People

Our crisis response is our most ambitious ever step change in the free support we provide and also in the numbers we provide that support to.  It includes:   

• Health Check & Information Hub- crisis assessment statements and tracking metrics, and Crisis Toolbox of 10 toolkits.   
• Funding Finder - even easier to use with lots of new functionality, including a crisis funding search category.
• Help Finder - finds advice, pro bono support and free goods and services, including fundraising support and companies that make donations.    
• Data Finder- our next step in our Sector Big Data programme.  It finds data on the charity sector, the sectors we operate in and fundraising & donations, plus pro bono support and free data tools.  It supports charities with funding bids, fundraising research, planning, campaigns and impact reports, and sector organisations with research and lobbying Government.  
• Monthly Crisis Impact Assessments – in Aug 22, we used our Big Data to create an assessment of the crisis and a predictive model, which we published as a report to help grant makers and sector infrastructure bodies.  Since Sep 22, we have been publishing monthly crisis impact assessments.   

There isn't enough funding and there may never be, but our people and the sector's collective expertise are a huge asset.  Our work has created a charity sector eco system which exploits that.  This has extended the groups we support from primarily trustees and senior management to any of the 1 million staff and 10 million volunteers, and Government and university staff involved in the sector. 

In 2021, our charities supported an estimated 6 million beneficiaries.  By end 2022, we will have nearly doubled our membership and made our support available to five times as many people. 

2023 - Exploiting Charity Sector 'Big Data' To Drive Sector Level Effectiveness

The lack of effective data is now being recognised as a major weakness for the sector.  The CEF Charity Data Store already has 0.3 million pieces of data, but Covid aside, we don't have the capacity, specialist skills or ability to reach decision makers, such as Government.  Big Data for the charity sector is here but we're not yet able to fully exploit it.  Consequently, we will transfer ownership of the CEF to the wider sector by giving the system to those who do.   

We will give large and groups of charities and grant makers their own CEFs and create lead data set owners for each charity sub sector. Not one, but potentially up to 100 CEFs, creating a single comprehensive, consistently collected and objective network of UK charity sector data sets able to track performance in real time and historically.  The functionality is live, and 2 pilots are being run and we have also created functionality that enables access to the entire sector data set. 

This will provide the data to enable senior sector leaders to not only better support their own groups of charities but also inform policy and decision making at sector level.  Again, using technology, data and the sector's collective expertise to significantly increase our ability to make effective use of our limited resources. 

2024 - Taking Sector Level Decision Making To The Cutting Edge Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The CEF Data Store allows us to understand for the first time what is really happening in the sector and to identify historic trends, but it can't look ahead.  However, harnessing the Data Store to open-source libraries would allow us to apply AI predictive analytics to create a forward view of what the future for the sector might look like and, in doing so, deliver far more effective data for sector decision makers. 

Our developers are experts in this field and our scenario planning, and the new Data Finder are our first steps in beginning to explore this opportunity. Delivering this will take charity sector leadership and decision making to the cutting edge of using AI technology, to maximise impact by making the very best possible use of our limited resources. 

Yes – it creates a unique set of questionnaires based on the individual needs of each user, including micro-charities, CICs and schools, and requires no expertise or training to use

Thought provoking and superb resources. Sunnyside Community

Jargon free descriptions of all aspects of performance – the resources available, activities undertaken, what these produce, the outcomes delivered, the impact created, and the overarching management and planning systems. 

‘Questions were very clear and easy to understand’  Justice is Now

How Do Statements Assess Critical People Factors?

We have very few resources, but one huge asset – our people, and they are the key to driving improved performance. It assess key issues, such as leadership, innovation, wellbeing, culture and decision making, by taking into account not only what is done, but who does it, how well, their capacity and expertise, and how motivated they are in doing so.

How Many Statements Are In Each Questionnaire?

Usually between 10 and 40, depending on the questionnaire, and your charity’s size, sector, where it operates and the activities it undertakes.

The system uses what you tell it to convert your results into your priorities for action, using a traffic light system.

How Does It work?

As you score questionnaires, the CEF will automatically assess you using its Diversity Excellence Standard in a range of areas, from culture, to procedures, targets and outcomes, across your charity. Your results are reported on your dashboard. Click ‘Diversity’ to access your detailed results.

This is an amazing tool. 1000 out of 10. Race On The Agenda  

The ‘Export’ function saves time and reduces workload, by enabling you to download reports as action plans, for meetings or planning, or create reports for the Board, or others.

"Clear and logical approach that focuses us on what we are doing well and what we need to improve. The links to source material are great". Watford Sheltered Workshop Ltd

Registering and Set-up

• On trying to register - my organisation already exists. Someone has already registered your organisation.  They can add you to the account using the ‘Additional Users’ link on the left of their screen.  If you can't find out who it is, contact me.
• The system won't accept my name. It can't accept any non-alphabetic characters or spaces, remove these. 
• It tells me that my e mail already exists?  You are already a system user.  Login using your e mail and 'Forgotten Password', if you can't remember it. Your e mail is your account login, so you would need to use a different e mail, if you wish to have 2 accounts.   
• I did not receive an account activation e mail. Check your spam folder.
• On login – user does not exist. There are 2 reasons you may receive this message.
  • You have registered using another e mail address.
  • You registered and did not use your account. Unused accounts are deleted from time-to-time.
• It won't accept my password. A password must contains at least 8 characters, including at least one number and both uppercase and lower letters, but with no special characters.
• I’ve forgotten my password. Go to login and click ‘Forgot Password’.

To find out more about how Charity Excellence enables charities to improve impact, income and save money, watch this video (2 mins). and, or click the link for an introduction on how to use it (3 mins) or this one for how to get the most from the Funding Finder database (3 mins). 

If you still want help, call me on 07595 371 444 or e mail me at charityexcellence@gmail.com  

"..this has helped us to address the areas that we are not quite there, and it is amazing to have all the resources we need to support us in one place. I really can’t believe you have pulled this together single handedly. Thank you!" President, The Learned Society of Wales

Using The System

• My set-up (My Profile) page won’t let me Save. The system uses what you tell it to create your unique questionnaires, but can’t do this until it has all the information needed.  Make at least one selection in each area.
• I don’t know how to use a part of the system. There are ? symbols throughout the system. Click any of these, to find out what that area does and how to use it. Alternatively, click the CEF User Guide Video, Funder Guide Video for the database, or the FAQs link. All 3 are at the top of your screen.
• The video versions of the guides are great, but where can I find all of them?  Go to the CEF You Tube channel and select a playlist. 
• Why do I keep getting e mail reminders?  Some people register, but don't score questionnaires, which blocks others from their charity from joining. The system sends reminders, then deletes non-users.  Score questionnaires to stop these. 
• There's an assessment statement for an activity that doesn't apply to us.  Select the 'Not Applicable' box, on the right, and the system will ignore this in your assessments. 
• There questionnaires are very long, or there are activities we do that are missing. The system uses your My Profile page to create your questionnaires. Go to your page, click Create Questionnaires and amend this. You won’t lose the scores you’ve already entered, except those that no longer apply.
• How do I download a report as an action plan?  Click the Export button.
• There's a word or phrase I don't understand.  There shouldn't be, so let me know but, in the meantime, click the Charity Terms button at the top of your screen for an interactive list of 100s of charity and management terms, explained in plain English. 
• Do I have to keep scoring questionnaires to find the resources?  No. Once a questionnaire has been scored, you can click the relevant score in your interactive dashboard or run a query. 
• How do I find this guide again?  Click the Troubleshooting link on the left of your screen. 

Funding Finder Database

• How can I get the most from the system?  Watch this short video. 
• What are funding finders? The system has links to 400+ other free funding databases and online funder lists, giving you click through to a huge range of funders. 
• How do I find core funders?  Select 'core funders' in the Category menu; there are 170+.  
• How do I find the most recent funders?  The funders are updated every week.  Select New Additions, as a search category. 
• Is there are list of all the funder lists and free funding finders on the system?  Yes, click here.  There are 50+.
• How do I download the funder lists?  From the income questionnaire statement on finding new funders.  It has FUNDER LISTS typed into the text, so you can't miss it.