Common questions about the Digital Governance Review.
A CRM vendor is selling you their product. Their "assessment" will always conclude that you need their CRM. I don't sell software, implement systems, or take referral fees. The review looks at your whole technology and data landscape—people, processes, and tools—and gives you an honest, independent view of what's working, what isn't, and what to do about it. If your current systems are fine, I'll tell you that.
No. The report is written in plain English for senior leaders, trustees, and operations staff—not IT specialists. I explain what I found, why it matters, and what you can do about it, without jargon. If I need to reference something technical, I explain it clearly.
I can provide guidance and oversight during implementation on a separate engagement, but the review itself is a standalone deliverable. Many charities use the report to brief their existing IT support, recruit the right help, or make a case to trustees for investment. I'm happy to discuss implementation support after the review if it would be useful.
The review is designed for UK charities with an annual income between roughly £500k and £5m. At this size, you're typically big enough to have real technology pain points—multiple systems, key person dependencies, reporting headaches—but not large enough to justify a full-time IT director. That's the sweet spot where an independent review delivers the most value.
From kickoff to final report, typically 4–6 weeks. This includes an initial scoping conversation, interviews with key staff, a review of your systems and processes, and the written report with a face-to-face read-out. I work around your schedule—I know charity teams are busy.
If a full review isn't in the budget right now, I can discuss a lighter-touch engagement focused on your most pressing concern. I'd rather help you get started than not at all.
Not as standard. The review focuses on how technology serves your organisation: data flows, processes, dependencies, and strategic fit. I'm looking at whether you have the right tools and whether they're set up to support your work—not auditing source code. If a technical deep-dive is needed, I can scope that separately.
My focus is on UK-registered charities, primarily because the regulatory landscape, funding structures, and technology ecosystem differ significantly between countries. If you're a UK charity with international operations, I can absolutely help. If you're based outside the UK, get in touch and I can discuss whether I'm the right fit.
The Charity Digital Code is an established framework developed by the charity sector to help organisations think about digital, data, and technology. It has seven principles covering areas like leadership, skills, risk management, and adaptability. I use it as the structure for every review because it gives you a consistent, comprehensive assessment—not just a snapshot of your IT setup.
The report and walkthrough are designed to be self-contained—your team should be able to work through the recommendations independently. If you want additional support with implementation, I can discuss that separately, but there's no expectation or pressure to do so. Many charities use the report to brief their existing IT support or to make a case for investment to trustees and funders.
Yes—and many charities do. The review identifies specific needs, quantifies risks, and provides a prioritised roadmap. This is exactly the kind of evidence funders look for. The report format is designed to be shareable with trustees and funders without modification.