Advice

The Big Advice Column is the best place to find the answers to all your charity queries - if you have a question for one of our experts, please email it to advice@thebiggive.org.uk and we will select a few each month to be answered by the experts.

The Big Advice Column gives you the chance to pose questions to our panel of top industry experts. We have a bank of questions and answers available for you below and if you have a query for one of the experts that is not there, just ask us.

How should we go about converting our charity’s status to become a new CIO?

The Big Give

5 years ago

Governance Legal

How should we go about converting our charity’s status to become a new CIO?

Meet our Expert Reema Mathur – Associate, Charity & Social Enterprise Team Stone King LLP Reema is an associate in the Charity and Education team, acting for a wide variety of charity and not-for-profit clients. In her spare time, Reema is trustee of a charity that supports women and their children experiencing domestic violence. She … Continued

Is it possible to offset the tax on donated amounts from a commercial company?

The Big Give

6 years ago

Financial Tax

Is it possible to offset the tax on donated amounts from a commercial company?

Meet our Expert Tony Austin – Chartered Accountant Tony is an accountant who has been involved with the not-for-profit sector for over 15 years. He was previously National Charity Tax Partner with a major firm of accountants and now works as an independent tax consultant, advising charities and donors on tax issues. He also writes and lectures … Continued

Can I claim the value of donated charity concert tickets against income tax?

The Big Give

6 years ago

Donor Legal Tax

Can I claim the value of donated charity concert tickets against income tax?

What should a charity look for when assessing different bank accounts?

The Big Give

6 years ago

Financial Management

What should a charity look for when assessing different bank accounts?

Meet our Expert Carolyn Sims – Head of Banking, Charity Bank Carolyn is head of banking for Charity Bank. She previously worked in the City for a European Bank where she provided finance for affordable housing projects mainly. She is committed to supporting third sector organisations and the work that they do and consequently is … Continued

Do you have any advice on ways in which charities self-fund to cover core costs?

The Big Give

6 years ago

Core costs Financial Fundraising

Do you have any advice on ways in which charities self-fund to cover core costs?

Meet our Expert Laura Smith – Sustainable Fundraising Manager, NCVO Laura joined NCVO in 2009 to manage the Sustainable Funding programme. She manages relationships with sector experts and private sector partners to create NCVO’s training and direct support on funding and finance, including specialist training on trading, tendering and marketing, and our popular Sustainable Funding Conference. … Continued

Can you advise us about where ownership lines should be drawn with website design?

The Big Give

6 years ago

Legal

Can you advise us about where ownership lines should be drawn with website design?

Meet our Expert Ben Evans – Solicitor Ben is a solicitor specialising in intellectual property matters at Blake Lapthorn, a leading full service firm in the South East of England. Ben advises clients on trade mark clearance searching, brand strategy and world-wide trade mark prosecutions as well as dealing with a range of intellectual property disputes including … Continued

Is it possible to claim Gift Aid on the profits from items sold in a charity shop?

The Big Give

6 years ago

Fundraising Gift Aid

Is it possible to claim Gift Aid on the profits from items sold in a charity shop?

Meet our Expert Lizzie Jones – Associate, Farrer & Co Lizzie joined Farrer & Co as a solicitor in 2007, after training at Baker & McKenzie. Lizzie advises sponsors of new charities, directors, trustees and officers of existing charities and other not-for-profit bodies, as well as individuals and companies wishing to make charitable gifts or do business … Continued

How do we allow guests to claim Gift Aid on their ticket price for a charity event?

The Big Give

6 years ago

Financial Fundraising Gift Aid Legal

How do we allow guests to claim Gift Aid on their ticket price for a charity event?

Is it acceptable to take this discount as it is a conflict of interest?

The Big Give

6 years ago

Governance Trustee

Is it acceptable to take this discount as it is a conflict of interest?

Meet our Expert Jonathan Burchfield – Partner, Stone King LLP Jonathan advises charities on all aspects of charity law and practice, and on their corporate governance. He is a regular speaker and writer on charity law matters. He was ranked as one of the top 5 Leading Lawyers amongst Charity & Philanthropy advisers by Citywealth … Continued

We are recruiting but finding it difficult- how can we identify the best people?

The Big Give

6 years ago

Practical Recruitment

We are recruiting but finding it difficult- how can we identify the best people?

Meet our Expert James Reed- Chairman, REED In 1991 James joined REED, the recruitment specialist, which was founded by his father Sir Alec Reed in 1960. James became Chief Executive in 1997 and was appointed Chairman in 2004. The company has grown significantly over the last 50 years and now spans Europe, the Middle East and … Continued