Annual Report and Financial Statements 2008

Chair's Message

I am very pleased to be able to write to you for the first time as Chair of CFDG after what has been a very successful year for CFDG. We were able to build on the strong foundations laid in 2006/7 and increase the services provided to our members across the board.

 

As a result of this increase in services we have had significant increases in attendance levels at our events and training courses and increased visitor traffic at our website. Further we ended the year with 1,458 members and 107 subscribers, both up by 13%. We were especially pleased that we increased the balance of our membership outside of London and the SE as we strive to become a national organisation working throughout England and Wales.

 

During the year we undertook surveys of our members and subscriber members, in order to increase our understanding of our stakeholder requirements. We have ensured that the results of the surveys are taken into account in the development of our Operational Plan for the three years until 31^st March 2011.

 

The year saw CFDG celebrate its 20^th Anniversary. This occasion was marked by a reception in the crypt of St Pauls Cathedral – on 27^th February 2008 - where the keynote address was given by Phil Hope MP, Minister for the Third Sector. In parallel CFDG also published a book entitled ‘The Role of the Charity Finance Director’ edited by Keith Hickey our Chief Executive, which provides a comprehensive review of the current role and changes to the role over the last twenty years, with most chapters contributed by a different Finance Director. Finally, in October 2007 there was a special supplement about CFDG in Third Sector to celebrate our anniversary.

 

In September 2007 three Trustees reached the end of their terms and had to step down; Paul Breckell, Steve Mahon and Geoff Wheeler. I should like to thank them all for their support of CFDG over the six years that they were Trustees. In different ways they all made a tremendous contribution to the Charity for which the Trustees are all extremely grateful. Following the changes made to our governance procedures at our Annual General Meeting in 2006 the Trustees are now actively looking for two additional Trustees with skills in Marketing, Media and Lobbying to strengthen the Board, having appointed Gill Nunn in April 2008, who brings new business skills to the Board.

 

During the year CFDG awarded four new Honorary Memberships to Paul Breckell, Andrew Hind, Les Jones and Helen Verney in recognition of the tremendous service that they have given to CFDG over a long period of time.

 

This annual report outlines what a successful year it has been for CFDG and the Trustees would like to thank the staff, members, subscribers, funders and volunteers who have made this possible.

 

The annual report also outlines the plans that we have for the future and highlights the plans that we have to deliver our strategic aims and increase the quality and quantity of the services that we provide to our members. In the current financial and regulatory climate it is likely to be a tough year for our members and we will endeavour to continue to be true to our mission and deliver services that are valued by our members and enable those with financial responsibility in the charity sector to develop and adopt best practice.

 

 

Charles Nall

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