Press Releases

Information and links to CFDG's latest press releases are provided below. If you have any comments or questions about the articles, please contact CFDG on 0845 349 3192 or email info@cfdg.org.uk

01 Sep 2008: Merger to create one voice for finance professionals in the third sector

The Charity Finance Directors’ Group (CFDG) today announces a merger with the Charities Consortium. The Charities Consortium will be reconstituted as CFDG’s Large Charities Special Interest Group. » Full details

12 Aug 2008: CFDG make public commitments to sustainability

CFDG have launched a page on their website detailing their approach and commitments to sustainability » Full details

17 Jun 2008: CFDG supports strong relationships amongst Northern charities

Do you know what other teams in your charity need from you, and why? Delegates at the Charity Finance Directors' Group's Manchester conference were told last week that understanding and managing relationships in their charities is key to efficient perform » Full details

04 Jun 2008: CFDG Reactions to Conservative Green Paper on the future of the Third Sector

Yesterday the Conservative Party published a green paper setting out their policy agenda for the sector. » Full details

02 Jun 2008: Gill Nunn appointed trustee of CFDG

Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) is pleased to announce that Gill Nunn, Director of Innovation at the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has been appointed as a trustee. » Full details

28 Apr 2008: Charities urged to take action to address pensions issues

A report released today has revealed an urgent need for UK charities to address pension scheme issues in order to meet the challenges created by a less stable economic environment and continuing regulatory change. » Full details

08 Apr 2008: CFDG announce finance matters in the North

The Charity Finance Directors' Group are pleased to announce their first conference outside of London, which will be held on 12th June at the Palace Hotel, Manchester. » Full details

12 Mar 2008: CFDG and CTG triumph in transitional relief worth circa £300 million to sector

CFDG and CTG have today seen their calls for transitional relief for Gift Aid answered. » Full details

04 Mar 2008: Phil Hope floats idea of Social Stock Exchange at CFDG’s 20th Anniversary

Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, speaking at CFDG’s 20th Anniversary celebrations, mooted the idea of a social stock exchange. » Full details

27 Feb 2008: Salary and Benefits Guide for CFDG Members Launched

Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) and Hays Accountancy & Finance have just launched a 2008 Salary and Benefits Guide. » Full details

20 Feb 2008: Your Stakeholders Need You

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) has announced that their Annual Conference will take place on 8th May this year at the QE2 conference centre in Westminster. » Full details

20 Feb 2008: Phil Hope helps CFDG celebrate its 20th anniversary

Phil Hope, the Minister for the Third Sector will be giving a keynote speech at the Charity Finance Directors' Group 20th Anniversary celebrations on 27th February. » Full details

11 Feb 2008: CFDG sets out Budget demands

The Charity Finance Directors' Group have submitted their recommendations to HM Treasury for the 2008/09 Budget. » Full details

11 Feb 2008: CFDG says no to extending Freedom of Information Act to charities

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) strongly opposes extending the scope of the Freedom of Information Act to charities delivering public services on behalf of government. » Full details

07 Feb 2008: CFDG IT Conference: Climate Change and Virtual Worlds

Climate change and its impact on IT is just one of the themes being examined at this year's annual CFDG IT Conference on 13th March... » Full details

28 Sep 2007: Call by leading voluntary sector bodies for simpler Gift Aid system

Leading voluntary sector umbrella bodies are today calling for a simpler Gift Aid system and process to improve the effectiveness of the existing relief which is available to charities. » Full details

01 Jun 2007: New Chair for CFDG

Charity Finance Directors’ Group (CFDG) is pleased to announce that Charles Nall, Corporate Services Director at the Childrens’ Society has been appointed as Chair designate. » Full details

18 Apr 2007: CFDG launches new publication

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) has launched a major new report entitled Know Your Cost Base Know Your Charity. » Full details

23 Feb 2007: CFDG and acevo push for major reforms in the Budget

Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) and acevo have submitted a document to HM Treasury detailing what they want to see in the Budget this year. The submission makes a total of 15 demands on issues ranging from VAT to payroll giving. » Full details

29 Jan 2007: The 2007 CFDG IT Conference will focus on getting strategic value from IT

The 2007 CFDG IT conference will focus on the two themes of strategic IT and new technological trends. The event is not only aimed at Finance and IT Directors but raises broader strategic questions that any charity should look at... » Full details

13 Nov 2006: CFDG welcomes recognition of role of voluntary sector

Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) welcomed the arrival of the Local Government White Paper. » Full details

03 Nov 2006: Finance Directors Called to Lead on Accountability and Transparency

Speaking at the CFDG Annual Fundraising Dinner last week, Charity Commission Chair Dame Suzi Leather called for Finance Directors "to be the ones turning our mantra of accountability and transparency into reality". » Full details

30 Oct 2006: Finance Directors Urged to Focus on Risk

Risk management should be seen as offering charities new opportunities rather than as being a bureaucratic chore. This is the key theme for the Charity Finance Directors' Group's Risk Conference on the 28 November 2006 in London. » Full details

13 Oct 2006: Government relations with the voluntary sector must change

If the government wants to devolve more public services to the voluntary sector, it must urgently address its funding relationship with charities, say financial specialists. » Full details

11 Aug 2006: CFDG Re-Launches Website

CFDG combines Charities Resource Network with core website to offer sector a one-stop-shop » Full details

05 Jun 2006: Finance Count - Benchmarking Workshops

Following the first series of five workshops, run from January to March 2006, to enable members to explore key issues arising from the benchmarking survey we are pleased to announce a further two workshop dates. » Full details

19 Apr 2006: Finance Matters - CFDG looking at strategic role of finance and impact of charities

The Charity Finance Directors' Group is using the publication of its Annual Conference programme 2006 on 31 May 2006 to look at the changing role of charities in society, and specifically at what role finance plays in the changing scenario. With the incre » Full details

11 Apr 2006: Letter to the Times: payment upon delivery

Letter from Keith Hickey, CEO of CFDG and Chris Harris, Chair of CIPFA Charities Panel to the Times on charities striving to cover costs » Full details

11 Apr 2006: Summary of initial findings of CFDG and CIPFA Charities Panel full cost recovery survey

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) in collaboration with the CIPFA Charities Panel, has recently undertaken a quick survey of CFDG members to understand the challenges charities face in contracting with government to provide public services. » Full details

22 Mar 2006: Budget 2006 - Tackling abuse of tax reliefs for charities

For some time now there has been concern about the abuse of reliefs, the Budget provides for three measures to counter those wishing to take advantage of the current accessibility of tax reliefs and light touch administration from government. » Full details

16 Mar 2006: Charity VAT Survey

Deloitte has recently published a summary of findings from a charity VAT survey it conducted in association with Charity Finance Directors' Group and the Charity Tax Reform Group. » Full details

17 Feb 2006: Announcing CFDG Software Initiative

CFDG announces initiative to review needs of accounting software for small/medium-sized charities. » Full details

13 Jan 2006: Charities focusing on value of IT

The value of IT will be in the spotlight at the Charity Finance Directors’ Group’s IT Conference on the 22 February 2006 in London. The event will focus on the value of IT for charities and bring together charity IT and finance experts. » Full details

05 Jan 2006: CFDG Appoints New Chief Executive

Today, Help the Aged and the Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) are pleased to announce that Keith Hickey, Finance Director of Help the Aged, will take up the position of Chief Executive of the CFDG in April 2006. » Full details

14 Dec 2005: Finance Count - Benchmarking Workshops

We are pleased to announce, for the first quarter of 2006, a series of workshops that will enable members to explore key issues arising from the benchmarking survey. » Full details

31 Oct 2005: Finance Directors Focusing on Risk after Year of Disasters

The Charity Finance Directors’ Group will hold this year’s Annual Risk Conference on the 29 November 2005 at the CBI Conference Centre at Centrepoint in London. » Full details

13 Sep 2005: Chief Executive to leave CFDG

After over eleven years with the Charity Finance Directors' Group Shirley Scott will be leaving at the end of the year. » Full details

13 Sep 2005: New Branding for CFDG

CFDG will launch its new branding at its Annual General Meeting today. The bright, vibrant logo signifies the forward-looking nature of the organisation, which is the leading body for financial management in the charity sector. » Full details

13 Apr 2005: Getting the Balance Right Key for Charities IT Use

Getting the balance right between innovation and cost-effectiveness is key to closing the gap between charity organisations and the IT systems they are using. This is one of the key messages emerging from CFDG's IT Conference 2005 » Full details

07 Apr 2005: CFDG Members to benefit from special rates at the ICAEW IT Faculty Annual Conference

The IT Faculty of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is running a Conference on Information Management and Security, entitled 'In Control or Out of Business? 2005' » Full details

04 Mar 2005: CFDG welcomes publication of SORP 2005

The Charity Finance Directors' Group has welcomed the publication of the Statement of Recommended Practice 2005. » Full details

01 Mar 2005: Finance Directors calling for smart use of IT

CFDG’s IT Conference 2005 will take place on Tuesday, 5 April 2005 at Cass Business School in London under the theme Closing the Gap. » Full details

23 Nov 2004: Charity Finance Directors' Group welcome announcement of Charities Bill

The Charity Finance Directors' Group today reacted with delight at the prospect of a Charities Act in the next session of Parliament. » Full details

30 Sep 2004: Charity Finance Directors' Group delighted at recommendation to relax laws on charities' trading

The Charity Finance Directors' Group today reacted with delight at the report from the Joint Committee on the draft Charities Bill, and recommendations by the committee to relax the laws on charity trading. » Full details

29 Sep 2004: Survey Shows Many Charities Struggling To Cope

The issue of reduced income is the overwhelming concern for charities in the coming year, according to "Managing risk - reducing your risk exposure" - the third annual survey of senior managers and charity trustees in the UK, PKF and CFDG » Full details

24 Sep 2004: CFDG hits the big 1000

CFDG, the membership organisation for Charity Finance Directors, is celebrating the recruitment of its 1000th member. » Full details

22 Jul 2004: CFDG launches new group in the West Midlands

Charities across the region are set to benefit from the launch of a West Midlands branch of the Charity Finance Directors' Group, supported by accountancy firm Baker Tilly, on 22 July 2004 in Birmingham. » Full details

02 Jul 2004: How does your financial management shape up?

Find out by joining a Finance and Financial Management Benchmarking Study specifically focussed on charities » Full details

23 Jun 2004: CFDG expresses support for Trading reform to the Committee on the Charities Bill

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) today gave evidence to the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committee on the Charities Bill. » Full details

15 Jun 2004: CFDG report aims to guide charities through the pensions maze

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) has today released a major report 'The Charity Pensions Maze'. » Full details

07 May 2004: Charities Risk Management Survey 2004 Launch

Accountants and business advisors PKF and the Charity Finance Directors' Group are launching their annual Charities Risk Management survey and would like to invite charities to participate. » Full details

28 Apr 2004: CFDG promotes strategic shift towards adequate IT solutions

The biggest ever CFDG IT conference on 22 April 2004 brought together over 120 senior IT and Finance executives who discussed the future of technology in the sector. » Full details

13 Apr 2004: Conclusion of Inputs Matter - valuing of volunteers proves controversial

» Full details

18 Mar 2004: CFDG Calls for Charities to Radically Rethink Their Approach to IT

This year's CFDG IT Conference, to take place on 22 April 2004 in London, is calling for charity executives to go back to basics and rethink their whole approach to IT. » Full details

17 Mar 2004: CFDG welcome Chancellors voluntary sector initiatives

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) has today welcomed the voluntary sector initiatives announced by the Chancellor in the Budget. » Full details

15 Mar 2004: CFDG urges Government to consider charities when reforming director & auditor liability

The Charity Finance Directors' Group have today urged the government to consider the perspective of charities in their plans to reform director and auditor liability. » Full details

10 Dec 2003: Pre-Budget Report 'Disappointing'

CFDG expressed its disappointment that the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report failed to tackle issues such as irrecoverable VAT, and urged him to be more active in reducing the taxation and regulatory burdens holding back charities. » Full details

03 Dec 2003: Mixed response to Home Office plans from Charity Finance Directors’ Group

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26 Nov 2003: CFDG welcomes announcement of Charities Bill

The Charity Finance Directors' Group today reacted with delight at the announcement of a draft Charities Bill in the Queen's speech. » Full details

11 Nov 2003: CFDG aim to improve charity reporting so public know how their money is being spent

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) has today launched a bold collection of proposals for consultation that they hope will improve the quality and consistency of charity annual reports. » Full details

30 Sep 2003: UK Charities Getting To Grips With Risk But Vital Gaps Remain

UK charities are increasingly using risk management in the day to day running of their organisations, according to the second annual risk survey by accountants and business advisors PKF, in association with the Charity Finance Directors' Group. » Full details

22 Jul 2003: CFDG welcome much needed investment in capital projects

The Charity Finance Directors' Group has given a big welcome to the proposals for futurebuilders, and particularly the plans to devote 80% of funds to capital investment. » Full details

21 Jul 2003: CFDG Welcome Progress Towards Charities Bill

CFDG Chief Executive, Shirley Scott, has responded to the some of the key recommendations in the Home Office Report "Charities and Not-for-Profits: A Modern Legal Framework". » Full details

26 Jun 2003: CFDG Welcomes New Guidance on Reporting Activities and Achievements

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) has welcomed the publication of new Charity Commission Guidance on reporting activities and achievements. » Full details

23 Jun 2003: Charities Resource Network Goes Live

The Charity Finance Directors' Group has today (23rd June) launched the Charities Resource Network (CRN), an innovative database driven information website (www.thecrn.org.uk) which seeks to strengthen good practice in the charity sector. » Full details

14 May 2003: Voluntary sector's financial flank joins campaign for charities Bill

The campaign for a charities bill received a big boost this week with the announcement that both the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and the Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) are now members of the Charities Bill Coalition. » Full details

07 May 2003: CFDG Launches Major Project to Improve Consistency of Charity Reporting

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) has today set out a bold new initiative to improve inputs into charity annual reports. » Full details

09 Apr 2003: Budget Offers Little to Charities in Difficult Times

Les Jones OBE, CFDG Vice Chairman and Deputy Chief Executive of the WWF responded on behalf of the Charity Finance Directors' Group to today's Budget. » Full details

28 Mar 2003: Charity Finance Directors Sceptical of Government Pension Proposals

The Charity Finance Directors' Group have expressed concerns that the proposals outlined in the DWP Green Paper will not solve the fundamental problems that the sector is facing in terms of the increasing cost of providing adequate pensions » Full details

27 Mar 2003: Money Matters - The 12th CFDG Annual Charity Finance Conference

» Full details

26 Mar 2003: Charity Commission Promote Importance of Holding Reserves

The Charity Commission have today published their Regulatory Report on the issue of Reserves. » Full details

19 Mar 2003: Finance Directors Celebrate 15 Years of Promoting Public Confidence

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) will today celebrate 15 years of advancing and promoting public education in and improved standards of management in charities. To mark the occasion, CFDG members, together with senior MPs, Lords and sector repr » Full details

07 Mar 2003: 100 MPs Declare their Support for VAT Campaign

More than 100 MPs have backed a campaign to enable charities to get compensation for the Value Added Tax (VAT) they cannot recover, and the increased National Insurance contributions they will be facing from April. » Full details

31 Jan 2003: Home Office Act on Charity Insurance Cost Increases

The Active Community Unit has published a discussion paper on the insurance problems faced by charities. The document outlines the crisis being faced by the voluntary sector, the effect it will have on vital services, and the urgent need for action to eas » Full details

22 Jan 2003: MPs Call for Action on VAT and National Insurance

A campaign has today been launched by Bob Russell MP to enable charities to get compensation for the Value Added Tax (VAT) they cannot recover and the increased National Insurance contributions they will be facing from April. » Full details

30 Dec 2002: CFDG Response to 'Private Action, Public Benefit'

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) has given an enthusiastic welcome to the Strategy Unit Report 'Private Action, Public Benefit'. » Full details

30 Dec 2002: CFDG to Celebrate 15th Anniversary in Parliament

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) will be celebrating its 15th Anniversary at a reception on the Terrace of the House of Commons on 19th March 2003 » Full details

27 Nov 2002: Charity Finance Directors Disappointed at Lack of Concessions on VAT and National Insurance

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) has today welcomed the voluntary sector initiatives announced by the Chancellor in the Pre-Budget report. » Full details

30 Oct 2002: Charities face further tax rises

CFDG urges Government concession on tax increases on Agency Bills » Full details

18 Oct 2002: CFDG Supports Investment Training for Trustees

CFDG have announced that they plan to support a series of training courses to help trustees understand their new investment responsibilities under the Trustee Act 2000 » Full details

25 Sep 2002: Are Charities Gambling With Risk?

Balancing risks and rewards - an investment in the future, a survey by accountants and business advisors PKF and the Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG), studied the risk management of more than 350 charities. » Full details

25 Sep 2002: CFDG Response to Cabinet Office Strategy Unit Report

In response to the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit Report, Published today, CFDG Chief Executive, Shirley Scott said... » Full details

16 Sep 2002: Charity Finance Directors call for more Guidance on FRS 17

CFDG ask the Charity Commission for more guidance for charities impacted by FRS17 » Full details

26 Jul 2002: Cautious Welcome for Hedge Fund Investment from CFDG

The Charity Finance Directors' Group have today responded to the Charity Commission authorisation of a new Common Investment Fund for charities. » Full details

16 Jul 2002: Finance Directors Welcome Funding to Remove Barriers to Service Delivery

Representatives of charity finance directors have today welcomed the publication of the Governments' Spending Review which announced a £300 million boost to the voluntary and community sector. » Full details

03 Jul 2002: Charity Finance Directors Welcome PAC Report

CFDG back call for tougher action by Commission to deal with financial mismanagement in charities. » Full details

26 Jun 2002: Charity Finance Directors Set Agenda for the Future

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) have today set out their Agenda for the future. Charity Management, the Way Ahead, is aimed at decision makers and opinion formers in Government and Charities. » Full details

17 Apr 2002: Increase in National Insurance to hit Charities hard

CFDG Budget Response » Full details

29 Jan 2002: Charity Finance Directors' Group Prepare for PIU Response

The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) has created a new Policy Development Working Group to help prepare for the new challenges facing the sector. » Full details

11 Jan 2002: Tate Bramald and CFDG SunSystems Promotion

Tate Bramald Limited and the Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) have teamed up to offer CFDG Members the opportunity to purchase and implement SunSystems financial and business management solutions at half price. » Full details

10 Jan 2002: CFDG Launch 2002 Yearbook

The Charity Finance Directors' Group yesterday (9 January 2002) launched its 2002 Charity Finance Yearbook. » Full details