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Special Interest Groups
The Charity Finance Directors' Group has a number of small networking groups which allow members with specialised activities to share ideas and information. These groups are largely e-mail based and run using Google Groups (details at the bottom of the page), although we occasionally arrange meetings for more face-to-face networking and sometimes presentations from speakers.
Membership of a Special Interest Group is by approval only, you may apply to join a group by entering your e-mail address in the box by the group.
Sage Special Interest Group
Background
We have been asked by a number of members to set up a special interest group for CFDG Sage users. About thirty percent of CFDG members use Sage.
Who it's there for
The group's remit is to share questions, tips, tricks or other Sage-related news. It provides the opportunity for less experienced charities to learn from those with more experience in relevant areas. In addition charities can identify and share best practice approaches to common difficulties. Charities can act together on any areas of shared interest. This is your group and will flourish to the extent that you decide to use it.
E-mail and
Website links
sage-sig@googlegroups.com
groups.google.com/group/sage-sig
You must be a member of the group before you are able to send e-mails or view the group's website. To apply for membership, please enter your e-mail address in the box below. Your e-mail address must be linked to a Google account. No Google account? Apply for one here.
Apply to join the Sage Special Interest Group
Overseas Special Interest Group
Background
OSSIG is a networking group for Finance staff in international NGOs, based in the UK. OSSIG is run by CFDG and Mango (www.mango.org.uk), Alex Jacobs (Mango) chairs the Steering Committee, which includes staff from OSSIG members. The name stands for "Overseas Special Interest Group".
Who it's there for
OSSIG’s remit is to look at all financial issues that are specific to people working in charities with overseas operations. It provides the opportunity for less experienced charities to learn from those with more experience in relevant areas. In addition charities can identify and share best practice approaches to common difficulties. Charities can act together on any areas of shared interest.
Meetings
We meet 3 or 4 times per year in London, and also have a lively e-mail discussion group. Meetings involve case studies from those working in the field as well as sector specialists. They also provide opportunities for breakout group discussions. Members often use the e-mail discussion group to find quick and easy solutions to their problems by posting a message to their colleagues in different agencies.
E-mail and
Website links
ossig-online@googlegroups.com
groups.google.com/group/ossig-online
You must be a member of the group before you are able to send e-mails or view the group's website. To apply for membership, please enter your e-mail address in the box below. Your e-mail address must be linked to a Google account. No Google account? Apply for one here.
Apply to join the Overseas Special Interest Group
Entry-level Software Special Interest Group
Background
This group (ELSSIG) was created in early 2006 in response to
increasing interest from members in investigating the accounting
software options for charities with a turnover of less than £2m.
There seems to be fewer choices available and less charity-specific
functionality in software priced for smaller charities.
Who it's there for
The aim
of this group is to investigate what organisations currently use
and levels of satisfaction and, if necessary, to lobby for more
choice and greater functionality.
E-mail and
Website links
elssig@googlegroups.com
groups.google.com/group/elssig
You must be a member of the group before you are able to send e-mails or view the group's website. To apply for membership, please enter your e-mail address in the box below. Your e-mail address must be linked to a Google account. No Google account? Apply for one here.
Apply to join the Entry-level Software Special Interest Group
Online Discussion Group
Background
CFDG’s online discussion group will be a forum for members and the CFDG policy team to discuss and exchange views on a wide variety of current and emerging issues. In addition we hope that the group will inform CFDG’s policy stances through engaged debate and members' first hand knowledge and experience of the sector.
Who it's there for
The Online Discussion Group has been established for CFDG members interested in the policy issues surrounding charity finance. It will remain quite a broad-based group, so feel free to suggest areas of general interest as well as more specialised topics for discussion. Examples of the kind of issues the group could explore would be: gift aid, tax, accountability and transparency, new developments in government policy relating to the third sector, relevant goverment consultations.
E-mail and
Website links
cfdg-online-discussion-group@googlegroups.com
groups.google.com/group/cfdg-online-discussion-group
You must be a member of the group before you are able to send e-mails or view the group's website. To apply for membership, please enter your e-mail address in the box below. Your e-mail address must be linked to a Google account. No Google account? Apply for one here.
Apply to join the Online Discussion Group
Using Google Groups
A Google Group allows a group of people to efficiently e-mail each other without having to know the all the e-mail addresses and details of other people in the group.
Each group has one e-mail address. To send an e-mail to other members in the group just send an e-mail to this one address. Google will then deliver your e-mail to all the members of the group. If someone replies to your e-mail, Google will deliver that reply to you and all the other members of the group.
If you would like to view all the e-mails and discussions online, you can visit the groups website (you need a Google account to access the website, which is free and simple to set up)
