04/11/2026
Starting a charity? I'd do this first👇
I’d start with research...and I’d look for the evidence that challenges my idea as well as the evidence that supports it.
It’s easy to find information that confirms what we already believe. It takes more courage and curiosity to ask what if people need something different from what I want to offer?
Whether you’re starting a charity or a business, you need to understand where your organisation fits, what makes it stand out and why it is needed. There is a lot of noise out there, and cutting through it matters.
So I’d spend time
🔎 Researching the need and checking what the available data actually tells us.
💬 Speaking to people who might use the service, including those whose views challenge my thinking.
🤝 Finding out what other organisations offer and where there are gaps.
📊 Gathering evidence where it is missing.
Where I had to draw conclusions, I’d be honest about what I knew and what I was assuming.
Then (and this is important), I’d practise explaining it simply and quickly…who needs this, what needs to change, and why this approach could make a difference (backed by the evidence!)
Before the name, the logo or the funding application, spend time on this. You’ll be in a better place for everything that follows.
