Organise: Structure, People & Systems
Who does what and how we run. Organigrams, governance, roles, decision rights, delegation, RACI and coordination. Workforce planning, recruitment, contracts, onboarding, development, pay, culture, volunteers and leaving well. How planning, people, money, compliance, information, tools and issues fit together.
US$29 one-time · lifetime access · 31 lessons and reviews · about 10 hours.
Every lesson has a short video, the written explanation with examples, a guided exercise that saves into your organisation pack, and a sheet in the module’s Excel workbook.
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What you’ll build
3 modules, each opening to its lessons and the resources placed inside them.
Module 03Structure, Governance & Accountability
Move from mission and strategy to who actually does what. Design the work before the job titles, separate governance from management, decide who can decide what, and make accountability and coordination visible. A team of two needs this clarity as much as a team of two hundred.
You create: Structure & Accountability Pack · Excel: Module-03-Structure-Governance-Accountability.xlsx
- CoreCharity Governance Code (2025 edition) · Charity Governance Code Steering Group (ACEVO, NCVO, WCVA, Chartered Governance Institute and others)Library →
- Go deeperCooperative Identity, Values and Principles · International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)Library →
- Go deeperG20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2023 · OECDLibrary →
- CoreDecision-making for charity trustees (CC27) · Charity Commission for England and WalesLibrary →
- PracticalIdentifying and managing conflicts of interest in a charity (CC29) · Charity Commission for England and WalesLibrary →
- PracticalGovernance (guidance hub) · NCVOLibrary →
- CoreScheme of Delegation (guidance and model template) · Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)Library →
- Go deeperFive Ways that Nonprofits Can Make Decision Making More Inclusive and More Effective · BridgespanLibrary →
- CoreThe RAPID Decision-Making Tool for Nonprofits · Bridgespan Group (RAPID originated at Bain & Company)Library →
- CoreGlobal Standard for CSO Accountability (12 Commitments) · Accountable Now and partner CSO networksLibrary →
- PracticalTeam Poster (Team Playbook) · AtlassianLibrary →
Module 04People, Culture & Volunteers
Structure says who does what; this module helps you find, support and keep the people who do it. Plan the mix of staff, contractors and volunteers, recruit fairly, start people well, help them grow, look after wellbeing and let people leave without losing what they know.
You create: People Plan · Excel: Module-04-People-Culture-Volunteers.xlsx
- CoreWorkforce planning factsheet · CIPDLibrary →
- PracticalVolunteer Investment and Value Audit (VIVA) · IFRCLibrary →
- Go deeperEmployment Relationship Recommendation, 2006 (No. 198) · International Labour OrganizationLibrary →
- CoreInclusive recruitment: guide for people professionals · CIPDLibrary →
- PracticalShortlisting and interviewing for the role · NCVOLibrary →
- PracticalSafer Recruitment Guidelines · START Network (author Justine Tordoff), hosted by the Safeguarding Resource and Support HubLibrary →
- CoreEmployment contracts and written statements · NCVOLibrary →
- PracticalHR Toolkit for Small and Medium Nonprofit Actors · CHS Alliance with Cornerstone OnDemand FoundationLibrary →
- Go deeperNATLEX: database of national labour legislation · International Labour OrganizationLibrary →
- CoreTool 2: Staffing and recruitment (see 'Onboarding and new recruit orientation') · International Labour OrganizationLibrary →
- PracticalInduction and probation · NCVOLibrary →
- CoreManaging performance · NCVOLibrary →
- PracticalTool 4: Performance management · International Labour OrganizationLibrary →
- CoreThe Anker Methodology for Estimating a Living Wage · Global Living Wage Coalition / Anker Research InstituteLibrary →
- PracticalSetting salaries · NCVOLibrary →
- Go deeperPromoting equity: gender-neutral job evaluation for equal pay. A step-by-step guide · International Labour OrganizationLibrary →
- PracticalThe Culture Map · StrategyzerLibrary →
- CoreGuidelines on mental health at work · World Health OrganizationLibrary →
- PracticalManaging stress in humanitarian workers: guidelines for good practice · Antares FoundationLibrary →
- CoreIFRC Volunteering Policy · IFRCLibrary →
- PracticalInvolving volunteers · NCVOLibrary →
- Go deeper2022 State of the World's Volunteerism Report: Building equal and inclusive societies · United Nations VolunteersLibrary →
- CoreTool 7: Separation practices · International Labour OrganizationLibrary →
- PracticalSuccession planning factsheet · CIPDLibrary →
Module 05Internal Systems & Operations
See how the internal systems of a strong organisation fit together, and choose the minimum set your stage needs. This module is a map: it introduces each system and the decisions it needs, and points to the later modules that go deeper into people, MEAL, finance, legal compliance and risk, and planning.
You create: Internal Systems Blueprint · Excel: Module-05-Internal-Systems-Operations.xlsx
- CoreDesigning good government services: an introduction · GOV.UK Service Manual (Government Digital Service)Library →
- PracticalWhat is a flowchart? Process flow diagrams and maps · American Society for Quality (ASQ)Library →
- CoreEmployment practices and data protection: keeping employment records · Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)Library →
- PracticalDisposing of records · The National Archives (UK)Library →
- Go deeperAfter action review · BetterEvaluationLibrary →
- CorePrinciples for Digital Development · Principles for Digital Development community (originally Digital Impact Alliance)Library →
- PracticalSmall organisations guide to cyber security · National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)Library →
- Go deeperResponsible Data: resource hub and handbook · The Engine RoomLibrary →