Charity & Not-for-Profit

Clear, Practical Advice for Charities and Not-for-Profits

Holmes deliver end-to-end support from set-up and governance to mergers, property, fundraising compliance and reputational risk.

• Governance & Compliance for Boards & Trustees

We understand the increasing pressures faced by charities and not-for-profit organisations in today’s competitive and regulated environment. Staying compliant with evolving charity law, governance best practices, and regulatory frameworks is a constant challenge. Our team provides ongoing, strategic support to help you meet these challenges confidently:

Board and committee support; constitutions and policies; trustee/director duties; conflicts and decision-making frameworks; risk registers and reporting; practical implementation of governance codes and regulatory expectations.

• Charity Setup, Structures & Registations

Formation, constitutions and governance documents; registrations and renewals; group structures, subsidiaries and trading arms; reviews to ensure your legal form supports your mission and funding model.

• Mergers, Collaborations & Restructuring

Options reviews, due diligence and stakeholder engagement; transfer of undertakings, asset transfers and amalgamations; safeguarding charitable purpose and restricted funds; clear, defensible decision-making and records.

• Fundraising, Grants, Investments & Donations

Fundraising compliance and policies; grant and service-level agreements; donor terms and restricted funds; investment policies (including ethical/higher-purpose aims); legacy administration and stewardship.

• Property, Projects & Asset Management

Acquisitions, disposals and leasing; development and construction contracts; title and wayleave issues; charging and security; project governance and procurement support.

• Employment, Volunteers & Safeguarding Policies 

Contracts and handbooks; organisational change and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment); volunteer agreements and policies; grievances and disciplinaries; safeguarding policies and training; board/executive alignment on people-risk.

• Data protection, privacy and Freedom of Information (FOI)

Privacy frameworks, data-sharing and retention; responses to FOI and data-subject access requests; information security and incident response; practical guidance to embed compliant day-to-day practices.

• Disputes, Investigations & Reputation Management

Early risk assessment; regulatory correspondence and inquiries; mediation and litigation strategy; crisis communications alignment so that service delivery continues and reputation is protected.

• Employment & Charity HR

Manage staff and volunteers, protected disclosures and organisational change.

• Data Protection & Privacy

Handle Freedom of Information and access requests to embed robust, compliant data practices.

• Property & Projects

Buy, lease or develop property with clear risk allocation and governance.

Advice Informed by Charity Board Experience

Several of our team members serve as non-executive charity board members, bringing practical, real-world insight into governance, resourcing and operational constraints. This experience ensures our advice aligns legal requirements with your organisation’s values and mission, speak to us today for clear next steps from our Charities team.