All organisations can do better, even in small ways. However if things are going well, or you’re very busy, it can be difficult to look at yourself openly and honestly. There are a number of useful tools you could use to help you identify where you’re doing well and where you could improve.

• Trusted Charity Essentials is a free online tool from NCVO designed especially for charities as a way to do a basic health check on how your organisation is performing, identifying strengths and areas for development.
• Trusted Charity (formerly PQASSO) is a well-known and respected quality standard designed for charities and other not for profits. It is a subscription based service and can be self assessed or independently accredited.
• Charity Excellence Framework is a free online tool which produces a useful action list and dashboard.
• The Northern Ireland Charity Commission has a useful healthcheck template.
• VCSE StrengthChecker is an online tool produced by the National Lottery Community Fund and can be used by any voluntary/community group (you don’t have to have a grant from them). It asks you a range of questions about your organisation. At the end, you will receive a personalised report highlighting your organisation’s strengths, and areas to develop to build core effectiveness.
• CAN carry out a desk based and face to face organisational health check

Last updated: 26th April, 2022