Founder’s syndrome is a recognised problem in our sector, but there is more to the story. Why is it so prevalent? What can be done? And what should founders do if they recognise some of these behaviours in themselves? This episode examines how control, identity and power can shift founders from driving impact to creating risk…or worse, and how those dynamics are often enabled rather than challenged.

The discussion brings together Susanna Kislenko, an academic specialising in founder leadership and founder’s syndrome, Carla Gill, a former founder now working with others through transition, and Mona Vadher and Nick Moore, two Interims for Impact associates who, as interim CEOs, who have seen first-hand the impact these situations can have on organisations, culture and governance. Together, they explore what sits beneath the label of founder’s syndrome and what needs to happen before the consequences become systemic.

Trusteeship is treated as the moral foundation of the charity sector, with voluntary service upheld at its core.

But that assumption quietly shapes who can take part in governing charities and who cannot.

This episode asks what really sits behind the resistance to paying trustees. Is payment about professionalism, access and lived experience, or does it undermine the idea of public service and public trust?

Corporates to the rescue? Or perhaps not. Why corporate fundraising may not be the saviour the sector is banking on

In the current funding perfect storm, are corporates the superhero that will save the sector with their deep pockets and desire to appear good? In this episode we dive into whether corporate fundraising is really the saviour many charities hope for. We hear insights from companies: from the frustrations and horror stories to what actually makes partnerships work, explore mismatched expectations, the power dynamics between sectors, and why respect and professionalism matter as much as brand or size. And we uncover what you need to do if you are going to make corporate fundraising work for your charity.

In this episode, we confront the For Impact sector’s greatest taboo: its uncomfortable relationship with class. Who holds the power, who is silenced, and why your accent still seems to matter. Is the sector ready to face its own class problem? We speak with Dorothea Jones, Alex Evans and Duncan Exley to find out the answers.

There’s no denying that charity endings – especially organisational ones - are extremely hard. The emotions that are tied up in charities, the expectations of service users and donors, the weight of responsibility that lies on the shoulders of leaders and the board – these are not easy issues to navigate.

In this episode we talk to four guests to help us understand why endings are so hard, and how to have a good one. Iona Lawrence, Chief Deceleration Officer at the Decelerator; Richard Litchfield, Chief Executive of Eastside People; and Alison Lucas and Lizzie Bentley Bowers, Executive Coaches and co-authors of Goodbye.

Welcome to the latest episode of 4Impact, the charity podcast, where we tackle pressing issues in the charity sector. Join Felicia Willow, the Mary Poppins of the charity sector, and her co-host, Chris Pitt from the Benefact Group, as they delve into the challenges of the current funding freeze impacting charities across the board.

In this episode, we explore why major funders are pausing or altering their funding distributions, leaving many charities grappling with uncertainty and pressure. Insights are provided by key guests, including Jo Jeffrey, who has meticulously catalogued the changes in grantmakers' approaches, Anand Shukla, CEO at the Henry Smith Charity, who shares their thoughtful strategy transition, and Helen Gray, Trust Director for the Benefact Trust, who discusses strategies for minimizing disruptions.

Listen in as we discuss the systemic issues at play, the responsibility of funders, and strategic approaches to navigate this complex funding landscape.

Why charity leadership is one of the toughest gigs around – and what CEOs can do to survive.

Guests include Vic Hancock-Fell of the Fair Collective, Debra Allcock-Tyler from the Directory of Social Change, and Gareth Oughton from ACEVO's CEO in Crisis Service.

In this episode, we discuss the bottom line of our sector: impact. We talk about why impact isn’t the easiest thing to measure or be regulated on, and how this complexity feeds into funding and regulation systems that actually hold the sector back – as well as how the language we use about our own sector is undervaluing our expertise and purpose. So how can we build the trust we need in the sector as a whole to enable our experts to go out and achieve the greatest impact they can?