All charities need resources - financial, human or other assets - to achieve their aims. The effectiveness of a charity depends on the way its resources are controlled and used.

This section sets out our advice and guidance which will help trustees understand good practice and the extent of their powers and duties when investing and managing charity resources.

For an introduction to the subject, take a look at our at-a-glance guide Managing charity assets and resources: an overview for trustees (CC25)

Managing finances

• Reserves - our guidance on charity reserves
• Dealing with financial difficulties - our guidance on how to lessen the risk of insolvency
• Internal financial controls - the basic internal financial controls which trustees need to consider
• Trading and Tax - explains when and how charities may engage in trading
• Insurance - explains the forms of insurance available to charity trustees, some of which are mandatory
• Trustee expenses and payments - guidance on payments to trustees for services as well as expenses, and when our authority may be needed
• Reporting trustees' expenses - guidance on reporting expenses in annual accounts

Charities in an economic downturn

• Helping charities through the economic downturn - guidance and other resources
• Big Board Talk: the conversation all charities need to have
• Charities and the economic downturn (PDF)
• Financial Services Compensation Scheme - explains what it means for charities

Land and property

• Buy, sell or vest land - an overview of the main issues regarding charity land transactions, with links to our guidance and online forms
• Acquiring land - our detailed guidance for charity trustees who are thinking of acquiring land for their charity's use or as an investment
• Disposing of land - explains in detail what trustees need to know about selling, leasing, transferring or mortgaging charity land
• Custodians and nominees - explains in detail how individuals can be appointed to hold title to property or assets of a charitable trust
• Official Custodian for Charities land holding service - helps charities to avoid legal problems which can arise when a charity owns land, particularly if the charity does not have the status of a company

Pensions

• Charity Reserves and Defined Benefit Pension Schemes - looks at the risks attached to a charity's involvement in a defined benefit pension scheme for its staff. It also looks at the accounting implication of membership of the scheme, the role of the various regulators and the potential liabilities for trustees.
• Defined Benefit Pension Schemes - questions and answers on Defined Benefit Pension Schemes following recent changes in pensions legislation and to help charities manage their pension schemes in the economic downturn

Investment of charitable funds

• Investment of charitable funds: an overview - explains the basic principles involved and provides links to the main Commission guidance in this area
• Investment of charitable funds - summarises the Commission's view of the law underpinning its investment guidance
• Common investment funds - focuses specifically on Common Investment Funds (CIFs) which are one form of investment
• Common deposit funds - focuses specifically on Common Deposit Funds (CDFs) which are one form of investment

Related resources

• Ex gratia payments by charities - describes the procedures which charity trustees must follow when they wish to make an ex gratia payment out of the charity's funds
• VAT registration - explains how charges for admission to museums, galleries, art exhibitions, zoos, or to theatrical or choreographic performances of a cultural nature are exempt from VAT when supplied by an eligible body