Policy Preparation and Operational Support for Charities and Non-Profit Organisations

Practical support with the preparation, review and implementation of policies and operational procedures.

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Clear, practical policies help charities and not-for-profit organisations operate consistently, manage risk and provide trustees, employees and volunteers with an appropriate framework for decision-making.

As organisations grow and their activities develop, policies and procedures should continue to reflect how they operate in practice. Outdated, unclear or incomplete policies can create uncertainty, make responsibilities difficult to understand and leave organisations less prepared when issues arise.

DTM Legal provides practical support to charities and not-for-profit organisations with the preparation, review and implementation of policies and operational procedures. We work with trustees, senior management teams and other key stakeholders to develop documentation that is tailored to the organisation, its activities and the risks it faces.

Our Charity & Philanthropy team can also provide ongoing operational advice when an organisation encounters a new challenge, regulatory concern or situation that is not clearly addressed by its existing policies.

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Policy Preparation and Operational Support Services

Our Charity & Philanthropy solicitors can support charities and not-for-profit organisations with:

  • Policy Reviews and Audits
  • Policy Drafting and Updating
  • Governance Policies and Procedures
  • Conflicts of Interest Policies
  • Trustee Expenses and Benefits Policies
  • Complaints Handling Procedures
  • Safeguarding Policies and Procedures
  • Serious Incident Reporting Procedures
  • Risk Management Policies
  • Financial Controls and Reserves Policies
  • Delegated Authority and Decision-Making Procedures
  • Volunteer Policies and Agreements
  • Data Protection and Information Management
  • Policy Implementation and Training
  • Operational Procedures and Internal Frameworks

Why Instruct DTM Legal?

Policies should support the way an organisation operates rather than simply exist as documents that are rarely consulted.

Our Charity & Philanthropy team takes a practical approach to policy preparation, helping charities develop frameworks that reflect their structure, activities and genuine operational risks.

We consider how each policy interacts with the organisation’s governing document, existing procedures and wider legal obligations. This helps create a consistent approach across the organisation and reduces the risk of policies contradicting one another or failing to address how decisions are actually made.

Our Charity & Philanthropy practice is led by Alison Brennan, a Partner in DTM Legal’s Corporate and Commercial team. Where policies raise wider legal issues, we can draw on expertise from across the firm, including our Employment and HR, Dispute Resolution, Commercial Property and Corporate and Commercial teams.

We provide:

  • Policies tailored to your organisation and activities
  • Practical advice focused on implementation
  • Reviews of existing policies and procedures
  • Support identifying gaps and areas of operational risk
  • Advice that takes account of governance arrangements
  • Assistance when policies need to be applied to real situations
  • Training and guidance for trustees and leadership teams
  • A coordinated service drawing on expertise from across DTM Legal

Get in Touch

Whether you require a complete review of your organisation’s policies, assistance preparing a specific procedure or practical advice about an operational issue, DTM Legal’s Charity & Philanthropy team can help.

We provide tailored support designed to give trustees, employees and volunteers clear guidance while helping organisations manage their legal and operational risks.

Contact Alison and the Charity & Philanthropy team by calling 01244 354 800 or via email at alison.brennan@dtmlegal.com.

Key Contact
Head of Compliance and Service Delivery
DTM Legal
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Key Considerations When Reviewing Your Organisation’s Policies

Providing clear information about your organisation will help your solicitor understand which policies are required, where improvements may be needed and how procedures should work in practice. Read our Key Considerations guide to understand some of the points a solicitor may wish to discuss when responding to your enquiry. It can help you prepare the relevant information and make your initial conversation more productive.

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DTM Legal
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Charity & Philanthropy Team

Alison Brennan

Head of Compliance and Service Delivery
Richard Thomas

Head of Business Recovery

Frequently Asked Questions

Commonly asked questions relating to Charity sector policies.

The policies appropriate for an organisation will depend on its size, activities, structure and the people it works with.

Common policies include those covering safeguarding, conflicts of interest, complaints, risk management, financial controls, reserves, trustee expenses and serious incident reporting. Other organisations may also require policies covering areas such as volunteers, fundraising, social media, data protection or investment. The Charity Commission recognises that the appropriate policies will vary according to the nature of each charity.

There is no single timetable that will be appropriate for every policy or organisation. Policies should be kept under review and updated when there are significant changes to the organisation, its activities, working practices or relevant legal requirements.

A review may also be appropriate following an incident or where experience has shown that an existing policy is unclear or difficult to apply.

 

Templates can provide a useful starting point, but they should be adapted to reflect how the organisation actually operates.

A policy that names responsibilities or procedures that do not exist in practice is unlikely to provide effective guidance when an issue arises. Policies should therefore reflect the organisation’s structure, activities and internal decision-making arrangements.

Responsibility for day-to-day implementation may be delegated to employees, volunteers or specific trustees depending on the organisation and the policy concerned.

However, trustees retain overall responsibility for the governance and oversight of the charity, so appropriate reporting and monitoring arrangements should be in place. For example, the Charity Commission states that trustees remain responsible for implementing and monitoring their charity’s internal financial controls even where detailed work is delegated.

Yes. We can advise organisations where an incident, complaint or other issue has highlighted uncertainty about existing policies or procedures.

Our team can help assess the immediate legal and governance considerations, advise on the appropriate response and review relevant policies to identify whether changes should be made for the future.

What our Clients Say

See what our customers have to say about their experience

Review Solicitors Stars
5/5 350+Reviews
Anonymous
01/10/2023
The DTM Legal LLP are one of our charity’s most valued legal skill donors. We can rely 100% on DTM Legal’s support. They are always quick to respond and very efficient and thorough in their work. They set out the parameters to which they are able to offer pro bono support and have a personable approach, which puts the charities at ease, during what can be stressful situations.
Dianne Parrish
26/05/2026
Alison and her colleagues at DTM Legal have provided legal support and peace of mind for a wide range of organisations consistently over many years. Expertise, solutions and guidance delivered promptly with clarity.
Anonymous
01/10/2023
Our initial key contact has been such a pleasure to work with, Alison Brennan. Alison always responds to email requests promptly and, wherever possible, will offer to help either directly, if the skills request is within her area of expertise, or she will facilitate support from her colleagues in other departments, within the DTM Legal practice. Our charities are always very happy with Alison, Kate and their respective teams’ support.

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