News & Events

Statement from CEO Diarmaid Ó Corrbuí

I am delighted to be launching Carmichael’s 2023 Annual Report.

The publication of the organisation’s annual report is a very important event. It is the organisation’s accountability statement to its stakeholders, its funders, staff, volunteers, service users, supports, regulators and the wider public.

The 2023 Annual Report sets out our purpose, strategic objectives, services, governance arrangements, our funding sources and what we did with those funds and resources in delivering on our purpose, our objectives and targets set in our strategic plan.

There are a lot of achievements by the Carmichael team in 2023 that I am very proud of. These include;

• Carmichael was home to 44 different nonprofit organisations.
• 3,679 people were supported through our training and support services. In 2023, we expanded our range of training programmes and eLearning modules. We also saw growing demand for our board evaluation and governance review services.
• Our mentoring programme continues to go from strength to strength. In 2023 we had a record number of 53 CEOs and managers of nonprofit organisations that were assigned a mentor under the programme which is delivered free of charge thanks to the pro bono support of our 60+ mentors.
• We provided 189 informal supports/guidance to 871 people from 271 organisations and networks.
• We had 833 meeting room bookings and with the appointment of our new chef, Jeff we have substantially enhanced our catering offer for meetings.
• We had 134 entries and more than 200 people attended our 2023 Good Governance Awards event.
• In partnership with TU Dublin, we were delighted to launch the Certified Charity Trustee programme which we will be running again in 2024.

Like many nonprofits, 2023 was not all plain sailing and we experienced higher staff and operating costs in 2023. The board also made the strategic decision to significantly enhance our communications capacity by creating a new post of Communications Officer. We also had some building issues which meant that some of our meeting rooms and offices we not available. The net effect of these was that we incurred an overall deficit of €78,000 which will be funded from our reserves.

Overall, it was a very strong year for the delivery of our services and meeting our strategic targets, but our expenditure was greater than the income we were earning and received from our statutory funders.  Our challenge for 2024 is to continue to grow and expand our services and carefully manage our expenditure to reduce the size of our operating deficit and work to a breakeven position in 2025.

I want to thank the Board of Carmichael for their supportive guidance and governance oversight. A big thank you to the team in Carmichael, our staff and volunteers and all those who support us with the Good Governance Awards and the mentoring programme, our funders and supporters and especially, the thousands of people from the sector that use our services and supports every year.

Diarmaid Ó Corrbuí

CEO

Carmichael

4 North Brunswick Street, Dublin, D07 RHA8

Tel: 01 873 5702

Carmichael and The Wheel’s Training Links Programme 

Training Links funds and supports networks of community and voluntary organisations to undertake training together. Applications for funding for Training Links 2024 – 2026 is now open. Closing date is May 17^th. Training Networks are invited to apply for grants ranging from €10,000.00 to €50,000.00. There is a total fund of €255,000 available and applications are welcome from new, existing, previously funded networks who have completed their programme or previously unsuccessful networks. See here for more information.

If you are looking for a training partner, Carmichael can develop and deliver customised training on behalf of your network. Please contact derekoreilly@carmichaelireland.ie for further details.

We’ve launched our new interactive quiz for charity trustees to test their knowledge.

It only takes 3 minutes to complete.  Find it here.

Share with your fellow trustees and see how you score.

To improve your knowledge consider one of our training courses or eLearning courses.

Free coaching, mentoring and peer support for leaders in the nonprofit sector.

Carmichael is delighted to announce the relaunch of the Mentoring Programme for 2024.

The programme began in 2013, when our initial panel of 14 pro bono mentors supported 16 nonprofit leaders. We now have more than 50 mentors on our panel and support more than 50 nonprofit leaders per year. Since the programme’s inception, 247 nonprofit leaders from 143 nonprofit organisations have participated.

Interested in mentorship?

The updated programme brings in more structure to the mentoring process and, as well as continuing to provide mentoring and coaching, we are introducing a peer support network for those who complete the programme to continue the benefits of having a sounding board outside of your own organisation. To apply for mentorship, see our website.  The next round is open for applicants until February 12th.

Interested in becoming a mentor?

We can only continue to meet this rising demand for mentoring if suitable individuals continue to step forward and volunteer to become mentors.

Are you a current or former leader in a nonprofit? This could mean leading the entire organisation, a department or a team or volunteers.

When you first stepped into that leadership role, could you have benefited from more support?

Knowing what you know now, could you offer some support to someone starting their leadership journey, or facing a new challenge as an experienced leader?

We would love to hear from those with experience in the nonprofit sector who are interested in getting involved. See our website or contact roisin@carmichaelireland.ie for more information.

This programme is kindly sponsored by BHP Insurances.

In collaboration with The Wheel, Carmichael are pleased to announce a new National Training Fund Programme for 2024. The National Training Fund is funded through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. There is a range of different programmes to support small to medium sized organisations.

NTF Annual Report Support Programme 2024– Fully booked

NTF Impact Management Support 2024– Fully booked

NTF Succession Planning – Online 08/03/2024 or 19/07/2024

NTF Leadership Programme September 2024: Effective Leadership & Management of Teams

NTF Diversity & Inclusion Programme: Embracing Diversity, Encouraging Inclusion-April/May 2024

NTF Leaders, Managers and Management Teams -Fully booked

NTF Enhance Coaching Skills for Greater Collaboration – In-person 05/07/2024-Fully booked

NTF Bullying Complaints – Guidelines for Investigation – 26/07/2024 (In-person workshop)

If you have any questions, feel free to email training@carmichaelireland.ie.

This NTF  programmes are aimed at Charities/Community Groups/Voluntary Organisations/Social Enterprises in the Republic of Ireland.

The funding for the provision of these services comes from the National Training Fund administered by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science. There is a nominal charge by way of a contribution.

To apply

Apply as outlined in the role descriptions below before January 14th 2024.

1. Board Member (Trustee & Director) with Governance and Risk Experience
2. Board Member (Trustee & Director) with Finance Experience
3. Board Member (Trustee & Director) with Strategy, Training and Client Services Experience

For more information on these board vacancies or Carmichael, please contact the Services Manager, Róisín McGuigan, at roisin@carmichaelireland.ie. 

We will be taking a break over Christmas and the New Year.

We will close on Thursday 21st December and be back open on Tuesday January 2nd 2024.

It will not be possible to book meeting rooms while the centre is closed.

If you need anything from us before then please get in touch.

Carmichael Good Governance Awards Winner 2023

The Good Governance Awards recognises and encourages adherence to good governance by non-profit organisations in Ireland. The awards were developed by Carmichael with the support of our partners and leading national bodies in the non-profit sector.

The winners of the Good Governance Awards 2023 were announced at our Awards Ceremony on Thursday November 17th.

Read the press release here.

Carmichael’s Spring Summer 2024 Scheduled Training Programme

Full details of the Spring Summer Scheduled Training Programme here.

With over 30 years training experience we have a deep understanding of the challenges and issues faced by the sector across Ireland. At a time of rapid change in the regulatory landscape, expectations for transparency, accountability, oversight and governance are higher than ever. 

Our highly skilled team of expert trainers and consultants have a wealth of skills, knowledge, insights and on the ground experience. The participative approach they take gives our clients the chance to reflect on their own expertise as well as to learn from one another. 

The Charities Governance Code – Online

(10:00am–12:30pm – Wed, 10^th January 2024)

Instructor: Andrew Madden

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Companies Act 2014 and the Charities Act 2009 for Non-profit Organisations – Online

(10.00am-12.00pm – Tues, 16^th January 2024)

Instructor: Andrea Shupinski

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Board Roles and Responsibilities – Online

(6.00pm-8.30pm – Tues, 23^rd January 2024)

Instructor: Marian Barnard

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Understanding and Influencing the Oireachtas – Online

(10:00am–12:30pm – Thurs, 25^th January 2024)

Instructor: Jillian van Turnhout

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Microsoft Office/Microsoft 365 – Productivity Tools – Online

(10:00am–1:00pm – Tues, 6^th February 2024)

Instructor: Fiona Walsh

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Facilitation Skills for In-Person Settings – Online

(10:00am–12:00pm – Thurs, 8^th February 2024)

Instructor: Clare Mulvany

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Microsoft Excel – Introduction to Spreadsheets – Online

(2.30pm-4.00pm – Mon, 19^th February 2024)

Instructor: Anne Walsh

The course will take place on Zoom over 4 sessions.

Board Member Induction – Online

(6:30pm–9:00pm – Tues, 20^th February 2024)
Instructor: Michelle Walshe

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Cyber Security for Management/Board – Online

(10:00am–12:00pm – Tues, 20^th February 2024)
Instructor: Liam Lynch

Session delivered via Google Meet. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Introduction to Strategic Planning – Online

(10:00am–12:30pm – Wed, 21^st February 2024)

Instructor: Jillian van Turnhout

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Cyber Security for Staff – Online

(10:00am–12:00pm – Tues, 27^th February 2024)
Instructor: Liam Lynch

Session delivered via Google Meet. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Organisation Resilience Planning for Charities and Not-For-Profits – Online

(10:00am–12:00pm – Tues, 5^th March 2024)
Instructor: Liam Lynch

Session delivered via Google Meet. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Boards, Chairs and CEOs: Roles, Relationships & Boundaries – Online

(10:00am–12:30pm – Thurs, 7^th March 2024)

Instructor: Jillian van Turnhout

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Introduction to Risk Management – Online

(10:00am–12:00pm – Tues, 12^th March 2024)

Instructor: Liam Scollan

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

The Charities Governance Code – Online

(6:30pm–9:00pm – Wed, 13^th March 2024)

Instructor: Andrew Madden

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Implementing a Strategic Plan – In-Person Course (Carmichael Centre, D7)

(10:00am–12:30pm – Wed, 20^th March 2024)

Instructor: Jillian van Turnhout

Session delivered In-Person (Carmichael). Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Incident Response Planning for Charities and Not-For-Profits – Online

(10:00am–12:00pm – Thurs, 21^st March 2024)
Instructor: Liam Lynch

Session delivered via Google Meet. Fee = €80.00 per person for non-profits.

Microsoft Excel – Beyond the Basics – Intermediate Level – Online

(2.30pm-4.00pm – Wed, 27^th March 2024)

Instructor: Anne Walsh

The course will take place on Zoom over 4 sessions.

Session delivered via Zoom. Fee = €160.00 per person for non-profits.

For further details or to discuss your individual requirements please contact training@carmichaelireland.ie

Spring Summer 2024 Scheduled Training Programme sponsored by BoardEffect.

Carmichael’s Spring Summer 2024 Scheduled Training Programme is kindly sponsored by BoardEffect, which is part of Diligent, the leader in modern governance. BoardEffect delivers an agile board management solution optimised for governance leaders of nonprofits, higher education institutions, community healthcare organisations, and credit unions with the right tools, analytics, and insights to drive more efficient, transparent, and secure governance.

A host of free events are planned for Ireland’s 7^th Charity Trustees Week from 13th – 17th November when organisations across the charity sector and the Charities Regulator come together for a great big THANK YOU to the over 76,000 volunteers responsible for overseeing the operations of Ireland’s 11,500 registered charities. These volunteers, known as charity trustees, include directors, board members and committee members of charities.

Please find below sharefile of a social post that can be shared across all platforms for Charity Trustees’ Week.

In the case of the “Thank you” picture frame the tile we have included in the assets is an example only – the actual template is available to download free from Canva using the following link.

Please feel free to post images of your own organisations trustees using the instructions below.

Instructions on how to use the “Thank you” picture frame

1. Take a photo of your Charity Trustee(s) and save it as a Jpeg or PNG if you don’t have one saved on your computer already.
2. Click on this link –

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFvud4Wj8E/2qPFs0giK5ZIW0UO0t2lMg/view?utm_content=DAFvud4Wj8E&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink&mode=preview

3. Click “Use template”
4. If you don’t already have a Canva account, you will need to create an account at this stage to proceed – its free and easy to do.
5. Once you have signed into your account, open up the folder on your computer where you saved the image of your charity trustee(s); Click and hold, and drag the image to the frame. Centre it on the frame and release. You may need to adjust the image to fit the frame or move the image around until it attaches to the frame.
6. Click share button at the top right hand corner of your screen
7. Click download from the drop down menu that opens;  Choose the file type you want to download – either Jpeg or PNG. Click download and it will automatically save into your downloads on your computer for use as an image on your social channels.

If you have any queries please contact Maeve – communications@carmichaelireland.ie