Charity marketing health check: an audit of your current channels
The health check is a structured review of every place your charity speaks to supporters today, ending in a short written report with three priorities for the next quarter. It is where every engagement starts, and it stands on its own if that is all you need.
Why start with a review
Most charities cannot say with confidence what their marketing achieves. Activity is easy to see. Results are harder, and nobody has had the time to line one up against the other.
A health check answers three questions. What are you doing today? What is it achieving? And what should you do first? It gives you facts before you spend more money, change supplier or hire.
What we look at
We review every channel your charity uses to reach supporters, partners and the people you serve, and the foundations underneath them.
- Every channel in use. Your website, email, social accounts, print, events, local press and any paid activity, along with who runs each and how often.
- Brand and message. Whether the way you describe your charity is clear, consistent and recognisable across all of those places.
- Your website. Whether a first-time visitor understands what you do, who you help and how to support you within a few seconds.
- Supporter data. What you hold, how well it is kept, how it is used and whether it is handled within the rules.
- Capacity. Who does the work, how much time they have and where the gaps are.
- Measurement. What you track now, what you could track and what the board actually sees.
What you receive
A written report and a conversation with a founder. Not a slide deck, and not a folder of screenshots.
The report is short and plain. It shows what is working, what is not and what to stop. It ends with three priorities for the next quarter, in order, with a reason for each.
| In the report | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| A map of current channels | Everything you do, who does it and what it costs in time and money. |
| What is working | The activity and messages that earn their place and deserve more attention. |
| What is not | The activity that takes time and returns little, and what to do about it. |
| Three priorities | What to do first in the next quarter, in order, with a reason for each. |
What happens next
After the review, you decide. Some charities take the three priorities and do the work themselves. Others ask for help with the plan, with training for the team or with strategy alignment. Some bring in a fractional marketing lead to own the work.
You are under no obligation to continue. A review that leaves you better informed is a useful outcome.
Book a conversation about a health check
A free 30-minute discovery call with a founder. We will talk through what a review would cover for your charity.
Book a free 30-minute discovery call
No spam. No automated phone system. Just us.
Who it suits
- Charities about to hire. Know what you need before you write the job description.
- Charities about to change supplier. Understand what the current one is delivering before you decide.
- Charities about to commit budget. Spend on what the evidence supports.
- New leaders. A chief executive or fundraising director who has just joined and wants a clear picture quickly.
- Boards asking questions. Trustees who want to know what marketing achieves and what it costs.
How the health check fits with the other services
| If the review shows | A sensible next step |
|---|---|
| Good activity with no clear link to the charity’s goals | Strategy alignment |
| No one with the seniority to own the work | Fractional marketing |
| A willing team that needs skills and confidence | Training and mentoring |
| A well-run operation that needs only a few fixes | Act on the three priorities. No further help required. |
How fees work
Fees are not published. They depend on the size of the charity and the number of channels in use, and we agree the fee with you before any work begins. The discovery call is free and carries no obligation.
Care with supporter data
A review touches supporter information, so we handle it carefully. We ask only for what we need, keep it only as long as we need it and respect the rules that govern how charities use personal data. The Fundraising Regulator’s guidance on communications is a useful starting point for your board. Read it here.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a health check take?
It depends on how many channels you use and how quickly we can reach the information. We confirm the timetable in writing before we start, so you know when the report will arrive and when we need your input.
What do we need to prepare?
Very little. We will ask for access to the places you use to speak to supporters, a short list of who does what, and any reports you already produce. We tell you exactly what we need on the discovery call.
Do we have to continue with you afterwards?
No. The report and the three priorities are yours to use. Some charities act on them alone. Others ask for help, and we will tell you plainly which parts you can do yourselves and which are worth paying for.
Who carries out the review?
One of the two founders, Adam Graver or Lucy Collinge, and the person who writes the report is the person who talks you through it. There is no hand-off to a junior team member.
What is the difference between a health check and strategy alignment?
The health check looks at what you do now and what it achieves. Strategy alignment starts from your charity’s strategic plan and checks that marketing serves it. Many charities start with the health check, then align.
Will you look at our fundraising as well?
We look at how you speak to supporters, including fundraising communications, because they are marketing. We do not replace a fundraising strategy or advise on regulated fundraising methods, and we say so where the line falls.
Is a health check useful for a very small charity?
Often more than for a large one. A small charity with one person and a few hours a week cannot afford to spend them on the wrong things. A clear order of priorities is worth a lot when time is the scarce resource.
Can our board see the report?
Yes, and we encourage it. The report is written in plain language so trustees can read it without a briefing. We can also present it to the board if you ask.
Sources
- Communications and advertising, Fundraising Regulator. Read 5 October 2026. www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/about-fundraising/topics/communications-and-advertising
Talk to a founder
Thirty minutes with one of the two founders. We listen, say what we would do first, and tell you plainly if we are not the right fit.
Book a free 30-minute discovery call
No spam. No automated phone system. Just us.