Change management consultancy Nine Feet Tall has shared its expertise in a new guide designed to help charities operate more efficiently and enable them to deliver on their objectives more effectively.

The Role of Design for Charities draws on insights from leading organisations, including St John Ambulance, Mencap, and Blue Cross, and explores how charities can align their Organisation Design with strategic goals to build resilience.

The free-to-download guide outlines practical approaches including the development of flexible, skills-based operating models that focus on adaptability, and highlights the importance of streamlining decision-making and fostering cross-functional collaboration.

Organisation Design is a process that ensures that an organisation’s structure is aligned with its strategic goals and objectives.

Tiggy McCool, partner and third sector lead at Nine Feet Tall, said: “Charities today face mounting challenges, from funding cuts and financial pressures to increased public scrutiny and changing operational demands, causing many to close at a time when their support and services are needed more than ever.

“In some cases, charities are operating in structures that no longer meet their needs, and this is limiting their ability to deliver what they do best. This guide offers practical frameworks and actionable tips to help organisations adapt, build resilience, and thrive.”

The guide also examines triggers for redesign, such as leadership changes, financial pressures, and technological changes, and shares key considerations for navigating any transition phases.

One of the charities consulted for the report was Blue Cross, an organisation Nine Feet Tall supported in a national roll-out of foodbanks for pets. Ian Heaton, deputy CEO and CFO, said: “It is vital to treat organisational design as a programme of change. You will need a project structure, clear business case and well-defined benefits.”

To download the guide, visit https://resources.ninefeettall.com/role-of-design-for-charities.

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