Charities and nonprofits; performance; trust; and execution
Orientation; why this work matters
Mission brings meaning; pressure brings noise; scarce resources demand clarity. Boards and executive teams must balance dignity with data; fundraising with duty; innovation with risk.
Behavioural science helps resolve these tensions; it turns values into practices; it makes good choices easier to make again. My approach blends psychological insight; operational design; and evidence you can defend in public.
What I do; scope and services
Executive performance workshops; focused sessions for senior teams on high stakes decision making; prioritisation; and execution under pressure
Strategic advisory for charity boards; governance; strategy; and organisational performance; options appraised; trade offs explicit
Culture design for nonprofit teams; norms; rituals; and systems that align behaviour with mission and values; measurement that matters
Fundraising leadership briefings; behavioural insights for development leaders; ethical framing; donor trust; and practical playbooks
One to one advisory for senior leaders; confidential counsel that integrates mindset; role design; and accountability
How I work; principles and practice
Evidence first; claims are referenced; limits are stated; results are reviewed with candour.
Emotion and information in balance; humane tone with clear facts; dignity for staff; donors; and beneficiaries.
Rights and responsibilities; protect autonomy; avoid coercion; design for consent; treat trust as a strategic asset.
Professional discretion; sensitive topics remain private; learning is shared without exposure.
Implementation bias; frameworks are translated into tools; habits; and routines that survive busy weeks.
Experience; indicative and anonymised
Strategic performance workshops for leadership teams in national charities; outcomes included sharper decision rights and cleaner cadences
Board advisory on governance refresh; risk clarity; and strategic prioritisation during organisational change
Design and delivery of high performance clinics for development directors; ethical fundraising; narrative; and supporter care
Trustee service in complex charities; insight into board dynamics; regulation; and stakeholder expectations
Published research on nonprofit behaviour; public trust; and prosocial norms; shared through lectures and long form writing
Topics I am often asked to address
Decision quality; how senior teams protect attention; reduce rework; and pace change
Culture by design; practices that produce belonging; accountability; and energy
Fundraising that protects trust; choice architecture for good; consent and transparency
Measurement that leaders can live with; few numbers; real behaviours; visible learning
Leadership psychology; role transitions; cognitive load; and narrative that travels
What you can expect; artefacts and outcomes
You will receive a short discovery; a clear brief; and an agreed scorecard for success. Sessions include evidence maps; working templates; and decision flows that your team can adopt immediately. Follow up support is available; questions are welcome; dissent is encouraged. Expected outcomes include sharper priorities; cleaner operating rhythms; improved board cohesion; and strengthened donor and public trust.
Speaking; training; and clinics
Formats include keynotes; board briefings; masterclasses; and closed door clinics. Each event is built for your audience; with examples drawn from your context; with tools you can apply the next working day.
Start the conversation
If you are a charity leader seeking better decisions; stronger culture; or clearer execution; you are welcome to begin a confidential conversation. Share your context; your constraints; and your aims; I will propose a practical route that respects mission; people; and pace.
Dean Steele
Business Strategist; Researcher.
Trusted partner to leaders in the United Kingdom charity sector; research led; field tested; accountable for outcomes