Practical consulting for nonprofit and community-based work

Clear advice, useful documents and workable systems—grounded in long experience of running organisations.

Governance and organisational structure

  • Board and management responsibilities
  • Role clarity and decision-making
  • Bylaws, policies and delegations
  • Meeting structures and accountability

Compliance, HMS and internal control

  • Risk assessments and action plans
  • Internal-control systems
  • Working-environment and HMS routines
  • Preparation for inspections and external review

Social-care administration

  • Quality systems and documentation
  • Incident and deviation follow-up
  • Responsibilities across health and care services
  • Practical systems for community-based providers

Management and HR systems

  • Management organisation and reporting
  • Employment agreements and personnel routines
  • Scheduling, responsibilities and follow-up
  • Policies that people can understand and use

New organisations and projects

  • Choosing a workable structure
  • Moving from an idea to accountable activity
  • Administrative and governance foundations
  • Connections with relevant specialist advisers

Organisational problem-solving

  • Untangling unclear or inherited situations
  • Short reviews and practical recommendations
  • Drafting reports, policies and action plans
  • Support during periods of change

What an engagement might look like

Some assignments are one focused conversation followed by a short written recommendation. Others involve reviewing documents, meeting a board or management group, developing policies, or helping an organisation implement a new system over several months.

I do not approach every question as a large consultancy project. The aim is to identify the smallest useful piece of work and be clear about where another specialist is needed.

Start with the actual problem

Write to adrian@bowden.org with a short description of what is happening and what you hope to achieve.