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TS-FS-11 Trust & Stewardship Financial Stewardship CORE Compliance v2.9.7

Overhead (support/admin), fundraising and governance costs: separated, reasonable and transparent (SORP-aligned)

Assesses whether the charity defines and applies SORP-aligned cost categories (charitable activities, fundraising, support/admin and governance), allocates shared costs on a consistent basis, and keeps overhead at reasonable levels. Transparent methodology and context build donor trust and ensure efficient resource use. The criterion also assesses whether communications avoid simplistic “low overhead” claims and instead explain how appropriate investment in controls, safeguarding, and systems protects amānah and improves impact.

Compliance 1
  • Separate tracking of admin costs in accounting system
    Process Essential
Basic 3
  • Clear definition and categorization of administrative costs
    Documentation Essential
  • Justification for admin cost levels
    Documentation Important
  • Transparency in external communications
    Process Essential
Good 6
  • Board-approved policy on admin cost management
    Governance Essential
  • Regular reporting on admin cost ratios
    Monitoring Essential
  • Consistent cost allocation methodology
    Excellence High
  • Functional expense reporting
    Transparency High
  • Transparency in fundraising materials
    Transparency High
  • Procurement and contract re-tendering
    Efficiency High
Better 9
  • Benchmarking against sector standards
    Performance Important
  • Efficiency measures to control admin costs
    Process Important
  • Independent review of cost allocations
    Transparency High
  • Value-for-money analysis of admin functions
    Continuous Improvement Medium
  • Context provided for admin cost ratios
    Transparency Medium
  • Balanced approach avoiding under-investment
    Leadership High
  • Regular efficiency reviews
    Continuous Improvement Medium
  • Automation (cloud ledger, AP, workflows)
    Excellence High
  • Three-year trend and segmentation of ratios
    Transparency Medium
Best 1
  • Activity-Based Costing and time-writing
    Excellence High

Discussion (1)

Administrator 2026-03-07 11:07:49.527985

📋 **Version updated: 1.0.0 → 2.9.7** **Changes:** Updated islamic_references from mizan-297.json

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