The Fractional CFO Show with Adam Cooper Building a Charity with a CEO’s Mindset
Jun 3, 2025
In this conversation with Peter Charalambides, CEO of The Upper Room and former Property CEO, he dives into applying a business mindset to charity leadership. He shares insights on the importance of diversifying income streams and fostering community impact. Peter discusses vital financial lessons from the business world, including cash flow and salary benchmarking. He also emphasizes engaging younger donors through innovative partnerships and maintains a unique balance between tradition and modern technology in his charitable work.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Property CEO to Charity Leader
- Peter Charalambides started a property inventory business from scratch in 2007, growing it organically for 12 years.
- He sold it just before COVID, then transitioned to charity work focusing on helping tenants and vulnerable people.
Business Lessons Apply to Charities
- Always put the client or service user at the center of everything you do.
- Relationships, realistic salary benchmarking, cash flow, leadership, and data use are key lessons from business for charities.
Charity Revenue Differs from Business
- Charities focus on impact and purpose rather than profit, running balanced budgets instead.
- Their revenue comes mainly from grants, donations, corporate partnerships, and events, unlike business client payments.