A series of Charity Commission investigations informs this article by Neal Green, the regulator's senior policy advisor, who warns that charities can easily get caught up spending all their resources on fundraising, rather than their stated purpose.

Trustees can be personally liable for any charity funds spent outside charitable objectives. Neal Green explains how the Charity Commission deals with charities working outside their charitable objects.

It is two and a half years since the charity commission published its research report Stand and Deliver and guidance on Charities and Public Service Delivery.

Neal Green provides some advice to a chief executive who believes that how well trustees govern is more important than who they are.