Guidance Notes

Guidance for charities in using best practice principles to define the role and responsibilities for charity trustees.

A trustee board that is aware of its powers, duties and responsibilities and the impact it can have on the sustainability of an organisation is better placed to lead the charity to achieving its stated objects and making the intended positive impact on society.

Each charity requires a body of trustees to lead and govern the organisation. The Charities Act 2011 defines trustees as ‘…the persons having the general control and management of the administration of a charity’ (s.177).

This guidance note offers an example of a specimen letter of declaration by a new trustee.

Organisations that take governance seriously will invest in the continuous improvement of their board, including board performance review and evaluation.

This guidance note visually outlines some of the factors that a charity board will want to consider when discussing board evaluations.

This guidance note consolidates and expands upon the principles highlighted in the Charity Governance Code in relation to the management of conflicts of interest.

This guidance note covers registered charities in England and Wales and will support trustees in identifying, avoiding and managing conflicts of interest in an appropriate manner

The matrix highlights factors that would indicate the competency of individual charity trustees, and boards collectively, highlighting what capabilities trustees and boards should be able to demonstrate.