Recruit, manage and retain great charity trustees
10/13/2024
All charities, big or small, depend on trustees—either paid or volunteers—to handle important tasks like fundraising and hiring. Here's a few tips on how to recruit and keep trustees at your charity.
How to Find the Best Trustees
Finding good trustees can be tough, but good planning makes it easier.
- Start by creating a clear policy on how to select trustees and set up a dedicated panel to manage this process.
- Write a detailed job description that explains the roles, responsibilities, and expectations for trustees, helping candidates understand what’s required.
- Regularly check what skills and experience are needed on the board to fill any gaps and create a well-rounded team.
- Clearly communicate role expectations to all members of the recruitment team so they can identify the right candidate.
Use various channels, like social media and networking events, to reach a wide pool of potential trustees. Platforms like LinkedIn and Meta (Facebook) can be key tools for recruitment, allowing charities to connect with a wide audience. By posting job descriptions and engaging content on these platforms, charities can attract qualified and committed individuals who may not be reached through traditional methods. Reaching a broader audience increases the chances of finding the right candidates.
Identify and manage any potential conflicts of interest early to maintain transparency and trust within the board. This proactive approach helps prevent issues that could harm the board's effectiveness.
After hiring new trustees, review the recruitment process to see what worked well and what could be improved. This ensures that future recruitment efforts are even more successful. By following these steps, charities can build a strong and effective board, capable of driving their mission forward and achieving their goals.
Eligibility Requirements
In England and Wales, prospective trustees must complete and sign a trustee declaration of eligibility and responsibility. This declaration confirms that they are eligible to serve as a trustee, not disqualified by law, and understand their responsibilities. Additionally, you may want to carry out further due diligence by checking relevant registers. The Charity Commission provides guidance on why some individuals can't act as charity trustees, making sure all trustees meet legal standards and are aware of their duties.
Inclusive Recruitment of Trustees
Inclusive recruitment is important for creating a diverse and effective board. To find a wide range of candidates, look beyond your usual networks and use inclusive language in job descriptions and ads. Make sure your recruitment process promotes equality and seeks input from trustees with different backgrounds, experiences, and skills. Offering flexible meeting times and remote options can also help attract more candidates.
The UK's Equality Act of 2010 protects individuals in the workplace from discrimination based on:
- age
- gender reassignment
- being married or in a civil partnership
- being pregnant or on maternity leave
- disability
- race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
- religion or belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
For more details on inclusive recruitment, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) offers a helpful step-by-step guide for employers.
Trustee Induction
A thorough induction process is important for new trustees to understand their roles and responsibilities. Start with an orientation meeting to introduce the charity’s mission, values, and key activities.
Provide essential documents such as the charity’s governing documents, recent financial statements, and strategic plans. Arrange meetings with key staff and other trustees to help new members build relationships and gain insights into daily operations. Offer ongoing support and training to ensure they feel confident in their role.
How to Keep Great Trustees
Keeping good trustees is just as important as finding them. Once you find the right candidate, it's crucial to spend time and effort to keep them, as a strong board needs consistency and growth. Check the board’s skills regularly to keep trustees motivated and address any gaps. Offer affordable or free training to help trustees improve. Many organisations, like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), provide low-cost or free training alongside events like Trustees’ Week where charities can learn and share ideas.
Conducting evaluations is key to making trustees feel valued and helping them grow. These evaluations give trustees useful feedback, show their strengths, and point out areas to improve. Regular performance reviews help the board keep developing and adapting to new challenges, ensuring high standards of governance. These reviews also recognise the hard work of trustees, making them feel appreciated and motivated.
By following these steps, charities can create a supportive environment and ensure they have the best and most effective trustees to drive their mission forward.
NCVO's Trustees’ Week 2024
This year, Trustees’ Week is from 4 to 8 November 2024, organised by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). The theme is on recruiting and keeping good trustees. It's a great chance for trustees to learn, network, and improve their skills.
At Zurich, we offer insurance to protect your trustees. To learn more, visit our Trustee Indemnity Insurance page.
