How to improve trustee recruitment

Charity sector body NCVO declared in 2024 that the charity sector was blighted by a “trustee recruitment crisis”. Guidance from the charity sector body recommends charities have at least five trustees on their board and no more than 12.

 

But many struggle to meet these numbers. The NCVO found widespread vacancies on boards of trustees, which are vital to the smooth running of charities by overseeing governance and offering expert advice to senior staff when needed.

 

Here we delve into latest research into trustee recruitment and pinpoint some of the ways charities can fill spaces on their boards and can ensure their trustees truly reflect their mission.

 

 

Why are there so many trustee vacancies?

 

Research released by the NCVO in November 2024 warns of widespread problems charities face recruiting trustees. Four in five have at least one vacancy and half have two or more, it revealed. Also, a third of charities warn positions are remaining unfilled for more than a year.

 

Small charities are particularly impacted. Three in five vacancies on their boards last more than six months. “These vacancies are causing significant skills gaps, governance issues, and stress among trustees,” said the charity body.

 

Three in five charities warn that vacancies are creating expertise gaps on their boards, including in marketing, communications, legal affairs, technology and finance. Four in five micro-charities, with an income of less than £10,000 a year are reporting these gaps.

 

Charities are also struggling to recruit a diverse range of trustees, the NCVO found. Two thirds are concerned they do not have young people on their board, half  are worried about a lack of global majority board members.

 

Meanwhile, a third say lack of representation from people with disabilities is an issue.

 

 

Emphasise skills, passion, and community

 

To encourage more people to apply to be a trustee, charities are advised to focus on benefits of the role to candidates, including using skills differently, tapping into people’s passion for a cause and supporting their local community.

 

Research published by the Charity Commission and think tank Pro Bono Economics (PBE) in November 2024 argues the focus on skills, passion, and community could be particularly persuasive when looking to fill vacancies on charities’ boards.

 

They found that two in three trustees cite these as being major benefits.

 

In promoting this focus, research recommends charities use their current crop of trustees as recruitment ambassadors to promote the role. Four in five trustees say they are likely to recommend sitting on charities’ boards to others, the Charity Commission and PBE found.

 

 

Promote a better understanding of young people

 

There is enormous potential to recruit more young people as trustees, further research indicates.

 

Released by Young Trustees Movement and insurer Ecclesiastical in November 2024, research found two in five young people had considered the role. This is up from one in four who had considered becoming a trustee when asked in 2019. 

 

But charities need to have a better understanding of young people when trying to recruit them, the research adds. For example, one in five young people fear they do not have enough spare time and worry about the legal responsibilities involved. One in six believe the role could be too much work for them.

 

This indicates charities need to do more to assure young people that it is not too time-consuming and offer robust training so they are confident they understand their responsibilities.

 

Letting young people know that boards typically meet only once a month, for only two to three hours, could help alleviate fears over the time involved. Assuring them that being a trustee offers added value to the charity is another powerful motivation for young people, according to Young Trustees Movement and Ecclesiastical.

 

Supporting their career ambitions is another, as is the mental health benefits of being a trustee. Simply knowing a charity wants youth representation on their board motivates a fifth of young people, the survey found.

 

Young Trustees Movement Chief Executive Mita Desai urges charities to assure young people that “intergenerational perspectives aren’t just a ‘nice to have’ – they’re essential to good governance”.

 

 

Be more diverse

 

Charity boards have admitted, in a Director of Social Change survey published in October 2024, that equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is their worst performing area.

 

To improve EDI, boards need to get better at recruiting a more diverse group of trustees, in terms of disability and ethnicity, and to ensure their boards represent the people they serve, according to NCVO Chief Executive Sarah Elliot. “The lack of diversity in age, ethnicity, and a diverse range of expertise not only creates skills gaps but also limits charities’ capacity to truly meet the needs of those they aim to support.”

 

Advice the Charity Commission offers to improve board diversity is to advertise in a wide range of media, including specialist press, as well as ensure shortlisting and interviewing of candidates is equitable, with the same questions asked.

 

Virtual options such as video conferencing for meetings are also needed to help attract a wider pool of trustees, such as those with mobility issues, who could be put off by the travel involved.