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How do I become a trustee?
09 Nov 2023by Helen Olszowska
We look at what trustees do and where to start if you want to become one
A trustee’s responsibility is to make sure that the charity is sticking to its mission to solve a social problem.
Traditionally, trustees have come from similar backgrounds – mostly people who have lots of experience in business or the charity sector. This has resulted in a serious lack of diversity. Just 8% of trustees are non-white, seven out of ten trustees are men and the median age of a trustee is 61 years old.
There is a huge need for trustees from different backgrounds, particularly people who have lived experience of the issue the charity works on. Diverse teams have been shown to have a better focus on facts and a higher level of ability when processing them – leading to better decision-making.
Charities also need people with specific skills in areas like finance, digital or the issue they work on. A health charity would be likely to include health professionals on its board, for example.
What is a trustee?
Trustees are the ultimate decision-makers in charities. They sign off on the charity’s strategy and budget, check that charities are safeguarding against risks and become a critical friend to the Chief Executive. They don’t run the charity, but they do ask questions to make sure the charity is being run properly.
Being a trustee is a volunteer role. Usually, the main trustee board meets 4-8 times per year. Each meeting will involve reading and understanding papers ahead of the meeting and getting prepared to ask questions about what you’ve read. The meetings help the Chief Executive think through whether they are sticking to the charity’s mission.
If you have joined the trustee board as someone with a specific skill, you might also sit on a subcommittee that provides advice and direction on your area of specialism. Subcommittees meet at different times to the main board and if you sit on one you would need to attend both sets of meetings.
How to get prepared for becoming a trustee
Remove any barriers in your mind. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never sat on a board before, or if you’ve never read a strategy or a budget. It’s a bit like being on a jury – no one expects you to have the same understanding of the law as a solicitor or barrister. It’s up to the charity to present what they are doing in a way that is accessible so that they can benefit from your knowledge and experience as someone who has a connection to their work or helpful expertise.
Start thinking about what you can offer a charity. Do you have experience with the issue they work on? Do you live in the community they serve? Do you have a specialist skill that they’re lacking – digital skills, for example?
Make a list of the charities you think could be an option for you and start getting to know more about what they do. You can look at information on their website and even download their annual report and accounts to understand their impact and who sits on their board.
Where to find trustee roles
There are lots of places to look for trustee roles and some also offer support and training too.
The Young Trustees Movement is working to try and double the number of trustees aged 18-30 by 2024. You can find and sign up for information on future trustee roles on their website.
Action for Trustee Racial Diversity provides practical support to charities to help them improve racial diversity on their boards. Their website includes a list of resources for people who want to become trustees.
Getting on Board offers some educational programmes (free and paid-for) to help aspiring trustees get ready to apply for a role or take on greater responsibility. They also advertise vacancies on social media and in their newsletters.
Reach Volunteering has vacant volunteer roles, including trustee roles, listed on their site. They also have some downloadable guides on becoming a trustee.
There are also several charity sector recruitment agencies that specialise in trustee roles including Prospectus, Peridot Partners, Charisma Recruitment, Charity People, and Green Park.
Following the CEOs of charities you would like to work with on social media is also worthwhile. You’ll learn more about them and they’re likely to post about any trustee vacancies.
Interviewing for a trustee role
Remember the interview process is two-way. Interviews are your opportunity to find out if the charity and role are right for you. Ask about the time commitment and the likely dates and times of meetings, how the onboarding process will help fill any gaps in knowledge and skills you may have and whether you can shadow or be buddied with an existing trustee to help understand the role.
Helen Olszowska
Helen Olszowska
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