The Personal And Career Benefits Of Becoming A Charity Trustee

Despite there being over 170,000 charities currently in operation in the UK, the role of a charity trustee remains relatively unknown. Becoming a charity trustee is easier than many think and is an extremely fulfilling role.

Since 2016, I have had the privilege of serving as a trustee for two charities. I am currently the vice-chair of BID Services, an organisation that supports those who are D/deaf, hard of hearing, sight impaired, and deafblind to live full lives.

In my experience, being a charity trustee offers significant personal and professional benefits. It’s a role I would highly recommend to other professionals looking to give back, develop new skills, and open new avenues in their careers.

What is a charity trustee?

A charity trustee is an individual who sits on the charity’s board of directors. The board of directors leads the charity, shapes how it is run, and always acts within its best interests. They may be known by various names, such as directors, non-profit board members, governors, and committee members. However, they all have the same purpose and responsibilities towards the charity in question.

A charity trustee is often a voluntary role, though reasonable expenses can be reimbursed. Becoming a charity trustee may require a few hours of work per month or quarterly, depending on the charity and its individual requirements.

It is a strategic position where the trustee can use their knowledge, skills, and even lived experience to help the charity achieve its aims. Board meetings often involve the employed CEO of the charity updating the board of directors on big-picture financial and strategic plans for the trustees to discuss and approve.

When considering which charity to volunteer with, individuals should consider which ones would benefit most from their experience and that match their values. For example, a charity’s board of directors might be specifically looking for a professional in the finance, marketing, recruitment or tech sector to help balance the skills already on the board.

Charity trustee positions

Within a charity’s board of directors, a trustee may hold specific positions, including:

• Chair – leads meetings, acts as a figurehead at events, supports the CEO, and may take urgent action between meetings.
• Vice-chair – acts as deputy to the chair, stepping in during their absence. In some charities, the vice-chair is the chair’s successor.
• Treasurer – brings financial expertise, helps present financial reports, and advises on financial responsibilities.
• Secretary – often manages meeting minutes and administrative tasks, especially in smaller charities.

Every charity has a governing document detailing how many trustees it can have, how long trustees may serve, and how new trustees are to be appointed.

Who can become a charity trustee?

Overall, there are no formal qualifications or requirements for becoming a charity trustee. A specific eligibility criteria is included in the charity’s governing document and can range from residency requirements to what portion of the board needs to have a certain background or experience level.

In general, a trustee must be over the age of 18 for most charities (16 for CIOs – Charitable Incorporated Organisations) and must not have any past experiences that would automatically disqualify them from becoming a charity trustee. Reasons for automatic disqualification include individuals who:

• Have unspent convictions related to dishonesty, terrorism, money laundering, bribery, or misconduct
• Are on the Sex Offenders Register
• Have been removed as a trustee previously over misconduct or mismanagement by the Charity Commission or the High Court
• Are legally disqualified from being a company director

What are the responsibilities of a charity trustee?

By becoming a charity trustee, the individual has a number of responsibilities to ensure that the charity is well-managed and compliant. Charity trustee duties include the following:

• Ensure that the charity is acting within its governing document, the law, and its founding principles
• Follow legal requirements, regulations, and the governing document
• Act within the charity’s best interests
• Manage the charity’s finances and resources responsibly
• Proceed with care, to use specialists and advisers when required, and to ensure time is taken to fully understand actions and prepare extensively for meetings
• Help to raise their charity’s profile and raise awareness of its aims

Furthermore, a charity trustee needs to act collectively on the board. These decisions do not need to be unanimous, but the majority of non-profit board members need to agree on them.

It is also important to note before discussing the benefits of becoming a charity trustee that every trustee can be held personally liable if they fail to meet their obligations or act dishonestly. Anyone considering this role must fully understand the responsibilities and potential liabilities.

The benefits of becoming a charity trustee

Becoming a charity trustee can be immensely rewarding. According to a recent government study, 80% of trustees would recommend the role to others. The most common advantages of a charity trustee position are as follows:

• Giving back

The desire to “give back” is particularly strong among those who are interested in the role of charity trustee.

By becoming a charity trustee, individuals are able to contribute to a charity in a meaningful way. Through offering their skills, experience, and expertise, individuals can play an integral role in how their chosen charity is run and help to drive its success. In particular, individuals who offer their services to a smaller charity or one that is in need of their particular expertise can make the biggest difference.

Charity trustees often choose to become involved because they have been personally impacted by the issues the charity supports or tries to solve. Studies show that 65% of trustees believe that their role makes them feel more connected to their local community or a movement that’s important to them.

Personally, I have always been interested in becoming a charity trustee due to the desire to give back and make an impact on a charity. Additionally, the charity I am currently a board member of, BID Services, means a lot to me because I was born with 50% hearing loss. Growing up, I was embarrassed to talk about it and was labelled a problem child because I didn’t always hear what was said in class, but now I fully embrace it. It’s a pleasure for me to support a charity that does so much to empower D/deaf, hard of hearing, sight impaired, deafblind, and other disabled individuals.

• Gain knowledge on a new sector

A major professional benefit to securing a role as a charity trustee is gaining insight into how another business is run. For individuals who have spent the majority of their career in one company or sector, or who are self-employed professionals, it can be eye-opening to see the challenges and actions of a non-profit.

For some individuals, it can be insightful to understand how their skills can be applied to a company outside of their chosen sector. It can even offer a new perspective on the challenges that their own business experiences.

In my experience, it is always fascinating to see how the charities I’ve worked with have delivered meaningful services with very limited resources. I had previously and wrongfully believed that a charity’s commercial mindset wasn’t as savvy as a private company, but that is not true. Charities are very frugal and are experts in negotiating with other private companies for discounts and resources. They also have lots of rigorous procedures in place for approving expenses. This is particularly eye-opening when considering how to approach the same matters as a private business.

• Get board-level experience

For individuals seeking to move into leadership positions, becoming a charity trustee can offer valuable board experience. It can allow non-board professionals to see how more experienced business leaders and senior managers navigate board meetings and make strategic business decisions.

Having that board-level experience, even at a non-profit, could also help a trustee to secure leadership opportunities within their workplace. Providing evidence that they have successfully worked on a board of directors, even in a non-profit voluntary capacity, showcases their ability to think strategically and to contribute at a senior level. This can give charity trustees a competitive edge over other candidates when applying for a leadership position. It can also help a trustee gain confidence in business situations, broaden their skills, and set them up for future success.

• Networking opportunities

One of the key benefits of becoming a charity trustee is the wealth of networking opportunities the role can offer. By serving on a non-profit board, a trustee can network with professionals from various sectors, such as tech, finance, and more. Nurturing these relationships can open doors to future career opportunities.

A trustee can also raise their professional profile and visibility through their actions with the charity, such as attending functions. This can connect them with potential clients, employers, or business partners. I have personally met many fantastic business owners through becoming a charity trustee and have made countless great connections.

• Mentoring opportunities

A charity board often includes a mix of highly experienced professionals, such as business leaders, entrepreneurs, and senior executives. For someone with less board experience, joining such a group can feel intimidating at first. However, many experienced trustees will offer advice and guidance to newer board members.

Personally, when I became a charity trustee for the first time, I was able to find a mentor on my first board who supported me in both my trustee duties and my business career. I like to think I do the same for other new non-profit board members.

• Alternative career progression

Entrepreneurs and businesses often don’t have career progression milestones to celebrate. While there is joy in growing businesses and watching employees thrive and progress, we don’t have the opportunity to celebrate our successes as much.

As an entrepreneur and managing director of several businesses, I have no real career progression opportunities. However, in both the charities I have volunteered for, I have progressed from charity trustee to vice-chair, and in October, I will become chair of BID Services. I had forgotten what it was like to be promoted, so I have taken a lot of fulfilment from these promotions at both charities.

Overall, becoming a charity trustee is easier than many people think, and the vast benefits of the role outweigh the potential risks or drawbacks. The role can be considerably rewarding and open up doors to greater career opportunities and progression. I would highly recommend any professional, at whatever stage in their career, to consider either becoming a charity trustee or exploring more ways they can do more to contribute to a charity that is close to their heart.

Matt Collingwood is the Managing Director of the VIQU Group, which includes VIQU IT, VIQU Energy, Morela, and MoveATech. He is an active board member of BID Services, which is searching for new professionals to join their board of directors. If you are considering becoming a charity trustee and want to learn more, Matt would be happy to connect with you and discuss the opportunity with you via LinkedIn.