How to recruit trustees for your charity

The responsibilities belonging to a trustee are demanding – there is a greater scrutiny, increased focus on governance and funding pressures which can be overwhelming to under prepared trustees. Whether you are recruiting the first trustee for your new charity, or you require additional trustees to help with your charity’s operations, it is essential that you define what you require from an ideal recruit and strategically promote the role.

Discover our guide below to learn more about how to recruit trustees for your charity.

1. Identify trustee requirements

Start by clearly outlining what roles and responsibilities you require from your trustees. Trustee Recruitment Cycle recommends specifying the skills and experience which are most important for leading your charity and, if you are an established charity, identifying which of these are missing from your current board of trustees. A well-defined role description will help potential candidates understand what is expected of them.

The following outlines what should be covered in the job specification as a minimum:

• Trustee role title
• Location (office or home based)
• Time commitments (for example, full time or a certain number of hours per week)
• Overall responsibility and key areas of ownership • Length of term in the role (if it is not permanent)
• Minimum qualifications/experience

You should also consider what the potential candidate may want to get out of the role. Research from the Charity Commission and Pro Bono Economics revealed the top reasons people become trustees are the opportunity to give something back, support their career development, and to feel they are having a positive impact on the world. Think about how your charity can offer these benefits to the successful candidate and detail them in your role description.

2. Secure insurance

If you are looking to recruit your first trustee, or have yet to secure insurance for your existing trustees, trustee indemnity insurance can prove valuable for attracting and protecting trustees. Should legal action be taken against the charity or board member, individuals are covered. This helps to reassure individuals, meaning the best candidates are not deterred from taking on these vital roles.

3. Look internally

Searching within your existing networks, including current volunteers, donors, and community members, can be a highly effective way to secure new trustees. Promoting internally has many benefits, primarily as the person will already be familiar with your charity's objectives, culture and processes.

Your existing networks on social media, professional networking sites, or charity-specific platforms provide you with an existing base of supporters who can offer themselves as a trustee or provide personal recommendations.

If you do recruit internally, GOV.UK emphasises that there may be specific legal requirements if the trustee is also a paid employee of the charity.

4. Promote the role

Create engaging content that highlights the impact of becoming a trustee, including the benefits and rewards of contributing to your charity. Use your website, newsletters, and social media channels to spread the word.

Professional networking sites, such as LinkedIn, can help promote the trustee role, and there are a number of free posting sites, such as Do-it, which are ideal for reaching wider audiences. You could consider using a professional trustee recruitment agency if they have a proven track record of finding trustees, for example Trustees Unlimited; however, small charities and community groups may find it beneficial to try promoting the role themselves before turning to professional recruiters to save on financial resources. Searching outside the boundaries of your charity's networks gives you the chance to attract a more diverse range of candidates and recruit the best talent available.

5. Shortlist and interview candidates

Develop a selection process that includes screening applications, conducting interviews, and assessing the suitability of candidates. Be transparent about the selection criteria and involve current trustees in the process for a balanced perspective. However, be clear from the start about who is making the decision, whether this is your existing trustees or members, or a recruiter.

A clear process needs to be structured for the interview and should aim to test the motivation of the candidate, as well as their skills and experience. Specialist recruiters for the third sector, CharityJob, recommend beginning by introducing your charity’s objectives alongside any relevant and valuable information, followed by asking any prepared questions, and presenting any challenges your charity may face to see how the candidate may approach these.

Always follow up on the references of candidates as it is not enough to assume they are a good appointment on the basis of a strong interview, and if your charity works with children or vulnerable adults make sure you carry out a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You should also check that the candidate is not disqualified from being a trustee which can be done on the Charity Commission website.

6. Induct and train

After a decision has been made, provide an induction and put together a starter pack for the new trustee with useful information regarding your charity. Also arrange meetings between the new recruit and key stakeholders in the business to give them an opportunity to build relationships and form some ideas on how to take your charity forward.

Once trustees have commenced their role, ensure to provide ongoing training to help them stay informed about their roles and responsibilities.

FAQs:

What is a trustee of a charity?

A trustee is someone who makes decisions on behalf of a charity.

How many trustees should a charity have?

GOV.UK recommends recruiting a minimum of three unconnected trustees with a good range of skills, this improves the knowledge and guidance your charity can learn from.

What do trustees do in a charity?

The role of a trustee depends on how your charity operates and the amount of trustees you have, however, standard key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring your charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
• Complying with your charity’s governing document and the law
• Acting in your charity’s best interests
• Managing your charity’s resources responsibly
• Acting with reasonable care and skill
• Ensuring your charity is accountable

Discover help and guidance for charities, or read more about our charity insurance solutions.

Please note: This article provides guidance for information purposes only. It should not be relied upon wholly when making or taking important business decisions – always seek the services of an appropriately qualified professional. The views expressed by websites referenced to are limited to those of the websites, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Markel Direct.