Trusteeship and governance
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The quality of its trustees can make or break a charitable organisation. And that’s not just about managing finance and risk, but ensuring that opportunities are grasped and social impact is maximised.
Charity trustees need support to better understand how their skills, actions and charitable giving can best support a charity. Our events, research, advice and resources can help.
We’re also working to share best practice, discuss, and report on new ideas and policies designed to improve governance across the charity sector. Find the latest on this below.
Featured resources, commentary and research on good governance
Walking the Talk
Walking the Talk is our cross-sector partnership to help charities improve their diversity
The Charity Governance Awards
Supporting and celebrating outstanding charity trusteeship in organisations across the sector, regardless of size.
Above and beyond in trusteeship: What good governance looks like
This guide draws on the experiences and insights of active, ambitious trustees, as well as NPC’s own knowledge gained over nearly 15 years working with charities and funders. We use these insights to explore how boards can get the most from their organisations and do the best for their beneficiaries.
It starts from the top: Improving governance, improving impact
This policy paper outlines how we can improve charity governance and, by extension, the impact of the sector as a whole. In it, we address some key governance issues, and make recommendations to a number of key players in the sector and beyond.
Impact reporting: What trustees need to know
In this short briefing, we explain why impact reporting can help trustees do their job, and how they can encourage their charities to report on impact. We also outline what good impact reporting looks like so trustees can support the process.
Diversity in governance: The what, why and how
This paper outlines what it means to have a truly diverse board of trustees and what it brings to an organisation. It also explores how to manage and maintain a board that is diverse.
Focusing on impact: What do trustees need to know?
NPC’s briefing paper on how trustees can ensure their charities are focusing on impact.
What makes a good charity? NPC’s guide to charity analysis
NPC's step-by-step guide to charity analysis, outlining our tried and tested approach which focuses on the key characteristics we believe are common to all effective charities.
Latest updates
How to improve diversity and inclusion on trustee boards
Four charity leaders spoke about diversity and inclusion at a 2019 NPC and Clothworkers’ Company seminar. At this event, the speakers discussed their experiences of recruiting and supporting a diverse mix of trustees.
What should charity trustees be thinking about?
A charity’s trustees are responsible for identifying, prioritising and managing its risks, as well as opportunities. As this crisis drags on, and a major recession becomes ever more likely, many will need to switch focus to how they deliver their mission over the medium term.
Big words, big numbers, and big ideas
Will Hanford, NPC’s communication manager, attended his first ever NPC Ignites this year and has written a blog on the highlights of his experience. He detects a strong theme of power, particularly the power wielded both consciously and unconsciously by funders, running through the day.
Celebrating good governance
Here NPC Consultant Oli Kelly-Dean summarises the shortlisted and winning charities from the Charity Governance Awards 2019.
Trustees and risk taking
At our recent seminar hosted at the Clothworkers' Hall trustees shared the way they approach risk, and how their management and acceptance of it was advantageous to their charities. Here NPC Consultant Nicola Pritchard shared some of the insights from the day.
The Code of Good Governance: How to put it into practice
This briefing paper outlines the advice and recommendations from the panel at NPC’s Clothworkers’ seminar on how charity trustees can put the Charity Governance Code into practice.
How funders can unlock good charity governance
Charities require strong boards in order to be effective. So it's surprising that there are not more funders investing in improved governance. Ahead of trustees week, Sonali Patel gives 3 ways funders can support better trusteeship.
Funders can set a powerful precedent by involving service users
It has been broadly accepted by charities from across the sector that listening to users is not only the moral thing to do—it’s also the smart and logical thing to do. So, how do funders fit into all of this?
Stop quoting Latin in your board meetings
The voluntary sector's board diversity and inclusivity issue is well known. How do we tackle this? Grace Wyld shares insights from a recent NPC event on the topic.
Small charity trustees: How to overcome key challenges
This short paper outlines the key challenges of being a trustee of a small charity and sets out recommendations to overcoming them.
Sharing is caring: Intellectual property and the charity sector
Sharing knowledge about what works—and what does not—is instrumental to improving the effectiveness of charities. Here we talk through the various benefits and challenges of different approaches, and what might incentivise organisations to open up their knowledge and ideas to others.
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