Trusteeship and governance
What makes a good trustee? How do I find good trustees? What training should trustees have? How should we include beneficiaries as trustees?
We believe the quality of trustees can make or break a charity or funder. Being a good trustee is not just about finance and risk, but grasping opportunities and maximising social impact. Our guide on What good governance looks like draws on our knowledge of working with charities and funders. We use these insights to explore how trustees can lead their organisations to do the best for their beneficiaries.
Through our resources, training and consulting, we help trustees to:
- Stay focussed on the purpose of governance
- Get the most from fellow trustees
- Adopt best practices and processes
Each year we help run the Charity Governance Awards, celebrating inspirational good practice in the sector.
We’re continually learning and sharing best practice, discussing new ideas and policies to improve governance across the charity sector. Stay on top of the conversation by coming to one of our trustee seminars. Get in touch for more on how we can help you.
We are very grateful to the Clothworkers’ Company for supporting our seminars on improving trusteeship across the charity sector.
Featured resources on good governance
Charity boards in recovery
We have partnered with decision-science consultancy Leapwise to explore how decision making by charity boards has changed during the crisis, and to provide support on how to strengthen this for the next chapter.
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.
The Charity Governance Awards
Supporting and celebrating outstanding charity trusteeship in organisations across the sector, regardless of size.
Walking the Talk
Walking the Talk is our cross-sector partnership to help charities improve their diversity
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.
