Trusteeship and governance
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.
Key resources, commentary and research on good governance
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.
What impact data should trustees be using in decision making?
Exploring how trustees can use data to learn, and to inform strategy, programme design, and resource allocation.
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.
The Charity Governance Awards
Supporting and celebrating outstanding charity trusteeship in organisations across the sector, regardless of size.
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.
Pulling together for better governance
Governance has been getting a lot of attention recently. High profile charity failures highlight a need for boards to avoid damaging failures. But we're equally concerned with how boards can up their game more generally: to avoid coasting, and really go the extra mile for the charities they serve. This is the argument we make in our recent report 'It starts from the top'. Iona Joy explains our thinking in this blog.
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.
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.
Focusing on impact: What do trustees need to know?
NPC’s briefing paper on how trustees can ensure their charities are focusing on impact.
Board matters: A review of charity trusteeship in the UK
95% of people in the UK are unaware that they can support a charity by becoming a trustee. Looking at this figure, it seems no surprise then that nearly half of charities have vacancies on their board.
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.
A reason to celebrate
There has been much doom and gloom about the fortunes of the sector over the past year, and much of the fault for recent scandals has been laid at the door of trustees. So it is refreshing to gain a more positive perspective in the form of an award ceremony for exemplary charity governance.
Talk to us
Have a question, comment, or want to work with us on improving charity governance?
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