Recruiting the right trustees is fundamental to a charity’s success. Trustees play a crucial role in shaping strategy, ensuring good governance and safeguarding charitable assets. Yet, many charities continue to rely on informal networks to fill these key roles. Recent updates from the Charity Commission offer valuable insights and guidance to help modernise trustee recruitment and encourage more inclusive, strategic practices.
Rethinking traditional approaches
New research by the Charity Commission highlights that many charities recruit trustees by reaching out to current members or supporters. The recent research revealed that around one in three trustees (29%) are asked to join their board by the Chair and one in four are asked by another board member. Many new trustees are friends or family members of existing trustees. A relatively small proportion of charities advertise trustee roles on their websites or social media, or use community-based advertising methods.
This continued dependence on informal routes limits the diversity of skills and experiences on boards. To counter this, the Commission’s updated guidance encourages charities to take a more structured approach:
- identify skills gaps through audits
- write clear and inclusive role descriptions, and
- actively advertise vacancies across a wider range of platforms, including trustee recruitment websites and community networks.
Prioritising diversity and inclusion
Diversity on trustee boards remains a priority. Boards that reflect the communities they serve tend to make more informed, representative decisions. The Commission’s guidance underscores the value of diversity -not just in terms of age, ethnicity and gender, but also life experience, career background and thinking styles.
Actively seeking candidates from underrepresented groups isn’t just about fairness - it’s about governance quality. A diverse board can challenge groupthink, spark innovation and improve public trust. Charities are encouraged to remove barriers in their recruitment processes, such as jargon-filled role ads or expectations of prior board experience, which can deter otherwise qualified individuals.
Supporting new trustees
Once trustees are recruited, it matters how they are supported. The Commission’s guidance stresses the importance of robust induction and training. New trustees need to understand their legal duties, the charity’s mission and the context in which it operates. Tailored induction programmes, mentorship opportunities and ongoing learning can empower trustees to make a meaningful impact from the outset.
Understanding why people volunteer
The Commission’s research, which analysed over 2,000 responses from trustees across England and Wales, reveals that trusteeship is deeply rewarding with a high majority of respondents saying they would recommend the role to others. Younger trustees often view it as a way to build experience and networks - over half (57%) of trustees aged under 30 said trusteeship supported their career development - while older trustees are motivated by a desire to give back.
60% reported that the role makes them feel they are having a positive impact on the world and nearly four in ten feel more fulfilled because of their trustee role (38%).
Understanding these motivations can help charities tailor their recruitment messaging to resonate with different age groups and professional backgrounds.
The next step
Recruiting trustees is not just about filling vacancies -it’s about shaping the future of your charity. By adopting the Charity Commission’s updated guidance, charities can move away from narrow, informal practices and embrace open, inclusive and strategic recruitment. This will lead to more effective boards, stronger governance and ultimately, greater impact in the communities they serve.
For detailed guidance and practical tools, charities can visit the Commission’s updated resource: Finding and Appointing New Trustees (CC30).
If you require any advice regarding the above, please get in touch with Allan Hickie or your usual UHY charity adviser.
