Add becoming a Trustee to your bucket list
This is purposefully the first bucket list item I chose to write about for two simple reasons: it’s
very achievable, and it feels genuinely rewarding. If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, you’ve
accumulated something invaluable: decades of professional experience, hard-won wisdom, and
perspectives that charities desperately need. The best part? You don’t need to start from
scratch. The skills you’ve honed in your career translate directly into supporting causes you care
about. In fact, in your 40s, 50s or 60s means we’re at an ideal stage in life for this kind of role.
I discovered all of this firsthand when I became a trustee, and I want to demystify the process
for you. Whether your passion is around eliminating food poverty, environmental conservation or
you’ve always wanted to support mental health initiatives, trusteeship offers a powerful way to
translate those interests into making a tangible difference.
So, what better way to kick-off a bucket list than committing to take your life’s lessons,
professional experience and deciding to become a trustee in a charity?
What does being a trustee actually involve?
Of course, you already know that becoming a trustee in a charity is a great way to contribute
positively to your local community, but also if you can get involved in a cause that you really
care deeply about, this is a great opportunity to nurture one of your passions that perhaps has
become dulled over the past few decades… And, by this stage in life, many of us will have
amassed a great deal of relevant life experience, professional skills plus useful perspectives
that can really support charities to navigate their paths forward more successfully. So, here’s
what I learned when I went on this journey and hopefully helps to demystify the process, and
break down the steps and skills needed to serve effectively as a trustee in a charity.
Let’s first start with the end in mind and be clear what the ultimate responsibilities are for a
charity trustee:
● Ensuring mission alignment – Keeping the charity true to its charitable purpose
● Legal and ethical oversight – Making sure operations are ethical and comply with charity law
● Resource management – Overseeing budgets, investments, and assets wisely
● Financial sustainability – Protecting the charity’s long-term viability
● Impact measurement – Ensuring the charity creates meaningful change
What this means is, that you have a responsibility to always make sure the charity is following
its mission, not just operationally, but legally, and ethically – Could that be anymore
strategically important? You must also ensure great decision-making so that the charity’s
resources are managed effectively and you remain financially sustainable. Lastly, it’s about
positive change, ensuring that the charity creates meaningful impact in the communities it
serves.
Think of it as strategic stewardship rather than day-to-day management. Yo’;re not running the charity (that;s the CEO’s job), but you are providing crucial governance, asking challenging questions, and helping navigate important decisions.
What skills do you need to become a trustee?
In terms of skills, there’s a great deal of different qualities that charities are looking for, the most
common perhaps, is financial acumen but don’t forget there will already, almost certainly, be a
finance department of some kind, so it’s more about questioning the accounts, spotting risks,
possible trends and applying what you learned commercially in your career so that the charity is
more able to mitigate risks.
Another important skill much in demand is fundraising, i.e. supporting the charity to increase its
revenue but that doesn’t mean you need to know how to fundraise, again someone in the
charity will already have that responsibility, what they need is access to networks, or you giving
up an hour to meet an important funder and adding your gravitas to the meeting, or simply a
fresh pair of eyes to evaluate the value proposition of the charity and advising on how it can be
strengthened and fine-tuned.
And of course, charities always need legal advice, marketing support, operational know-how,
strategic-thinking, communications advice, negotiation skills and that list just keeps going…On
top of everything though, I do think simply bringing a fresh perspective is really healthy and if
that can help drive innovation and better ways of working, you’ll really be driving positive
change.
Where to start?
For those new to being a trustee, first, you need to think about the kinds of causes you care
deeply about and then do some research to understand the kinds of organisations that work in
that field. Once you have a good idea of the causes you care about, I would dive straight into
Linked In and search there either for organisations to follow, or if you want to dive right in at the deep end, go into the job search area and search for ‘trustees’ with any relevant filters you think will help narrow the search. While there in Linked In, you can of course also easily send out a few connection requests and ask for quick chats to (a) better understand that organisation’s work, and (b) to start building up a network that can fuel your trustee aspirations. There’s also
some very good courses within LinkedIn Learning that can teach you more about becoming a
trustee. There’s also this great course on ICAEW and another one here too.
Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Trustee
1. Identify your interests and values – Focus on causes you’re passionate about
2. Research charities in your area of interest – Understand their missions, activities, and
governance needs
3. Assess your qualifications – Consider how your skills and capabilities match what the
charity is looking for and have informal chats to probe further and validate how your life
skills could be an asset to that charity or organisation
4. Invest in a few learning course – Consider courses in nonprofit governance, charity
law, or fundraising to understand the basics of how charities operate
5. Craft a charity trustee-specific CV – Highlight relevant skills and experience (see
details below)
6. Apply for trustee positions – Through a job advert on Linked In, via specific charity
websites, Job portals (Guardian Jobs seems to be a popular place for large charities to
post trustee jobs) or by signing up to one of the various trustee matching services like
Reach Volunteering, or Trustees Unlimited
This is crucial, craft a CV that is specifically aimed at gaining a Charity Trustee position
Your standard professional CV won’t cut it, you need to adapt your CV for charity trustee
positions, here are my recommendations. Make it a skills-based format CV so that you lead
with relevant competencies rather than chronological work history. Emphasise governance
experience as this is a key purpose of a trustee board so highlight any board, committee, or
oversight roles you have had during your career. Showcase sector knowledge but show how
that might benefit the charity in question, i.e. how you will be able to leverage your industry
knowledge in X to help the charity achieve Y. Demonstrate financial acumen, this is always
important for any oversight so include experience with budgets, P&Ls, commercial negotiations or financial oversight. Also, highlight strategic thinking, show how you;ve guided long-term planning or organisational development. Of course, include any volunteer experience, even if informal. Add a mission-focused personal statement so that you clearly articulate your motivation for serving on this board and your own personal connection to the cause.Finally, make sure you show an understanding of trustee responsibilities based on the 5 bullets I shared in the third paragraph.
What next?
Once you’ve found a potential trustee role, it’s pretty similar to a regular job process. First, you’ll
want to conduct thorough research to understand the organisation, the expectations of the role and how it functions. This includes studying the specific duties you will need to fulfill and the expectations set by the trust or organisation.
Next, you should set up an informal chat with either the Chair or the CEO from the charity, or at least a serving Trustee so you can find out more from someone directly involved in the charity.
Remember, seek opportunities that align with your interests and values.
Navigating Common Challenges
Serving as a trustee is both rewarding and challenging. However, one aspect I was concerned
about when I started down this route was being able to balance my day job and personal life
with the additional responsibilities of serving as a trustee.
However, I have to say, this has been easier than I thought. For example, at the charity I serve
on at present, we have 4 x Board Meetings per year, each Board meeting is 2hrs long and it
takes me 1hr to prep in advance. In addition, each trustee sits on 1-2 committee(s) that meet
every 2 x months (usually online) for 1hr max to talk through the specific aspects related to that committee;s focus (e.g. there’s one committee dedicated to Finance; one to Fundraising; one to People; and one to Strategy & Risk) I’ve successfully managed that level of commitment pretty easily with a FT job, and busy home life but make sure you check in with your availability so it works for you too.
Another challenge is handling conflicts of interest. You’ll need to make sure your existing
employer is happy for you to serve as a trustee and have this ‘signed off’ internally, not a major
process but it’s important you are upfront and honest about the new role you are taking on.
It;s vital to always act impartially and so transparency means you can legitimately prioritise the
interests of the charity and the beneficiaries. Being transparent about any potential conflicts of
interest can help avoid any damaging situations.
Emotional challenges may surface as well, particularly when listening to traumatic service user
experiences or being involved in sensitive beneficiary matters. Maintaining empathy, while
sticking to the charity’s guidelines, is essential.
By being open and seeking support when needed, you can effectively navigate these
challenges and fulfill your role as a trustee with confidence.
Resources and Support for Trustees
As you step into your role as a trustee, it’s important to know that you don’t have to navigate this path alone. Numerous resources and support networks are available to help you succeed.
Professional organisations dedicated to trusteeship offer a wealth of information, from best
practices to networking opportunities. Engaging with these groups can provide you with valuable insights and the chance to learn from experienced peers.
Education is also key to staying informed and effective. Many institutions offer courses and
seminars focused on trustee responsibilities, legal updates, and financial management. These
learning opportunities ensure you remain well-equipped to handle your duties.
Online forums and social media groups can also be beneficial. These platforms allow you to
connect with fellow trustees, share experiences, and seek advice on specific challenges you
may face.
Useful UK Resources
- Charity Commission for England and Wales – Official regulator for charities in England
and Wales. - Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) – Scottish charity regulator
- Charity Commission for Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland’s charity regulator
- National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) – Largest membership organisation
for the voluntary sector in England - Association of Chairs – Support organisation specifically for chairs of charities
- Getting on Board – Charity dedicated to trustee recruitment and training
- Reach Volunteering – UK’s largest skills-based volunteering charity with trustee
recruitment services - Charity Job – Job board with dedicated trustee section
- Trustees Unlimited – Specialised trustee recruitment service
- Charity Governance Code – Practical tool to help charities and their trustees develop
high governance standards
Taking the First Step
So there you have it, becoming a charity trustee isnt just achievable, its one of the most rewarding bucket list items you can tick off. Yes, it requires commitment and thought, but the beauty of this role is that it gives back as much as you put in. You’ll gain fresh perspectives, meet inspiring people, and rediscover parts of yourself that may have been dormant for years. Most importantly, you’ll be making a tangible difference to a cause you care about. So don ;t wait for the "perfect time" or worry that you;re not qualified enough, charities need trustees with diverse life experiences just like yours.
Start exploring opportunities today, have those informal conversations, and take that first step.
Your future self, and the communities you’ll serve, will thank you for it.
