Revitalising your board: how to add (the right) new trustees to your charity
There are more than 1,000,000 trustees across the UK. You might not be looking forward to your next meeting, but the fact is that trustees are there to do a job. They are the foundation of your charity. Get the mix right and your board can bring a wealth of skills, experience, perspectives and connections - opening new doors and driving organisational growth. Yet across the UK, boardrooms are dominated by middle-aged, white, men. Unless this is your service demographic, your board is going to need a bit of a shake-up. But with charities up and down the country struggling to fill their trustee vacancies, it isn’t always an easy fix.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Do a skills audit: If you’re going to revitalise your board you need to know what you are looking for. Consider the opportunities and challenges your charity is facing, the skills you have in-house, and the gaps you need to fill. Don’t just tick boxes and recruit the roles every charity is ‘supposed’ to have. Take the time to figure out what your organisation needs and design a board matrix to match.
- Write proper job descriptions: It might be voluntary, but trusteeship is still a job – one with legal trustee responsibilities. There are a variety of templates online, but they are just that. Templates. Don’t just change the name of the charity. Make it Be clear about who you are, what you do, what you are looking for, and the time commitment involved. One size does not fit all. A generic job description will not help you recruit a trustee with the right skills and experience!
If you are unclear about charity trustee responsibilities, the Charity Commission has some excellent guidance available. You can also find a host of resources, webinar trainings and other events as part of this year’s Trustee Week (2nd – 6th November 2020).
- Encourage diversity: If your board members all have the same background not only are you failing to be diverse and inclusive, your charity is missing some serious talent and opportunity. Racial, gender - and even generational diversity - will enrich your board and bring important new perspectives, experience and opportunities to the table. If you are providing a service, make space for representatives who benefit from that service. At its core, your board should reflect your charity’s community, values and ethos. How else can you expect it to grow?
- Expand your recruitment channels: To quote Rosien Herweijer (co-founder of All on Board), ‘social networks normally are defined by sameness’. 90% of charities recruit board members through word of mouth and internal networks. While we love a bit of networking, do not make it your sole recruitment tactic. If you want a truly diverse and effective board, you need to get the message out there. There is no shortage of trustee recruitment or charity job sites – many of which are free. And don’t be afraid to think outside the box. There is no reason you can’t advertise on social media, your website, through community hubs and local groups.
Want to find out more? Getting on Board have a great practical guide for trustee recruitment.
- Use your networks: If your organisation is only six degrees from success, board recruitment is the perfect time to test these connections. Use your networks to spread the word. A LinkedIn share here, a Facebook post there… You will soon start connecting dots you didn’t know existed.
- Have a clear recruitment process: The job description and advert are just the beginning. Make sure every step is clear, and that you take the time to follow-up on enquiries, prepare for interviews and take up references. These don’t have to be formal. A cup of coffee in a local café is a great way to get to know someone, and can really take the pressure off!
- Create a stepping stone: Being a trustee comes with legal obligations, and it can be quite daunting! Before you ask people to sign on the dotted line, why not give potential candidates the chance to be part of a steering group or committee first? This is a great way to engage people in your work and give them a chance to get to know you (and you them).
- Invest in paid prospecting: It’s not for everyone, but if you’ve got the budget and are struggling to get started, paid prospecting is an interesting way to go. Recruitment agencies often offer trustee services. It doesn’t come cheap, but if it gets you the right person in the right role, then it is an investment that will soon pay off.
Of course, the work doesn’t stop once the interview is over. Choosing a new trustee (or several trustees) is one of the most important journeys your charity will go on. Do not rush it, and do not be afraid to say ‘no’. It is important – for everyone – that you recruit the right person for the role.
Your board is your foundation. Your rudder. You need the best possible board at the helm.
Speak to one of our Not for profit specialists to find out how you can use our Not For Profit solutions to help achieve your trustees goals.
