with Caitlin Mulholland
Why should you become a Trustee?
Becoming a trustee gives you the opportunity to guide the direction of an organisation that is making a difference in the world. It is a vital role and one that should not be taken lightly but should be cherished as a chance to advance a cause that you are passionate about. By contributing your time, skill, and experience, you can make a measurable contribution to society, whilst reaping the personal and professional rewards that abound from trusteeship.
IMPACT
As a trustee, you play a fundamental role in the strategic development of an organisation. This level of influence stems from the fact that trustees are ultimately responsible for the management and accountability of their organisations. In your role, you will act as a ‘guardian of purpose’, ensuring that the ongoing strategy of the charity aligns with its core aims, and that it continues to act in the best interests of its beneficiaries.
The charity sector, still reeling from the pandemic, has been hit by the cost-of-living crisis. It is estimated that almost half of all charities are looking for trustees at any given time. Given the level of influence they hold, it is unsurprising that sourcing them can take an organisation a long time to get right. Now, more than ever, trustees play a crucial part in widening the pool of talent and skill available in the sector. As an unpaid board member, your unique blend of soft skills and professional experience can allow a charity to better direct its limited capacity to help those most in need during this difficult time, while also gaining valuable experience yourself.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In an ideal world, we could all take positions purely for the feel-good reason of ‘making a difference’. Trusteeship offers more than a rewarding feeling – it also opens a door to development of your own knowledge, skills and experience, which you can take forward in your future career.
Trustees can build up a wider network of contacts and develop skills in leadership and strategic development. Furthermore, you could gain non-executive board experience and insights from your fellow board members, which can strengthen your CV. Boards are typically made up of individuals from a mix of professional backgrounds, with each individual lending skill from their key competencies and sharing them, providing you with a perfect platform for learning new skills.
While impact and personal development are two key drivers for people to become trustees, the opportunity to learn about governance and the charity sector as whole is also a huge pull. Even people who have worked in the sector for many years may not have full insight into the inner workings of a charity at board level. Holding a trustee position, even for a couple of years, provides you with invaluable insight into some of the charities faced at governance level and how they are overcome.
BECOMING A TRUSTEE
Many people still find trusteeship opportunities through their personal network, with most board appointments still driven by personal referrals. However, the landscape is changing. Increasingly, charities are promoting their board positions through marketing, social media and through recruitment firms.
While smaller charities still tend to work on a referral basis, mid to large size charities tend to bring trustees on board for their own key competencies – such as in accountancy, finance, fundraising, marketing – or even as a figurehead to increase recognition and support for their cause!
If you’re interested in having a chat about how to become a trustee or if you are looking for helping appointing to a position then get in touch with us on hello@precivalrecruitment.org
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