Trustee role description

Although trustees are unpaid, creating a role description for them is a very useful way of clarifying the roles and responsibilities of trustees on your board.

The duties of a trustee are:

• To ensure the organisation complies with its 'governing document' - sometimes known as a trust deed, constitution, or articles of association.
• To ensure that the organisation pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document.
• To ensure the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives - the charity must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objectives, no matter how 'charitable' and 'worthwhile' those activities are.
• To contribute actively to the board of trustees' role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
• To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
• To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• To ensure the financial stability of the organisation.
• To protect and manage the property of the organisation and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation's funds.
• If the organisation employs staff, to appoint the chief executive officer and monitor his or her performance.

As well as the various statutory duties, any trustee should make full use of any specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the board make good decisions.

Trustee person specification

• Commitment to the organisation.
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Strategic vision.
• Good, independent judgement.
• A willingness to speak their mind.
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Appreciation of Nolan's seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.