Trustee research on charities 2023
Published 14 July 2023
Applies to England and Wales
© Crown copyright 2023
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Trustee research conducted on behalf of the Charity Commission by Yonder – March 2023
Executive summary
Trustees’ understanding of their role and confidence in performing it remains high. Trustees feel able to align appropriately with public expectations and protect charities and their beneficiaries from harm. A vast majority of trustees prefer caution over risk in their approach to spending, while a similar proportion feels it should be a charity’s core purpose rather than trustees’ judgement that guides their decisions.
The majority of trustees are confident that the boards they sit on reflect the views of all stakeholders. Smaller charities appear to rely largely on organic means of trustee recruitment, while larger charities also employ more formal processes.
Trustees want and, for the most part, perceive balance in the Commission’s regulatory approach. Those who do not feel the Commission is balanced are evenly split between those who see more emphasis on dealing with wrongdoing and those who see more emphasis on helping charities do things the right way. Those who have had relevant dealings with the Commission feel for the most part that they have been dealt with fairly.
Charity law is seen as having the greatest influence on the Commission, yet some trustees also see other influences at work. The strongest sense, both of influence and non-influence from elsewhere, comes from those who use the Commission most.
The Charity Commission is not the main source of advice and guidance, but it is found to be useful by those who exploit it. Trustees continue to turn first to colleagues and other trustees or to the internet for advice and guidance.
Trustees continue to feel that they understand public expectations, and favour a cautious approach to managing funds.
Though the public and trustees are broadly aligned in their views of the charity sector, the public tend to be more strongly opposed to high executive pay and less convinced that charities’ means are as important as their ends.
| Statement A | Mean public score | Mean charity trustees score | Statement B |
|---|---|---|---|
| If a charity is as big and complex as some businesses in the private sector, the charity’s CEO should be paid the same as CEOs for businesses in the private sector | 6.66 | 5.67 | The nature of charity work means that it is wrong that some charity CEOs are paid the same as CEOs in the private sector |
| The charity regulator should confine its role to making sure charities stick to the letter of the laws that govern charitable activity | 5.4 | 5.15 | The charity regulator should try to make sure charities fulfil their wider responsibilities to society as well as sticking to the letter of the laws governing charitable activity |
| My charity ought to have the same standards of conduct and behaviour as any other organization | 4.93 | 4.67 | Because of the work it does, my charity’s standards of conduct and behaviour ought to be higher than in other organisations |
| The way our charity goes about meeting its charitable purpose is as important as whether it fulfils that charitable purpose or not | 4.31 | 2.82 | It is more important that our charity fulfils its charitable purpose than how it goes about doing so |
Q. Please read the following pairs of statements. In each case, please indicate which statement you agree with, using a 0-10 scale on which 0 means you completely agree with statement A, and 10 means you completely agree with statement B. Base: trustees (3,473), public (4,316). Question wording slightly adapted for public survey.
The public and trustees agree that charities should be able to campaign for social change, but the public are less sure that charities need to respond to social and cultural debates
| Statement A | Mean public score | Mean charity trustees score | Statement B |
|---|---|---|---|
| There’s nothing wrong with charities campaigning for change in society, if it helps them meet the needs of those who rely on them | 4.36 | 4.07 | Charities should focus on meeting the needs of those who rely on them, rather than campaigning for change in society |
| Charities should respond to social and cultural debates if they want to stay relevant and keep the support of the public | 4.73 | 3.88 | Charities should not get involved in social and cultural debates if they want to keep the support of the public |
| As a registered charity we have a collective responsibility to uphold the reputation of charity more generally | 3.81 | 3.64 | As a registered charity our only responsibility is to uphold the reputation of our own organization |
Q. Please read the following pairs of statements. In each case, please indicate which statement you agree with, using a 0-10 scale on which 0 means you completely agree with statement A, and 10 means you completely agree with statement B. Base (3,473), public (4,316). Question wording slightly adapted for public survey.
Trustees continue to feel that they understand the impact public expectations ought to have on charities, though they remain less sure than in 2020
Participants were presented with the statement and asked to say where their view lay, where 0 would mean total agreement with statement A and 10 would mean total agreement with statement B. Here, we show the percentages who tend towards each quoted statement (scores of 0-4, or 6-10), and those ‘on the fence’ (5). Statement orders were rotated.
| Year |
Statement A (0-4) I have a clear understanding about how public expectations ought to shape the way charities go about doing what they do |
Neutral (5) |
Statement B (6-10) I am unclear about how public expectations ought to shape the way charities go about doing what they do |
| 2023 | 56% | 24% | 20% |
| 2022 | 55% | 26% | 20% |
| 2021 | 58% | 25% | 17% |
| 2020 | 67% | 16% | 17% |
Q. Please read the following pairs of statements. In each case, please indicate which statement you agree with, using a 0-10 scale on which 0 means you completely agree with statement A, and 10 means you completely agree with statement B. Base: 2020 (1,309), 2021 (2,713), 2022 (3,622), 2023 (3,473)
Trustees believe that when charities don’t meet public expectations, this is more likely due to charities not taking care to meet those expectations rather than public lack of knowledge on charity complexity
| Year |
Statement A (0-4) Where charities fall short of public expectations it is usually because the public doesn’t understand the complexities and difficulties involved |
Neutral (5) |
Statement B (6-10) Where charities fall short of public expectations it is usually because charities don’t spend enough time and trouble understanding those expectations and trying to meet them |
| 2023 | 27% | 32% | 41% |
| 2022 | 25% | 31% | 44% |
| 2021 | 23% | 30% | 46% |
| 2020 | 36% | 25% | 39% |
Q. Please read the following pairs of statements. In each case, please indicate which statement you agree with, using a 0-10 scale on which 0 means you completely agree with statement A, and 10 means you completely agree with statement B. Base: 2020 (1,309), 2021 (2,713), 2022 (3,622), 2023 (3,473)
The vast majority of trustees align with the public’s preference in favouring caution over risk-taking in their managing of charity funds
| Base |
Statement A (0-4) Trustees should be cautious with charity funds even if that may limit the help they can give to those in need |
Neutral (5) |
Statement B (6-10) Trustees should take risks to increase the help available to those in need even if that puts some charitable funds at risk as a result |
| Trustees | 79% | 15% | 9% |
| Public | 55% | 26% | 18% |
Q. Please read the following pairs of statements. In each case, please indicate which statement you agree with, using a 0-10 scale on which 0 means you completely agree with statement A, and 10 means you completely agree with statement B. Base: 2023 Trustees (3,473); 2023 Public (4,316)
When deciding how to spend charity funds, trustees put the charity’s core purposes ahead of their own judgement, as indeed the public prefer
| Base |
Statement A (0-4) Trustees should be careful to spend charity funds only on a charity’s core purpose |
Neutral (5) |
Statement B (6-10) Trustees need to be allowed to use their judgement as to how best to spend charity funds |
| Trustees | 72% | 9% | 19% |
| Public | 62% | 18% | 20% |
Q. Please read the following pairs of statements. In each case, please indicate which statement you agree with, using a 0-10 scale on which 0 means you completely agree with statement A, and 10 means you completely agree with statement B. Base: 2023 Trustees (3,473); 2023 Public (4,316)
Trustees from charities of all sizes, but particularly smaller ones, are confident they can protect their charities and beneficiaries from wrongdoing and harm…
My ability to protect my own charity and its beneficiaries from wrongdoing and harm
| Confidence | Total | £0-10k | £10k-£100k | £100k-£500k | £500k+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very confident | 63% | 67% | 64% | 59% | 57% |
| Somewhat confident | 34% | 31% | 34% | 40% | 41% |
| Not very confident | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
| Not confident at all | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Q. How confident are you in each of the following? Base: total (3,473), £0-£10k (1,213), £10k-£100k (1,259), £100k-£500k (466), £500k (300)
… And have felt this way for the last four years
My ability to protect my own charity and its beneficiaries from wrongdoing and harm
| Confidence | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very confident | 53% | 62% | 63% | 63% |
| Somewhat confident | 44% | 36% | 35% | 34% |
| Not very confident | 3% | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Not confident at all | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Q. How confident are you in each of the following? Base: 2020 (1309) 2021 (2,713), 2022 (3,662), 2023 (3,473)
Most trustees understand that important governing activities are the collective responsibility of trustees, though there is some uncertainty around delegating to sub-committees and making decisions based on personal views
Trustees generally recognise charity governance as their responsibility, but only half include ‘making sure the right information is sent to the Commission at the right time’ within that role
| Governance | The Board of Trustees jointly | The Chair | Staff or managers | The Secretary | The Treasurer | Other/ Don’t know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ensuring that all the charity’s activities help to achieve the purposes for which it was set up | 93% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 1% | |
| Ensuring the charity’s governing document, policies & procedures are fit for purpose and being followed | 83% | 9% | 1% | 4% | 1% | 1% |
| Making sure the charity’s resources are kept safe, properly used and accounted for | 80% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 11% | 1% |
| Checking and approving the charity’s annual accounts and trustees’ report | 75% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 14% | 3% |
| Managing conflicts of interest so that they don’t wrongly influence trustee decisions | 76% | 19% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| Keeping up to date with relevant Charity Commission guidance | 73% | 10% | 2% | 8% | 4% | 2% |
| Making sure the charity sends the right information to the Commission at the right time | 53% | 15% | 4% | 13% | 13% | 2% |
Q. In your charity, who do you think is ultimately responsible for each of the following? Base (3,662)
Eight-in-ten trustees continue to see it as the role of trustees collectively to make the important decisions in their charities
| Responsibility | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The trustees collectively | 80% | 78% | 77% | 78% |
| An executive committee or sub-committee | 9% | 12% | 14% | 13% |
| The Chair | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% |
| The CEO/senior staff | 4% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
| Other | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Legal responsibility of the board of trustees: Making important decisions collectively
Q. Who makes the important decisions in your charity? Base: 2020 (2,200), 2021 (2,713), 2022 (3,662), 2023 (3,473)
There is generally little confusion about what trustees should and should not do, though many believe that they can sometimes delegate responsibility for their decisions
Things trustees are legally required to do:
| Trustee requirements | Trustees should always do this | It depends | Trustees should never do this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make sure they have all the information they need | 98% | 2% | 0% |
| Understand potential costs and what the charity can afford | 97% | 3% | 0% |
| Listen to different views and perspectives | 96% | 4% | 0% |
| Follow what it says in the charity’s governing document | 94% | 6% | 0% |
| Decide what is relevant to that decision | 89% | 11% | 1% |
Q. On a 0-10 scale where 0 means strongly disagree and 10 means strongly agree, can you tell us how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following. Base (3,473)
Things trustees are legally required not to do:
| Trustee requirements | Trustees should always do this | It depends | Trustees should never do this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate responsibility for the decision to a sub-committee | 5% | 71% | 24% |
| Make decisions based on trustees’ personal views | 5% | 46% | 48% |
| Just go along with the majority | 6% | 33% | 60% |
| Avoid asking seemingly awkward questions | 10% | 18% | 72% |
| Just go along with what the chair says | 1% | 22% | 78% |
Q. On a 0-10 scale where 0 means strongly disagree and 10 means strongly agree, can you tell us how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following. Base (3,473)
Confidence in how to govern charities remains high and trustees generally have a good understanding of conflicts of interest
Trustees are confident in their ability to help govern their charity and ensure it fulfils its purpose
| Confidence level | … in helping to manage or govern your charity in your role? | … that your Board of Trustees ensures that your charity fulfils its purpose? |
|---|---|---|
| Very confident | 53% | 77% |
| Somewhat confident | 44% | 22% |
| Not very confident | 2% | 1% |
| Not confident at all | 0% | 0% |
Q. How confident are you …? Base: total (3,473)
Trustees generally understand what constitutes a conflict of interest
It is a conflict of interest
Pay a hire fee to a trustee for letting the charity use their house for meetings
| Yes | 77% |
| No | 14% |
| Don’t know | 9% |
Pay a firm owned by a trustee to do some repair work for the charity – at a substantial discount
| Yes | 76% |
| No | 16% |
| Don’t know | 9% |
It is not a conflict if interest
Pay expenses to a trustee for travelling to a meeting
| Yes | 18% |
| No | 74% |
| Don’t know | 8% |
Pay an accountant who has no links to the charity for preparing the charity’s accounts
| Yes | 6% |
| No | 90% |
| Don’t know | 4% |
Q. In which of these scenarios do you think a conflict of interest arises? Base (3,473)
Understanding around conflicts of interest has remained largely unchanged since 2021
Answered yes to ‘Is it a conflict of interest to…’
| Is it a conflict of interest to… | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay a hire fee to a trustee for letting the charity use their house for meetings | 79% | 76% | 77% |
| Pay a firm owned by a trustee to do some repair work for the charity – at a substantial discount | 76% | 72% | 76% |
It is not a conflict of interest
| It is not a conflict of interest to… | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay expenses to a trustee for travelling to a meeting | 17% | 18% | 18% |
| Pay an accountant who has no links to the charity for preparing the charity’s accounts | 6% | 5% | 6% |
Q. In which of these scenarios do you think a conflict of interest arises? Base: 2021 (2,713), 2022 (3,662), 2023 (3,473)
In recruiting new trustees, charities tend to rely on personal links. Trustees are confident that their Boards are representative of the communities involved with their charity
Smaller charities rely on their links with members and supporters or trustees’ personal relationships and little else in searching for new trustees; larger charities use a broader range of channels
| Recruiting trustees | Total | £0-10k | £10k-£100k | £100k-£500k | £500k+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communications to current charity members/ supporters | 40% | 36% | 41% | 50% | 47% |
| Approaching friends/ family members of current trustees | 21% | 20% | 22% | 21% | 22% |
| People who have benefitted from the charity come forward to become trustees | 16% | 12% | 17% | 22% | 23% |
| Advertising on the charity’s social media/website | 15% | 8% | 16% | 27% | 37% |
| Advertising in the wider community (e.g. newspapers, flyers) | 13% | 9% | 12% | 22% | 35% |
| Other | 15% | 13% | 16% | 19% | 20% |
| We haven’t recruited any of these trustees recently | 24% | 31% | 22% | 15% | 9% |
| Not applicable | 4% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 2% |
Q. How does your charity tend to find new trustees? [select all that apply]. Base: total (3,473), £0-£10k (1,213), £10k-£100k (1,259), £100k-£500k (466), £500k (300)
Smaller charities also rely on fewer formal processes than larger charities in their trustee recruitment
| Recruiting trustees | Total | £0-10k | £10k-£100k | £100k-£500k | £500k+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reviewing what skills, background and experience we need on our Board | 53% | 43% | 55% | 69% | 84% |
| Providing information about the legal responsibilities of trustees (e.g. Charity Commission guidance) | 53% | 44% | 56% | 70% | 77% |
| Providing important documents and information about the charity (e.g. accounts, governing document) | 52% | 44% | 55% | 68% | 75% |
| Inviting prospective trustees to sit in on a trustee meeting | 45% | 40% | 48% | 53% | 47% |
| Giving prospective trustees opportunities to ask questions (e.g. an online session before the application deadline) | 41% | 31% | 43% | 57% | 63% |
| Interviewing prospective trustees | 32% | 18% | 34% | 56% | 73% |
| Offering access to training | 22% | 13% | 22% | 37% | 49% |
| Inviting written applications from prospective trustees | 15% | 6% | 15% | 30% | 50% |
| Running a shadowing scheme or mentoring programme | 8% | 6% | 8% | 11% | 17% |
| None | 11% | 15% | 9% | 3% | 3% |
| Other | 6% | 6% | 5% | 7% | 4% |
| Don’t know | 6% | 7% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
Q. Which of the following does your charity do when you recruit new trustees? [select all that apply] Base: total (3,473), £0-£10k (1,213), £10k-£100k (1,259), £100k-£500k (466), £500k (300)
Trustees are broadly confident that their charities reflect the perspectives of all their important stakeholders
| Confidence | Members of the charity | The beneficiaries of the charity and people with similar experience | People who support the charity | Your charity’s community |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very confident | 59% | 54% | 58% | 56% |
| Somewhat confident | 28% | 35% | 32% | 35% |
| Don’t know | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
| Not applicable | 10% | 5% | 7% | 4% |
| Not very confident | 1% | 3% | 1% | 2% |
| Not confident at all | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
Q. How confident are you that your Board of Trustees reflects the perspectives of the following? Base: 2023 (3,473)
Most trustees feel that their Board meetings are well organised and run, though some do not always feel empowered to speak, and few are aware that they can claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
| Charity board meetings | Response |
|---|---|
| Meetings are arranged at a convenient time and location for all trustees | 84% |
| I feel able to contribute to good decision making | 83% |
| The Chair makes sure everyone gets a chance to contribute | 81% |
| The meeting agenda is clear and available in good time before the meeting | 81% |
| I can ask questions and get clarification of anything I don’t understand | 80% |
| I feel empowered to speak | 69% |
| Briefing papers are clear and concise | 60% |
| Trustees can claim out-of-pocket expenses such as childcare | 13% |
| I feel like my opinion/perspective is not valued | 3% |
| Meetings can be boring and I am not fully engaged | 2% |
| I often do not have the necessary information or expertise to contribute | 2% |
| I don’t understand what I am supposed to do in the meetings | 1% |
| I do not feel comfortable speaking in meetings | 1% |
| None of the above | 2% |
| Don’t know | 1% |
Q. Which of the following do you think are true of your charity’s board meetings? [select all that apply] Base: total (3,473)
Trustees from smaller charities feel less free to contribute at board meetings and fewer of them say they have briefing papers are clear and concise
| Board meetings | £500,000+ | £100,001 - £500,000 | £10,001 - £100,000 | £0 - £10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meetings are arranged at a convenient time and location for all trustees | 84% | 87% | 87% | 81% |
| I feel able to contribute to good decision making | 90% | 92% | 87% | 78% |
| The Chair makes sure everyone gets a chance to contribute | 88% | 87% | 83% | 77% |
| The meeting agenda is clear and available in good time before the meeting | 91% | 88% | 85% | 74% |
| I can ask questions and get clarification of anything I don’t understand | 91% | 91% | 83% | 74% |
| I feel empowered to speak | 88% | 77% | 72% | 64% |
| Briefing papers are clear and concise | 82% | 77% | 61% | 51% |
| Trustees can claim out of-pocket expenses such as childcare | 35% | 22% | 13% | 8% |
Q. Which of the following do you think are true of your charity’s board meetings? [select all that apply] Base: total (3,473)
Overall, trustees tend to see the Commission as balanced between dealing with wrongdoing and helping charities act appropriately. Those who have used the Commission’s advice or permission services feel they are treated fairly. Trustees perceive influence mainly, but not only, from charity law.
Trustees want the Commission to find a balance between dealing with wrongdoing and helping charities act appropriately, though some are unsure where the balance actually lies
The balance of the Charity Commission’s work ought to lie…
| Charity Commission | Total | £0 - £10k | £10k - £100k | £100k - £500k | £500k + |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| More on supporting charities to do the right thing than on identifying and dealing with wrongdoing | 10% | 10% | 11% | 11% | 11% |
| Equally on identifying and dealing with wrongdoing and on supporting charities to do the right thing | 81% | 81% | 80% | 80% | 83% |
| Don’t know | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 0% |
| More on identifying and dealing with wrongdoing than on supporting charities to do the right thing | 6% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 7% |
The balance of the Charity Commission’s work actually lies…
| Charity Commission | Total | £0 - £10k | £10k - £100k | £100k - £500k | £500k + |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| More on supporting charities to do the right thing than on identifying and dealing with wrongdoing | 13% | 12% | 13% | 15% | 14% |
| Equally on identifying and dealing with wrongdoing and on supporting charities to do the right thing | 47% | 50% | 46% | 43% | 42% |
| Don’t know | 26% | 26% | 26% | 24% | 21% |
| More on identifying and dealing with wrongdoing than on supporting charities to do the right thing | 14% | 12% | 15% | 18% | 23% |
Q. Generally speaking where do you think the balance of the Charity Commission’s work …? Base: total (3,473), £0-£10k (1,213), £10k-£100k (1,259), £100k-£500k (466), £500k (300)
About a quarter of charities have needed advice or permission from the Commission; very few have been subject to disciplinary procedures
Needed to obtain advice or permission from the Charity Commission
| Advice or permission | Total | £0 - £10k | £10k - £100k | £100k - £500k | £500k + |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 27% | 21% | 28% | 37% | 50% |
| No | 45% | 54% | 45% | 33% | 20% |
| Don’t know | 29% | 24% | 27% | 30% | 29% |
Been subject to a Charity Commission disciplinary procedure
| Disciplinary procedure | Total | £0 - £10k | £10k - £100k | £100k - £500k | £500k + |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| No | 92% | 94% | 93% | 92% | 90% |
| Don’t know | 8% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 9% |
Q. Has your charity ever… Base: total (3,473), £0-£10k (1,213), £10k-£100k (1,259), £100k-£500k (466), £500k (300)
A large majority of those trustees who have needed advice or permission from the Commission consider it to be fair
Needed to obtain advice or permission from the Charity Commission
| Very fairly | 71% |
| Somewhat fairly | 10% |
| Neither fairly nor unfairly | 9% |
| Don’t know | 8% |
| Somewhat unfairly | 2% |
| Very unfairly | 1% |
Q. How fairly or unfairly do you think your charity was treated for the following throughout the process? Base: (970)
Trustees see the Charity Commission as being influenced, above all, by charity law, though also to some degree by other parts of society
| Charity Commission | It is influenced by | Don’t know | It is not influenced by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charity law | 78% | 14% | 3% |
| The charity sector | 47% | 23% | 8% |
| The public | 29% | 23% | 17% |
| Politicians | 27% | 27% | 20% |
| The media | 27% | 25% | 22% |
Q. To what extent do you feel the work of the Charity Commission is influenced by the following factors/groups where 1 means it isn’t influenced at all and 5 means it is influenced a great? Base: All trustees (3,473)
Trustees continue to see the Commission as better at dealing with wrongdoing than uncovering it. But trustees are more confident than they were in 2020 that the Commission can uncover wrongdoing
As in 2021 and 2022, the vast majority of trustees are confident that the Commission will deal appropriately with uncovered wrongdoing and harm
That instances of wrongdoing and harm once uncovered will be dealt with appropriately by the Charity Commission
| Confidence | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very confident | 46% | 53% | 54% | 55% |
| Somewhat confident | 44% | 42% | 40% | 40% |
| Not very confident | 9% | 4% | 5% | 4% |
| Not confident at all | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Q. How confident are you in each of the following? Base: 2020 (1,309), 2021 (2,713), 2022 (3,622), 2023 (3,473)
Trustees are more confident in the Commission’s ability to uncover wrongdoing than they were in 2020
The Charity Commission’s ability to uncover wrongdoing and harm when they occur in other charities
| Confidence | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very confident | 19% | 28% | 30% | 32% |
| Somewhat confident | 56% | 57% | 56% | 55% |
| Not very confident | 22% | 13% | 13% | 12% |
| Not confident at all | 3% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Q. How confident are you in each of the following? Base: 2020 (1,309), 2021 (2,713), 2022 (3,622), 2023 (3,473)
Though most trustees tend to look elsewhere for advice and guidance, those who do look to the Charity Commission find it useful
Trustees look primarily to colleagues and other trustees for advice, while half of trustees never seek help from the Commission
| Advice | Several times a year | About once a year | Less than once a year | Never |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A colleague or another trustee | 34% | 23% | 28% | 14% |
| Looking on the internet | 20% | 18% | 23% | 38% |
| A friend or family member (expert) | 7% | 12% | 22% | 59% |
| The Charity Commission | 6% | 13% | 29% | 53% |
| Another charity or advisory board | 6% | 10% | 14% | 70% |
| A friend or family member (non-expert) | 3% | 4% | 13% | 81% |
Q. In the past, when you have been unsure about how to go about something in your role, how often have you used any of the following sources to seek help or guidance? Base (3,473)
There has been a fall this year in the proportion of trustees who look for help from not only the Charity Commission but from all sources
Answered ‘several times a year’ or ‘once a year’
| Guidance source | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A colleague or another friend | 70% | 70% | 58% |
| Looking on the internet | 55% | 58% | 38% |
| A friend or family member (expert) | 29% | 28% | 19% |
| The Charity Commission | 29% | 30% | 18% |
| Another charity or advisory body | 24% | 24% | 16% |
| A friend or family member (non-expert) | 14% | 13% | 7% |
Q. In the past, when you have been unsure about how to go about something in your role, how often have you used any of the following sources to seek help or guidance? Base: 2021 (2,713), 2022 (3,662), 2023 (3,473)
The Charity Commission’s advice is found to be helpful by almost all trustees who use it and very helpful by over half
| Guidance source | Very helpful | Fairly helpful | Not very helpful | Not helpful at all |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A colleague or another friend | 54% | 44% | 1% | 0% |
| Looking on the internet | 24% | 63% | 12% | 1% |
| A friend or family member (expert) | 36% | 57% | 6% | 1% |
| The Charity Commission | 54% | 42% | 4% | 1% |
| Another charity or advisory body | 69% | 28% | 2% | 1% |
| A friend or family member (non-expert) | 22% | 58% | 18% | 2% |
Q. You said you had used the following sources for help or guidance. How helpful did you find them? Base: another charity or advisory body (1,094), a colleague or another trustee (3,005), The Charity Commission (1,671), a friend or family member (expert) (1,465), looking on the internet (2,190), a friend or family (non-expert) (677)
Trustees continue to view colleagues and other trustees as providing the most useful advice, though all sources are seen as useful
Answered ‘very helpful’ or ‘fairly helpful’
| Guidance source | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A colleague or another friend | 98% | 98% | 98% |
| Another charity or advisory body | 95% | 94% | 97% |
| The Charity Commission | 95% | 94% | 96% |
| A friend or family member (expert) | 94% | 93% | 93% |
| Looking on the internet | 90% | 90% | 87% |
| A friend or family member (non-expert) | 82% | 75% | 80% |
Q. You said you had used the following sources for help or guidance. How helpful did you find them? Base: another charity or advisory body (1,094), a colleague or another trustee (3,005), The Charity Commission (1,671), a friend or family member (expert) (1,465), looking on the internet (2,190), a friend or family (non-expert) (677)
Generally, if trustees do not go to the Commission for help it is because they do not think they need any help
Reasons for not using Charity Commission guidance, among those who used it less than once a year or never
| Guidance | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I don’t think I need help and guidance that regularly | 62% | 51% | 50% | 57% |
| I didn’t know that it provided help and guidance | 11% | 20% | 19% | 14% |
| I don’t know how to find what I need | 4% | 11% | 14% | 8% |
| I don’t think the help and guidance provided by it is clear enough | 6% | 6% | 8% | 4% |
| I don’t use the internet very much | 3% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
| I don’t think there is enough help and guidance provided by it | 3% | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Other | 9% | 14% | 11% | 11% |
| None of the above | 11% | 13% | 13% | 13% |
Q. Which of the following reasons, if any, describe why you don’t use the Charity Commission as a source of help and guidance more often? Base (2,818)
Awareness of the 5-minute guides has increased significantly since 2022. Awareness remains highest among those who regularly use the Commission
| 5-minute guides | All respondents | Never uses the Charity Commission | Uses the Charity Commission less than once a year | Uses the Charity Commission about once a year | Uses the Charity Commission more than once a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Had heard of them, but have not used in the past year | 24% | 19% | 27% | 36% | 27% |
| Had heard of them, and used in the past year | 9% | 3% | 10% | 19% | 32% |
| Had not heard of them | 65% | 75% | 61% | 44% | 38% |
| Don’t know | 2% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 3% |
Change amongst all respondents vs. 2022
| 5-minute guides | All respondents |
|---|---|
| Had heard of them, but have not used in the past year | +6% |
| Had heard of them, and used in the past year | +4% |
| Had not heard of them | -10% |
| Don’t know | +/-0% |
Q. Before taking this survey, had you heard of the Charity Commission’s 5-minute guides? Base (3,473)
Those who use the Commission tend to understand trustee responsibilities better
Answered ‘the board of trustees are jointly responsible’
| Responsibility | All trustees in survey | Never use the Commission | Uses the Commission at least once a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ensuring that all of the charity’s activities help to achieve the purposes for which it was set up | 93% | 92% | 94% |
| Ensuring the charity’s governing document, policies and procedures are fit for purpose and are being followed | 83% | 80% | 88% |
| Making sure the charity’s resources are kept safe, properly used and accounted for | 80% | 77% | 82% |
| Managing conflicts of interest so that they don’t wrongly influence trustee decisions | 76% | 75% | 76% |
| Checking and approving the charity’s annual accounts and trustees’ report | 75% | 71% | 81% |
| Keeping up to date with relevant Charity Commission guidance | 73% | 69% | 80% |
| Making sure the charity sends the right information to the Commission at the right time | 53% | 50% | 57% |
Q. In your charity, who do you think is ultimately responsible for each of the following? Base: All trustees (3,473), Never use the Commission (1,802), Used the Commission at least once a year (655)
Methodology
Quantitative survey of trustees
Yonder conducted an online survey of 3,473 participants taken from the Charity Commission’s database of charity trustees. These trustees came from a range of charity types, regional areas of focus, and length of tenure.
Where relevant, answer options were randomised and scales rotated. All questions using opposing statements were asked using a sliding scale.
The data was weighted to be representative of the breakdown of income size on the Commission’s register.