Research and analysis

Charity trustee research 2022

Published 14 July 2022

Applies to England and Wales

Research conducted on behalf of the Charity Commission by Yonder.

April 2022

Executive summary

Since 2020, there has been little change in trustees’ understanding of their role and their confidence in performing it

Trustees are highly confident that they know what their role entails and that they are able to fulfil it in the time available to them. They also feel confident that they are able to protect their charity from wrongdoing and harm.

As in previous years, most trustees recognise the making of important decisions as their responsibility, while their understanding of what qualifies as a conflict of interest is as it was last year - generally sound but with some room for greater clarity.

Trustees believe that when charities don’t meet public expectations, this is more likely due to charities not being aware of public requirements rather than public lack of knowledge on charity complexity. However, some trustees seem less sure than before of what those expectations are.

Trustees see most areas of governance as their responsibility, but not so many think it is their role to deal with the Commission.

Trustees are generally confident in the Commission’s ability to deal with wrongdoing once it has been highlighted and that it will be able to uncover wrongdoing, but they are markedly more confident in the former than the latter.

Where the pandemic has had an impact, it is principally evident in the greater use of online facilities

When it comes to looking for guidance in their role, the increasing reliance on the internet is a notable trend with 59% saying they search online one or more times a year in 2022 compared to 41% in 2020.

Although the impact of the pandemic in forcing activities, meetings and services online is less pronounced than in 2021 during the midst of the pandemic, the change is still clearly present, particularly in larger charities.

Whilst we have seen a reduction in the adaptations made due to the pandemic, it seems likely that many trustees will continue to make greater use of digital facilities in their role.

This underscores the importance of the Commission providing accessible help and increasing awareness of online guidance, as most trustees are not currently aware of the 5-minutes guides.

The Covid pandemic continues to drive the adoption of online practices, especially in larger charities

There has been a reduction in adaptations made to charities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there still are some concerns about recruitment and charity viability

Changes the charity made regarding adopting online practises

Statement	2022	2021
Moved trustee meetings online	47%	67%
Moved services or activities online	21%	38%
Struggling to adapt to using new technology	3%	Question not asked in 2021

Changes the charity made regarding modifying working arrangements

Statement	2022	2021
Have stopped some services**	19%	43%
Changed our activities	15%	28%
Formed new partnerships or joint working arrangements	11%	8%

Changes the charity made with recruitment and employment

Statement	2022	2021
Struggling to recruit people with the right skills	17%	Question not asked in 2021
Finding it easier to recruit people with the right skills	2%	Question not asked in 2021
Struggling to adapt to new working patterns	2%	Question not asked in 2021
Finding it easier to do our jobs because of new working patterns	2%	Question not asked in 2021

Changes the charity made in regard to financial practices

Statement	2022	2021
Concerned about the long-term viability of our charity	16%	Question not asked in 2021
Found new sources of funding	11%	14%

None of the above changes made

Statement	2022	2021
None of the above	22%	14%

Q. In what ways, if any, has your charity changed or adapted as result of the Covid pandemic and its effects? Base (3,662) ** In 2021, the text was ‘Stopped some services’, in 2022 the answer code was updated to ‘We have stopped some services or activities that are no longer as relevant, feasible or effective’

Larger charities are much more likely to have moved meetings and activities online

Changes the charity made regarding adopting online practises

Statement	£0-10k	£10k-£100k	£100k-500k	£500k+
Moved trustee meetings online	33%	49%	69%	79%
Moved services or activities online	13%	18%	40%	46%
Struggling to adapt to using new technology	3%	3%	3%	2%

Changes the charity made regarding modifying working arrangements

Statement	£0-10k	£10k-£100k	£100k-500k	£500k+
Have stopped some services	16%	20%	23%	19%
Changed our activities	13%	14%	22%	19%
Formed new partnerships or joint working arrangements	6%	11%	22%	26%

Changes the charity made with recruitment and employment

Statement	£0-10k	£10k-£100k	£100k-500k	£500k+
Struggling to recruit people with the right skills	16%	17%	17%	21%
Finding it easier to recruit people with the right skills	1%	2%	2%	2%
Struggling to adapt to new working patterns	2%	2%	2%	3%
Finding it easier to do our jobs because of new working patterns	1%	2%	5%	6%

Changes the charity made in regard to financial practices

Statement	£0-10k	£10k-£100k	£100k-500k	£500k+
Concerned about the long-term viability of our charity	15%	16%	19%	16%
Found new sources of funding	6%	13%	18%	22%

None of the above changes made

Statement	£0-10k	£10k-£100k	£100k-500k	£500k+
None of the above	30%	20%	9%	5%

Q. In what ways, if any, has your charity changed or adapted as result of the Covid pandemic and its effects? Base (3,662)

Trustees remain broadly confident that they understand public expectations

The public and trustees have similar views on many issues affecting charities

Statement A	Mean public score	Mean charity trustee score	Statement B
CEO pay 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	6.82	5.79	CEO pay The nature of charity work means that it is wrong that some charity CEOs are paid the same as CEOs in the private sector

Statement A	Mean public score	Mean charity trustee score	Statement B
The regulator The charity regulator should confine its role to making sure charities stick to the letter of the laws that govern charitable activity	5.55	5.57	The regulator 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

Statement A	Mean public score	Mean charity trustee score	Statement B
Charitable endeavour Charitable endeavour is something that only charities do	2.47	4.76	Charitable endeavour Charitable endeavour is something anyone can undertake

Statement A	Mean public score	Mean charity trustee score	Statement B
Behaviour standards My charity ought to have the same standards of conduct and behaviour as any other organisation	5.05	4.00	Behaviour standards Because of the work it does, my charity’s standards of conduct and behaviour ought to be higher than in other organisations

Statement A	Mean public score	Mean charity trustee score	Statement B
Change in society There’s nothing wrong with charities pushing for change in society, if it helps them meet the needs of those who rely on them	4.31	3.95	Change in society Charities should focus on meeting the needs of those who rely on them, rather than pushing for change in society

Statement A	Mean public score	Mean charity trustee score	Statement B
Role in public life Charities should respond to social and cultural debates if they want to stay relevant and keep the support of the public	4.78	3.68	Collective responsibility As a registered charity our only responsibility is to uphold the reputation of our own organisation

Statement A	Mean public score	Mean charity trustee score	Statement B
Collective responsibility As a registered charity we have a collective responsibility to uphold the reputation of charity more generally	3.57	3.71	Collective responsibility As a registered charity our only responsibility is to uphold the reputation of our own organisation

Statement A	Mean public score	Mean charity trustee score	Statement B
The how The way our charity goes about meeting its charitable purpose is as important as whether it fulfils that charitable purpose or not	4.31	3.95	The how 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 (3,662). Question wording slightly adapted for public survey.

The majority of trustees say they understand how public expectations should shape their charities’ work, but some seem less sure than before

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	Public expectation - I have a clear understanding about how public expectations ought to shape the way charities go about doing what they do	On the fence	Public expectation - I am unclear about how public expectations ought to shape the way charities go about doing what they do
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: 2022 (3,622), 2021 (2,713), 2020 (1,309)

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

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	Where charities fall short of public expectations it is usually because the public doesn’t understand the complexities and difficulties involved	On the fence	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
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: 2022 (3,622), 2021 (2,713), 2020 (1,309)

Most trustees feel very confident in their own ability to protect their charity from wrongdoing, particularly trustees from smaller charities

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%	61%	56%
Somewhat confident	35%	31%	34%	38%	43%
Not very confident	2%	2%	1%	1%	0%
Not confident at all	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%

Q. How confident are you in each of the following? Base (3,662)

And as last year, almost all trustees are at least somewhat confident that they are able to protect their charity

My ability to protect my own charity and its beneficiaries from wrongdoing and harm

Confidence	2022	2021	2020
Very confident	63%	62%	53%
Somewhat confident	35%	36%	44%
Not very confident	2%	1%	3%
Not confident at all	0%	0%	0%

Q. How confident are you in each of the following? Base: 2022 (3,622), 2021 (2,713), 2020 (1,309)

Trustees continue to see the Commission as better at dealing with wrongdoing than uncovering it

The majority of trustees are still very confident that the Commission will deal appropriately with wrongdoing once uncovered

That instances of wrongdoing and harm once uncovered will be dealt with appropriately by the Charity Commission

Confidence	2022	2021	2020
Very confident	54%	53%	46%
Somewhat confident	40%	42%	44%
Not very confident	5%	4%	9%
Not confident at all	1%	1%	2%

Q. How confident are you in each of the following? Base: 2022 (3,622), 2021 (2,713), 2020 (1,309)

There is also confidence that the Commission is able to uncover wrongdoing and harm, though less than for its ability to deal with it

The Charity Commission’s ability to uncover wrongdoing and harm when they occur in other charities

Confidence	2022	2021	2020
Very confident	30%	28%	19%
Somewhat confident	56%	57%	56%
Not very confident	13%	13%	22%
Not confident at all	2%	2%	3%

Q. How confident are you in each of the following? Base: 2022 (3,622), 2021 (2,713), 2020 (1,309)

Trustees typically understand that various governing activities are the collective responsibility of trustees, but many think that specific individuals are responsible for keeping the Commission up to date

Except for a few areas, they are generally confident about how decisions should or should not be made

Trustees see most governance tasks as their responsibility, but some don’t recognise their shared responsibility for accounts or updating the Commission

Responsibility	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	92%	4%	2%	1%		1%
Ensuring the charity’s governing document, policies & procedures are fit for purpose and being followed	83%	8%	1%	5%	1%	2%
Making sure the charity’s resources are kept safe, properly used and accounted for	78%	4%	3%	2%	12%	1%
Checking and approving the charity’s annual accounts and trustees’ report	74%	7%	0%	1%	14%	3%
Managing conflicts of interest so that they don’t wrongly influence trustee decisions	74%	21%	1%	1%	0%	2%
Keeping up to date with relevant Charity Commission guidance	70%	11%	2%	10%	5%	3%
Making sure the charity sends the right information to the Commission at the right time	51%	15%	3%	15%	14%	2%

Q. In your charity, who do you think is ultimately responsible for each of the following? Base (3,662)

Almost a quarter of trustees say it is an individual or a committee that makes important decisions, rather than the trustees collectively

Decision	2022	2021	2022
The trustees collectively	77%	78%	80%
An executive committee or sub-committee	14%	12%	9%
The Chair	4%	3%	4%
The CEO/senior staff	3%	4%	4%
Other	3%	3%	3%

Q. Who makes the important decisions in your charity? Base: 2022 (3,622), 2021 (2,713), 2020 (1,309)

Trustees continue to be clear on most ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ in decision making, but some are unsure about delegating responsibility or deferring to the chair

Things trustees should always do:

Delegating	Trustees should always do this	It depends	Trustees should never do this
Make sure they have all the information they need	98%	1%
Understand potential costs and what the charity can afford	97%	2%
Listen to different views and perspectives	96%	4%
Follow what it says in the charity’s governing document	95%	5%
Decide what is relevant to that decision	88%	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 (2009)

Things trustees should not do:

Delegation	Trustees should always do this	It depends	Trustees should never do this
Delegate responsibility for the decision to a sub-committee	5%%	71%	24%
Defer to the Chair	8%	66%	25%
Make decisions based on trustees’ personal views	6%	47%	47%
Just go along with the majority	6%	36%	58%
Avoid asking seemingly awkward questions	10%	17%	72%

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 (2009)

Trustees remain confident in how they govern charities and their understanding of conflicts of interest is generally sound

Understanding how to navigate the regulations around charities is still the area where help is most desired

Confidence has remained high. Most trustees are ‘very confident’ in their role, especially those from larger charities

Confidence	Total	£0-10k	£10k-£100k	£100k-500k	£500k+
Very confident	56%	57%	56%	58%	61%
Somewhat confident	43%	41%	43%	42%	38%
Not very confident	2%	2%	1%	0%	1%
Not confident at all	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%

Q. How confident are you in helping to manage or govern your charity in your role? Base: (3,662)

Trustees are generally comfortable with their responsibilities, but time pressures have increased since last year

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.

Responsibilities I find my responsibilities for the charity overwhelming	On the fence	Responsibilities I am comfortable with the responsibilities I have for the charity
7%	6%	86%

Time I feel like I don’t have enough time to properly carry out everything I need to in my role	On the fence	Time I feel like I have time to properly carry out everything I need to in my role
16%	9%	75%

Regulations burden There are too many unnecessary rules and regulations for trustees to comply with	On the fence	Regulations burden The rules and regulations trustees have to comply with are important, and are not too much of a burden
11%	11%	78%

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 (3,662)

Statement	Percentage change since last year
Responsibilities	-1%
Time	-5%
Regulations burden	-2%

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 2022 (3,662), 2021 (2,713)

On the whole, trustees have a good understanding of what qualifies as a conflict of interest, but claiming for expenses is a blind-spot for some

It is a conflict of interest

Is it a conflict of interest to pay a hire fee to a trustee for letting the charity use their house for meetings?

Conflict of interest	%
Yes	76%
No	16%
Don’t know	9%

Is it a conflict of interest to pay a firm owned by a trustee to do some repair work for the charity – at a substantial discount?

Conflict of interest	%
Yes	72%
No	19%
Don’t know	9%

It is not a conflict of interest

Is it a conflict of interest to pay expenses to a trustee for travelling to a meeting?

Conflict of interest	%
Yes	18%
No	74%
Don’t know	8%

Is it a conflict of interest to pay an accountant who has no links to the charity for preparing the charity’s accounts?

Conflict of interest	%
Yes	5%
No	90%
Don’t know	5%

Q. In which of these scenarios do you think a conflict of interest arises? Base (3,662)

Trustees’ levels of understanding around conflicts of interest have remained broadly stable since 2021

Percentage of those who answered yes when asked if the below statements are a conflict of interest

It is a conflict of interest	2022	2021
Pay a hire fee to a trustee for letting the charity use their house for meetings	76%	79%
Pay a firm owned by a trustee to do some repair work for the charity – at a substantial discount	72%	76%

It is not a conflict of interest	2022	2021
Pay expenses to a trustee for travelling to a meeting	18%	17%
Pay an accountant who has no links to the charity for preparing the charity’s accounts	5%	6%

Q. In which of these scenarios do you think a conflict of interest arises? Base: 2022 (3,662), 2021 (2,713)

As last year, trustees’ needs are varied, but help with understanding regulations and paperwork would be most appreciated

Help and advise trustees would want about their role	2022	2021
Understanding regulations and paperwork	30%	29%
Raising funds	26%	24%
Understanding whether our charity is making the difference it should	17%	16%
Filing information with the Charity Commission	16%	17%
Understanding our accounts, accounting & reporting	13%	14%
Investing our money	13%	14%
Land and buildings	11%	12%
Managing our finances	9%	9%
Managing conflicts of interest	9%	9%
Coming to collective decisions with other trustees	6%	7%

Q. Which of the following, if any, do you think you might need help or advice about in your role? Base: 2022 (3,662), 2021 (2,713)

Trustees consider themselves to have a broad range of tasks, though there is less emphasis on the key issues of monitoring for fraud and managing risks

Task	Very much so	To some extent	To a limited extent	Not at all
Ensuring trustees, staff and volunteers act in the best interests of the charity	88%	9%	2%	0%
Ensuring the charity is meeting all applicable legal requirements	85%	12%	2%	0%
Ensuring resources are used as efficiently as possible	84%	14%	2%	0%
Ensuring the charity has sufficient resources	81%	15%	3%	0%
Ensuring the charity takes reasonable steps to protect people who come into contact with it	77%	16%	4%	1%
Ensuring that the trustees work well as a team	71%	23%	5%	1%
Understanding whether the charity is making a real difference	66%	27%	5%	0%
Monitoring the risk of fraud to the charity	66%	20%	9%	2%
Future planning	65%	28%	5%	1%
Ensuring that the trustees jointly have the skills and knowledge they need	60%	31%	7%	1%
Monitoring other risks to the charity	57%	31%	9%	1%
Providing support and advice to staff and volunteers	55%	26%	9%	6%
Other things	21%	34%	12%	4%

Q. Which of the following things do you think the board of trustees at your charity regularly spend time on? Base (3,662)

Task	Percentage change of NET very much so/to some extent since last year
Ensuring trustees, staff and volunteers act in the best interests of the charity	-1%
Ensuring the charity is meeting all applicable legal requirements	0%
Ensuring resources are used as efficiently as possible	0%
Ensuring the charity has sufficient resources	-1%
Ensuring the charity takes reasonable steps to protect people who come into contact with it	0%
Ensuring that the trustees work well as a team	-1%
Understanding whether the charity is making a real difference	-2%
Monitoring the risk of fraud to the charity	-2%
Future planning	-2%
Ensuring that the trustees jointly have the skills and knowledge they need	-1%
Monitoring other risks to the charity	-1%
Providing support and advice to staff and volunteers	-2%
Other things	0%

Q. Which of the following things do you think the board of trustees at your charity regularly spend time on? Base 2022 (3,662), 2021 (2,713)

The Charity Commission is typically not the first port of call for guidance, but when it is used it is deemed helpful

Those who use the Charity Commission for guidance, have a greater understanding of the support available and their duties

Trustees are twice as reliant on colleagues or other trustees and the internet as they are on the Commission for guidance

Guidance source	Several times a year	About once a year	Less than once a year	Never
A colleague or another trustee	42%	28%	21%	8%
Looking on the internet	35%	24%	20%	22%
A friend or family member (expert)	11%	17%	24%	48%
The Charity Commission	10%	19%	29%	41%
Another charity or advisory body	9%	14%	14%	62%
A friend or family member (non-expert)	5%	8%	16%	71%

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 (3,662)

Reliance on the Commission is stable while the proportion of trustees turning to the internet for guidance continues to increase

Percentage who used sources at least once a year

Guidance source	2022	2021	2022
A colleague or another trustee	70%	71%	80%
Looking on the internet	59%	55%	41%
The Charity Commission	29%	29%	38%
A friend or family member (expert)	28%	29%	18%
Another charity or advisory body	23%	24%	15%
A friend or family member (non-expert)	13%	13%	8%

Those who do go to the Charity Commission for guidance tend to find it helpful

This question was asked to those who had used the following sources for guidance.

Guidance source	Very helpful	Fairly helpful	Not very helpful	Not helpful at all
Another charity or advisory body	64%	30%	3%	3%
A colleague or another trustee	55%	43%	2%	0%
The Charity Commission	44%	49%	5%	1%
A friend or family member (expert)	36%	57%	6%	2%
Looking on the internet	30%	60%	10%	1%
A friend or family member (non-expert)	19%	56%	22%	3%

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 (3,371), a colleague or another trustee (1,421), The Charity Commission (2,192), a friend or family member (expert) (1,914), looking on the internet (2,863), a friend or family (non-expert) (1,075)

The advice of colleagues and other trustees continues to be seen as the most helpful

Proportion of those who viewed the guidance as very or fairly helpful

Guidance source	2022	2021
A colleague or another trustee	98%	99%
Another charity or advisory body	94%	95%
The Charity Commission	94%	95%
A friend or family member (expert)	93%	94%
Looking on the internet	90%	90%
A friend or family member (non-expert)	75%	82%

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 (3,371), a colleague or another trustee (1,421), The Charity Commission (2,192), a friend or family member (expert) (1,914), looking on the internet (2,863), a friend or family (non-expert) (1,075)

As in previous years, those who do not go to the Charity Commission for advice tend to say it is because they don’t often feel in need of help

Reasons for not using Charity Commission guidance, among those who used it less than once a year or never

Commission guidance	2022	2021	2020
I don’t think I need help and guidance that regularly	50%	51%	62%
I didn’t know that it provided help and guidance	19%	20%	11%
I don’t know how to find what I need	14%	11%	4%
I don’t think the help and guidance provided by it is clear enough	8%	6%	6%
I don’t use the internet very much	6%	5%	3%
I don’t think there is enough help and guidance provided by it	4%	4%	3%
Other	11%	14%	9%
None of the above	13%	13%	11%

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 respondents who do use the Charity Commission less than once a year2022 (2,545), 2021 (1,958), 2020 (2,059)

Whilst most trustees were not aware of the 5-minute guides, usage increased with interaction with the Charity Commission

5 minute guide	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, and used in the past year	5%	1%	5%	9%	19%
Had heard of them, but have not used in the past year	18%	12%	19%	26%	24%
Had not heard of them	75%	85%	75%	63%	55%
Don’t know	2%	2%	1%	3%	2%

Q. Before taking this survey, have you heard of the Charity Commission’s 5-minute guides? Base (3,662)

Trustees who use the Charity Commission are more likely to correctly understand their duties

Commission usage	All trustees in survey	Never use the Commission	Uses the Commission
Checking and approving the charity’s annual accounts and trustees’ report	74%	69%	78%
Making sure the charity sends the right information to the Commission at the right time	51%	45%	55%
Making sure the charity’s resources are kept safe, properly used and accounted for	78%	73%	81%
Managing conflicts of interest so that they don’t wrongly influence trustee decisions	74%	71%	76%
Ensuring the charity’s governing document, policies and procedures are fit for purpose and are being followed	83%	79%	86%
Ensuring that all of the charity’s activities help to achieve the purposes for which it was set up	92%	90%	94%
Keeping up to date with relevant Charity Commission guidance	70%	61%	76%

Q. In your charity, who do you think is ultimately responsible for each of the following? Base (3,662)

Methodology

Quantitative survey of trustees

Yonder conducted an online survey of 3,662 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.