Small Charity Governance - Role

Role

In small voluntary organisations, those entrusted with the governance function (the governing body or board of trustees) are expected to carry out both governance functions and to also perform other roles within the organisation. Core functions are:

• To ensure that the charity remains true to its mission and values
• To determine its strategy
• To act as the point of final accountability for its actions and those of its representatives and staff
• To safeguard its assets

When the organisation employs staff, the governing body undertakes the management role of hiring, firing and holding the head of staff accountable. Another role is as liaison between the organisation and the outside world: providing a conduit for information and ideas, representing it and acting as an ambassador for it.

In addition to these governance functions, trustees of small charities may also be expected to:

• Act as a pool of expertise and advice, making this available to staff and volunteers
• Manage one (or more) staff, volunteers or projects (for instance, managing the work of the coordinator or production of the newsletter)
• Carrying out the work of the organisation: staffing a helpline, answering correspondence and so on

The literature typically restricts its coverage to “pure” governance functions; it does not pay attention to these other functions which are carried out by the trustees of small charities, seen by staff, volunteers and committee members as the contribution made by them to the organisation.