It’s a question we hear a lot: “What exactly is a charity governing document?” The answer is straightforward.
Your charity’s rule book
Think of it as your charity’s rule book. It’s the set of rules that explain how your charity should operate. You might also hear it called a constitution.
Your governing document covers important things like:
- What your charity exists to do (its purpose and powers)
- How many trustees you’ll have
- How trustees get appointed or elected
- How to arrange and notify people about meetings
- What happens if you need to close the charity
Why it matters
Charities must follow their governing document. It’s the law. This means:
- Everything you do must fit within your stated purpose
- Your trustee board needs to be properly set up
- Any new activities must align with your original aims
- Trustees need to understand what’s in the document
That last point is particularly important. As a trustee, you need to know what risks you’re taking on and how to manage them properly. It’s one of the key reasons tools like Governance360 exist – to help trustees get familiar with their responsibilities and stay on top of governance requirements.
Getting started
If you’re setting up a charity or becoming a trustee, the Charity Commission provides model governing documents. These are the standard templates most charities use, and they’re a solid starting point. You’ll find these templates included in Governance360, along with other helpful resources to support good governance.
We’ll be exploring governing documents in more detail in future posts, including what new trustees should watch out for and how to make sure your charity stays compliant.