Creating and Adopting a Charity Trustees’ Code of Conduct: Template Code of Conduct and Board Resolutions

Why have a Charity Trustees’ Code of Conduct? 

Charity trustees hold a position of significant public trust, responsible for governing the charity and directing how it is managed and run. A trustee’s behaviour can have a significant impact on how their charity is viewed by its supporters, donors, beneficiaries and the general public. A trustees' code of conduct requires trustees to commit to uphold the code of conduct, and to behave in a manner appropriate to their role as charity trustees. 

Neither the law nor the Charity Commission require a charity to adopt a trustees' code of conduct, but the recently updated Charity Governance Code (implicitly approved by the Commission) promotes use of such a tool to assist trustees to meet their obligations.

Three steps for putting in place a Code of Conduct for Charity Trustees:

Step 1. 

Create a code of conduct tailored to your charity using the Code of Conduct for a Trustee template. The code of conduct should contain statements of the key standards and good practice that the charity trustees are expected to meet. 

Step 2. 

The code of conduct should be formally adopted by a board resolution. Alternative resolutions for board approval are available for a charitable incorporated organization (CIO) and a charitable company limited by guarantee (CCLBG):

• CIO Board Minutes: Code of Conduct for Charity Trustees  
• CCLBG Board Minutes: Code of Conduct for Charity Trustees/Directors

Step 3. 

       Each existing and new trustee should commit to uphold the code of conduct by signing and dating it. 

The trustee code of conduct can be used by trustees in conjunction with the Small Charity: Checklist of Ongoing Compliance.