User:Sacha healy/Charity Governance

About Charity Governance
Governance describes the way an organisation is managed, including its powers, responsibilities and its decision-making processes. The body responsible for overseeing the work of a charity (‘governing it’) is the Board of trustees also known as the Council, Management Committee or, if the charity is also a registered company, the Board of Directors.

The Charity Commission is clear that good governance is essential for the success of any charity. Members of boards play a vital role in serving their causes and communities by ensuring the proper procedures and policies are in place to manage their charity’s resources effectively. They provide long-term vision and protect their charity’s reputation and values.

The governing document is the legal document which represents the rule book for the way in which a charity will operate. The Charity Commission provides detailed guidance on what information it should contain and how to formally register as a charity.

They recommend the governing document contains contains information about (1):


 * what the charity is set up to do (its aims, 'objects' or 'purposes');
 * how the charity will do those things (powers);
 * who will run it (charity trustees);
 * what happens if changes to the administrative provisions need to be made (amendment provision); and
 * what happens if the charity wishes to wind up (dissolution provision).

It should also contain the following administrative provisions:


 * how the charity trustees will run it; and
 * internal arrangements for meetings, voting, looking after money, etc.

Preparing a Governing Document
The Charity Commission’s guidance on Choosing and Preparing a Governing Document (CC22) explains:


 * the different types of governing document that a charity might use,
 * what we would normally expect to see in a governing document; and
 * the procedure for formally adopting your governing document.

Day to Day Governance
Governing the charity day to day is the responsibility of the charity’s trustees who should ensure that the charity’s work is in line with the purpose defined in the governing document.