Trustee Applications: Crafting a Compelling Supporting Statement

Showcase your passion.

Begin your supporting statement with a captivating opening that reflects your passion for the cause.

If you’re unsure where to start, look at an example of a trustee supporting statement from someone in a similar sector or role to help spark ideas for how to tell your own story.

You can share a personal anecdote or experience that has inspired you to get involved. This sets a positive tone and immediately engages your audience. Use the reflection and research you have done and showcase it!

Highlight relevant skills and expertise.

Use the person specification to highlight and outline your skills and experience. Take time to relate this to the organisation’s context and strategy. Remember the conversations you have had with either the organisation or the consultant and reflect back on where you know the challenges and opportunities are and how you might be able to support them.

Trustees are often sought for specific competencies such as financial acumen, legal expertise, HR, strategic planning, digital, marketing, or other relevant skills. Back your claims with specific examples from your professional or personal experience.

Remember, the people reading or watching your supporting statement may not come from the same sector you do, so be clear and avoid jargon.

Emphasise leadership and teamwork.

Trusteeship requires a balance of leadership and collaborative skills. Communicate your ability to work in a team and lead initiatives when necessary. Provide examples of successful collaboration, challenge, and support towards a common goal. If you don’t have trustee experience, explain what you will do to learn about good governance and how your skills, experience and strategic thinking can transfer into this role.

Show your commitment.

Trustees must become committed advocates for the organisation. Express your commitment to the long-term success of the organisation. Discuss your willingness to invest time and effort to understand the challenges and meaningfully contribute.

Show them how you will commit to the role and how you will balance your engagement with everything else that you do.

Be concise.

The people reviewing your application are often busy. Make your case compelling but to the point and easy to grasp.

Seek feedback.

Be sure to seek feedback before clicking ‘send’. Fresh perspectives help you to refine your message so that it resonates with a wide range of people. Consider seeking feedback from peers, mentors or colleagues from a range of areas of expertise.

I am always happy to review a statement to offer advice and constructive feedback.

Avoid common pitfalls.

Even strong candidates can miss out if their supporting statement falls into one of these traps:

• Being too generic: Copy-and-paste applications rarely stand out. If it could be sent to any charity, it’s not tailored enough.
• Rewriting your CV: Your statement should tell a story about your motivation and fit for this role, not repeat your career history.
• Using jargon: Trustees come from different sectors, so plain language works best.
• Focusing only on what you want to gain: Show how you will add value before talking about what you’ll learn.
• Skipping the organisation’s context: If your statement doesn’t reflect their mission, goals, or current challenges, it can feel disconnected.

Avoiding these pitfalls helps your application feel thoughtful, relevant, and compelling from the first line.

A great supporting statement…

To sum up, a well-researched, succinct, and reflective supporting statement is your opportunity to shine.

Aligning your passion, skills, and commitment to the mission of the organisation will help your trustee application stand out and show you’re ready to contribute at board level.

Remember, your words have the power to inspire confidence and have the ability to make a lasting impression. Good luck!