Who has the time to be a trustee?

Grant Taylor reflects on recruiting charity trustees in 2023.

Attracting and retaining skilled and motivated trustees to charity boards continues to be challenging. As life gets busier and priorities change, becoming a trustee often feels like a bigger commitment than it once was, and people feel that they don’t have the time to be a trustee. Quite rightly, there is an increased focus on performance and trustee accountability so the role can also feel more structured and demanding too.

Reflecting on my ability to operate as a trustee now is interesting. My day-to-day life is busy. I run Peridot Partners, which has over 50 staff and is growing. I coach and manage a grassroots football team. I have three children. It’s also important for me to recharge through exercise or quiet reflection and time alone. On paper, I don’t really have the time to be a trustee.

But I love being a trustee, so I make time to do it and ensure my time is spent effectively. I won’t overstay. In other words, when I feel that I’ve made a positive contribution and my most effective days are perhaps behind me, I will move on for somebody with fresh skills, perspectives and energy to take the seat.

I’m in my fourth Trustee role and currently Co-Chair of Getting on Board. I left my previous three trusteeships before completing the maximum term. Does that call my commitment into question?

Not at all! It is a maximum term.

It is a limit to ensure that charities keep their boards fresh, helps create the turnover for greater diversity, and dare I say, gives them the means to move people on when they need to. After all, a 3-, 4- or 5-year commitment to a paid job is seen as a good one – so, why shouldn’t that also be the case for a volunteer commitment? Especially if you give it everything you can whilst you have the seat!

I’m sure others feel the same, but as a recruiter in this post-pandemic world, I’m also finding that people have become more discerning with their time and less inclined to explore trusteeship in the first place.

So, given my experience on both sides of the table, what tips can I offer to make sure that you can attract and retain trustees who can make a positive impact?