Trustee at a Charity
Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2024 1:08 pm
Hi ERE council
I have been approached by a friend who is a trustee of one charity saying that with my knowledge I could be a useful trustee in that charity as well. I have read up on the charity's memorandum and checked out the past 5+ financial statements. I like the topic (it is actually quire ERE aligned in some sense) and the charity is in good financial standing. I read in the memorandum that there is no financial liability in case the charity goes bust other than a token amount of money (a pound).
From this springs the question on pros and cons of being a trustee at a charity. I am not sure exactly about terminology, but with this particular charity (or maybe more generally in Scotland?) being a trustee equals being at the board of directors. I know that some people on the forum were in the position of sitting on the board of directors of a non-profit organisations (notably founder of the forum).
In terms of gut feeling, it feels I'd like to get involved, since my friend had asked me but also because the charity deals with something which significantly altered my life on many levels + it has an ERE1 (financial) element to it. Obviously this is volunteering my time and I am now working and not wanting not to work because I enjoy it. So there's also the question of how much is involved in being in such a role (which probably varies from one organisation to another, and one board to another) so that I don't end up committing to something (unknown(s)) and making myself miserable.
As always, appreciate good advice.
I have been approached by a friend who is a trustee of one charity saying that with my knowledge I could be a useful trustee in that charity as well. I have read up on the charity's memorandum and checked out the past 5+ financial statements. I like the topic (it is actually quire ERE aligned in some sense) and the charity is in good financial standing. I read in the memorandum that there is no financial liability in case the charity goes bust other than a token amount of money (a pound).
From this springs the question on pros and cons of being a trustee at a charity. I am not sure exactly about terminology, but with this particular charity (or maybe more generally in Scotland?) being a trustee equals being at the board of directors. I know that some people on the forum were in the position of sitting on the board of directors of a non-profit organisations (notably founder of the forum).
In terms of gut feeling, it feels I'd like to get involved, since my friend had asked me but also because the charity deals with something which significantly altered my life on many levels + it has an ERE1 (financial) element to it. Obviously this is volunteering my time and I am now working and not wanting not to work because I enjoy it. So there's also the question of how much is involved in being in such a role (which probably varies from one organisation to another, and one board to another) so that I don't end up committing to something (unknown(s)) and making myself miserable.
As always, appreciate good advice.