Board Code of Conduct &Governance Pack
Generate a complete trustee code of conduct and governance statement in minutes. Ready for board adoption, annual reports, and funder due diligence.
Why Does Your Charity Need a Code of Conduct?
A trustee or board member code of conduct sets out the standards of behaviour expected of everyone who governs your organisation. It covers conflicts of interest, confidentiality, commitment to meetings, working relationships with staff, and how the board represents the charity in public. Without one, organisations are vulnerable to governance breakdowns that damage relationships, reputations, and funder confidence.
In the UK, the Charity Governance Code makes a code of conduct a recommended best practice for charities of all sizes. The Charity Commission's CC29 guidance on conflicts of interest expects trustees to have clear procedures for declaring, managing, and recording conflicts — a code of conduct is where those procedures live. Many funders, particularly statutory bodies and major foundations, now ask whether governance documents like a code of conduct are in place as part of their due diligence.
For US nonprofits, IRS Form 990 Part VI asks publicly whether the organisation has a written conflict of interest policy. A board code of conduct provides the framework that policy sits within, and signals to state attorneys general, foundations, and major donors that the board takes its fiduciary responsibilities seriously.
What's Included in This Governance Pack?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Charity Governance Code and does it apply to my charity?
The Charity Governance Code is a voluntary code of best practice for charities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It sets out seven principles of good governance: organisational purpose, leadership, integrity, decision-making risk and control, board effectiveness, equality diversity and inclusion, and openness and accountability. While it is not legally required, many funders — including the National Lottery Community Fund and major foundations — use it as a benchmark. Having a code of conduct aligned to its principles demonstrates governance maturity. Our tool references the Code automatically for UK charities.
How should a charity handle a trustee conflict of interest?
The Charity Commission's CC29 guidance sets out a clear four-step process: (1) the trustee must declare the conflict as soon as they become aware of it; (2) they should withdraw from the relevant discussion; (3) they must not vote on the matter; and (4) the declaration and the board's handling of it must be recorded in the minutes. A well-drafted code of conduct makes this process explicit and ensures all trustees know what is expected of them. The most common conflicts in small charities involve trustees who are also employed by the charity, have family members who receive services, or sit on the boards of partner organisations.
What is the difference between the code of conduct and the governance statement?
The code of conduct is an internal document — it sets out the standards of behaviour required of individual trustees or board members and is signed by each person who joins the board. The governance statement is an external-facing document that explains how the organisation as a whole is governed: its legal structure, board composition, decision-making processes, and accountability mechanisms. The governance statement can be published on your website, included in your annual report, or shared with funders as part of due diligence. Both are generated together by this tool.
How often should a charity review its code of conduct?
Best practice is to review the code of conduct every two years, or sooner following a significant governance incident, a change in the organisation's legal structure, or a substantial change in the composition of the board. All new trustees or board members should receive, read, and sign the code as part of their induction — before attending their first board meeting. The governance statement should be reviewed annually to ensure it accurately reflects the current board composition and any changes to governance practice.
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