Trusteeship is normally a voluntary role. However, you may be able to make types of payment to your charity's trustees provided that you have the legal power to do so. Sometimes this power will be set out in the in the charity's governing document and you can make payments to trustees if you can comply with the terms set out there.
If there is no authority in your governing document you may be able to make payments using powers contained in the Charities Act 2011. These give trustees power to pay an individual trustee for providing an additional service to the charity, without having to come to the Commission for authority.
This would include, for example:
- the use of a trustee's firm for a building job
- the occasional use of a trustee's premises or facilities
- entering into a maintenance contract with a trustee's firm
- providing curtains or decorating materials for hall premises
- providing specialist services such as estate agents, computer consultancy, builders and electricians
The trustees must be satisfied that making this type of payment is in the best interest of the charity and certain conditions must also be met.
If there is no authority in your charity's governing document - and the payments cannot be made using the powers described above - you will need to apply for the Commission’s authority.
Please use our online form if you:
- have a question about trustee expenses
- want an employee to be a trustee
- want a trustee, or a person connected to a trustee, to be an employee
- want to pay a trustee to replace, or part replace, lost income (‘compensation’)
- want to pay a trustee for providing services to the charity
- want to pay a trustee for serving as trustee
See also:
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