Governance
How the Trust is governed
The Board of Trustees is the highest decision-making authority and custodian of the endowment, providing strategic direction, safeguarding financial resources and ensuring effective governance.
- Governing bodies
- 4
- Published documents
- 3
The Board of Trustees provides overall strategy and oversight, ensuring that the organisation remains aligned with its mission and long-term objectives. The Investment Committee is responsible for capital management. The Programs Committee focuses on project approval, ensuring that proposed initiatives meet established priorities and impact standards. The Executive Team is responsible for execution. Supporting this structure, the Community Council provides local validation by ensuring that programmes and decisions reflect the needs, priorities and realities of the communities being served.
How decisions are made
The bodies that govern the Trust
Each has a defined remit, and together they separate the setting of strategy from the management of money and the approval of projects.
Board of Trustees
The highest decision-making authority and custodian of the endowment. It provides strategic direction, safeguards financial resources and ensures effective governance — approving the strategy and annual budget, protecting endowment capital, and authorising major investments and projects. The Board also appoints executive leadership and ensures compliance with applicable laws, policies and governance standards.
Who sits on it
Seven to eleven Trustees, led by a Chairperson who represents the founding donor, supported by a Vice Chair and a non-executive Secretary.
Investment Committee
Safeguards and grows the endowment while ensuring prudent and sustainable investment decisions. It develops the Investment Policy Statement, recommends an asset allocation strategy, and oversees external fund managers. It preserves capital while achieving sustainable long-term returns, and monitors investments for alignment with Environmental, Social and Governance principles.
Who sits on it
Finance experts and investment professionals, alongside one representative of the Board of Trustees. An external advisory member may be appointed where additional independent expertise is needed.
Programs and Impact Committee
Ensures the Trust's funds are translated into measurable and sustainable community outcomes. It conducts community-driven needs assessments, approves programme designs, defines key performance indicators and impact metrics, monitors project execution, and evaluates the social return on investment.
Audit and Risk Committee
Ensures accountability, transparency and sound financial governance. It oversees external audits, establishes and monitors the risk management framework, and ensures compliance with applicable policies and regulations. It supports fraud prevention and regularly reviews internal controls.
Documents
What the Trust operates under
Trust constitution
The instrument the Trust operates under, including how trustees are appointed and removed.
PDF · 402 KB · updated
Available on request
Conflict of interest policy
How trustees and staff declare an interest, and what happens to an application where one exists.
PDF · 164 KB · updated
Available on request
Safeguarding policy
The Trust's obligations to children and vulnerable adults, including the rules on photography and consent.
PDF · 219 KB · updated
Available on request
To ask for any of these documents, or for a copy of a decision that concerns you, contact the Trust.
Considering working with the Trust?
Partners usually want to see the constitution, the last two years of accounts, and who signs what. All three are available.