Starting a Charity on the 90-Day Timeline

Most charity founders underestimate the time it takes to move from idea to registration. They plan for registration itself (which is quick) but skip the legwork before. This plan breaks the real 90-day journey into weekly milestones so founders do not stall halfway.

Month 1: Foundation and structure

Week 1: Define the purpose and decide on structure

Your first decision is why the charity exists and what structure you will use. Write one clear sentence for the purpose: who you help, what problem you solve, and why charity law is the right vehicle.

Then choose structure:

• Most small charities should choose CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). It is modern, costs £60–£100, offers trustee protection, and the Charity Commission approves it in 2–4 weeks.

Document this decision now. You will need it when you recruit trustees, because they need to understand what they are signing up for.

Week 2: Write or adapt the governing document

If you are a CIO, the Charity Commission has a template. Adapt it (do not start from scratch; use the official template) to fit your charity. Answer these questions in writing:

• What is the charity's purpose, in two sentences?
• How many trustees will there be?
• How often will trustees meet?
• Who can sign cheques, and what is the spending limit before full trustee approval is needed?
• Can the charity employ staff?

Week 3: Identify and recruit the founding trustees

You need at least one trustee to register, but three is a safer minimum. Pick people who will actually show up, who are not all the same background, and who have different strengths. One trustee should have finance knowledge or be willing to learn.

Approach each person with a written note explaining: what the charity will do, why you think they would be good in the role, and what the commitment is (usually 4–6 hours a month for a small charity). Do not recruit on a handshake.

Week 4: Hold the founding trustees meeting

Bring all trustees together (video is fine). Go through the governing document together, answer questions, and then formally adopt it. Take minutes.

At the meeting, assign roles:

• Chair: leads meetings, represents the charity externally.
• Treasurer: oversees finances, signs cheques, reports to the board.
• Secretary: keeps minutes, manages paperwork, coordinates admin.

Month 2: Trustee onboarding and documentation

Week 5–6: Trustee induction and compliance setup

Make sure every trustee understands: what conflicts of interest are and how to report them, what the charity's finances look like, and what the Charity Commission requires. Spend an hour on this. It prevents problems later.

Meanwhile, set up basic admin: open a charity bank account in the charity's name (you will need the Charity Commission registration number for this), set up a simple finance spreadsheet, and store all documents (governing document, trustee names, minutes) in one place.

Week 7–8: Prepare the Charity Commission application

The Charity Commission's online application takes 30–45 minutes. You will need: charity name, purpose statement, trustee names and addresses, a description of what the charity will actually do, and confirmation that all trustees have no conflicts of interest.

Check your application twice. Errors or incomplete sections will cause the Commission to send it back for revision, which adds 2–4 weeks to the timeline.

Month 3: Registration and launch

Week 9: Submit the application and wait

Once you submit the application to the Charity Commission, processing usually takes 2–4 weeks. You will hear from them if they need clarification or have concerns. In the meantime:

• Start building the team (if you have staff or volunteers lined up).
• Open a charity bank account.
• Set up a basic website or one-page statement of what you do.

Week 10–12: Approval and launch day

When the Charity Commission approves your charity, you will receive:

• Your charity registration number.
• Authority to operate as a registered charity.
• A record of your governing document on file.

From this moment, you must report annually to the Charity Commission and follow charity law. For a small charity, that usually means annual accounts and a one-page return.

The practical checklist, week by week

1. Week 1: Purpose decided, structure chosen.
2. Week 2: Governing document drafted.
3. Week 3: Founding trustees identified.
4. Week 4: Trustees meeting held; roles assigned.
5. Week 5–6: Trustee induction complete; bank account open.
6. Week 7–8: Charity Commission application prepared.
7. Week 9: Application submitted.
8. Week 10–12: Approval received, charity number assigned, launch.

Common stalls and how to avoid them

Most delays happen between week 3 and week 4. Founders decide they need "just one more trustee" or "to think about this a bit longer." Decide by week 3, recruit by week 4. You can refine details later.

Another stall point is the bank account. Do not wait for full registration. Open it as soon as you have registered with the Charity Commission (weeks 9–12). You do not need a charity number to open a charity account if you have a Charity Commission acceptance letter.

Ninety days is realistic for a volunteer-led charity to move from idea to registered. Do not aim for faster; aim for done right.

Day 90: What you have

At the end of 90 days, you have: a registered charity with a number, approved trustees, a governing document on file, a bank account in the charity's name, and authority from the Charity Commission to operate.

You do not need to be perfect. You need to be registered. The work of building the charity actually starts after registration.

This guide is part of our Charity Startup hub, where you can explore every practical guide in this area.