How long should induction take?

One week full-time or two weeks part-time. By the end, they should know: the charity's mission, the board structure, key finances, and upcoming priorities.

What if a trustee has no charity experience?

Great question. Provide extra support: mentor them to the first board meeting. Some boards pair new trustees with an experienced one for 6 months.

Do we need to pay for induction training?

No. Induction is mostly reading docs, meeting people, and context-setting. Free. If they need skills (finance, governance), offer external training or pay for a course.

Trustee Induction Pack: What New Trustees Need to Know

A new trustee joins with enthusiasm but no context. Here is a one-week induction pack that gets them up to speed.

A new trustee accepts the role with energy. They show up to the first board meeting unprepared and quiet. Bad outcome.

An induction pack prevents this. One week, structured, and your new trustee is ready to contribute.

Pre-induction (1 week before start)

Welcome email from Chair

"Welcome! We are excited to have you join the board. Your first week is induction. Purpose: get you context on the charity, meet the team, and prepare for your first board meeting on [date]. You will spend about 5-10 hours this week. Schedule is below. Questions, let me know."

Induction pack (sent as PDF or folder)

1-page charity overview (mission, 2024 highlights, strategic plan).
Organizational chart.
Board member list (names, roles, contact details).
Trustee code of conduct and conflict of interest policy.
Latest audited accounts (summary is fine, not full details).
Board meeting schedule for the year.
Recent board minutes (2-3 meetings).
Strategic plan (1 page summary).

Day 1: Governance foundations (90 minutes)

Morning meeting: intro with Chair/CEO (60 minutes)

Welcome, why we recruited them.
Charity's mission and latest achievements.
Board structure: how many trustees, frequency of meetings, committees.
Key challenges for the year.
Their role on the board: committee assignments, special responsibilities.

Afternoon: read on own (30 minutes)

Review trustee code of conduct and conflict-of-interest policy.

Email Chair with any questions.

Day 2: Finances (120 minutes)

Call with Finance Lead (90 minutes)

Overview of charity finances (turnover, income sources, major costs).
Current year budget vs actual.
Key risks (if income drops, what happens?).
Fundraising pipeline.
Recent audit findings (if any).

Read on own (30 minutes)

Skim latest audited accounts (focus on: total income, total costs, bottom-line surplus/deficit).

Day 3: Programs and impact (90 minutes)

Call with Program Director (90 minutes)

What programs does the charity run?
Who do we serve? How many?
Key outcomes (what impact are we measuring?).
Current challenges (what keeps you up at night?).
Opportunities for next year.

Optional: site visit

If possible, visit a program. See the work in action. Worth more than any meeting.

Day 4: People and culture (90 minutes)

Call with Head of HR or CEO (90 minutes)

Staff structure (how many staff, roles, teams).
Staff challenges (turnover, skills gaps?).
Org culture and values.
HR policies (how do we support staff?).

Optional: coffee with team member

Email a staff member: "Would you grab 30 min coffee this week to tell me about your role?" Insights are gold.

Day 5: Deep dive on strategic priorities (60 minutes)

Read: strategic plan (1-page summary) (30 minutes)

What are the top 3 priorities for the board this year?

Call with CEO (30 minutes)

What will the board decide on this year?
Where do we need trustee help (fundraising, governance, specific skills)?
What would a successful year look like?

Pre-first-meeting: prep (120 minutes)

Review next board meeting agenda

Email to come 1 week before meeting. Review it. Note any questions.

Review recent board minutes

What decisions were made? What is the context?

Write down questions

By the first meeting, you will have 3-5 questions. That is normal and good. Board benefit from new perspectives.

First board meeting: introduction (30 minutes before formal meeting)

Informal meet-and-greet

Board members arrive early.
New trustee introduced: "Everyone, meet [name]. [Name] joins us in the [role] area. [Quick bio]."
Informal chat (coffee, snacks).
New trustee does NOT speak during formal meeting (listen, observe, learn).

Induction pack checklist: what to give them

☐ Charity registration details (charity number, registration date).
☐ Mission statement (1 sentence or 1 paragraph).
☐ Latest audited accounts (or summary if full accounts are 50+ pages).
☐ Board minutes (2-3 recent meetings).
☐ Trustee code of conduct.
☐ Conflict-of-interest policy.
☐ Governance documents (Articles, bylaws, etc.).
☐ Org chart.
☐ Board member contact list.
☐ Strategic plan (1-page summary).
☐ Board meeting schedule (full year).
☐ Committee structure and members.
☐ Key policies (safeguarding, GDPR, etc.).

Induction schedule (template)

Day 1 (Mon): 60-min call with Chair + 30-min read governance policies.

Day 2 (Tue): 90-min call with Finance Lead + 30-min read accounts.

Day 3 (Wed): 90-min call with Program Director + optional site visit.

Day 4 (Thu): 90-min call with HR/CEO + optional staff coffee.

Day 5 (Fri): 30-min read strategic plan + 30-min call with CEO + time to write questions.

Weekend: rest!

First board meeting: following week.

After induction: ongoing support

Assign a mentor (experienced trustee) for first 6 months.
Monthly email updates (CEO to all trustees).
Annual governance training (NCVO, Charity Commission, etc.).
Clear escalation path for questions (Chair is always available).

A good induction takes one week and creates a productive trustee for 3+ years. Invest the time upfront.

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