20 August 2026 00:00
Read Time: 1 min
Last reviewed on 20 August 2026
Written by
Charity Finance Group

Composition, process and quality: Understanding board decision-making in the UK charity sector

Government & Policy
Governance and Trustees
Board meeting

Building on phase one of the University of Bath student research team that looked at trustee motivations and effectiveness, this phase two research report extends that insight to the board as a collective, examining how composition shapes the quality of group decisions. Recommendations include introducing psychometric screening at trustee recruitment, implementing annual skills audits and building psychological safety into board culture. The report’s central deliverable is the DREAM Diagnostic Framework.

Related content

Charity board effectiveness: Why trustee motives matter more than CVs

A first-of-its-kind study from University of Bath shows that trustees driven by passion might make better decisions, while those motivated by external rewards may actually harm their charity's mission. CFG's Emma Abbott reports.

Governance and Trustees

Should charity trustees be paid?

Recent months have seen much discussion over whether or not charity trustees should be paid. To mark Trustees' Week, we look at some of the arguments on both sides of the debate.

Governance and Trustees

Unsung heroes: Tim Nicholls on being a CFG trustee

What's it like being a trustee? And what can we do to make charity boards more diverse? Glyn Sheldon talks to CFG trustee Tim Nicholls to find out.

Governance and Trustees