Our governance

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated and registered in England under company number 198344.

It was founded in 1919 as the National Council of Social Services, incorporated on 30 May 1924 and registered as a charity on 1 January 1964.

It's governed by its articles of association and detailed regulations made under the articles.

NCVO’s registered office address is Society Building, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL.

NCVO is registered with the Charity Commission under number 225922.

Our board comprise three honorary officers (chair, vice chair and treasurer).

The chair, treasurer and seven of our trustees are directly elected from the membership. Three trustees are co-opted by the board to ensure the right mix of skills and experience. One of the trustees is elected to the position of vice chair honorary officer by the board.

Trustees serve for a term of three years, with a maximum of two terms to be served.

The trustee board appoints four committees to support its work. Full committee membership details are available in our annual reports.

Audit and risk committee

Provides independent advice and assurance on risk, control and compliance matters.

The committee is chaired by an independent member of the committee.

The terms of reference for this committee can be downloaded below.

Finance and commercial committee

• Provides oversight of all commercial activity within NCVO.
• Reviews our business plans and budgets as well as monitoring our performance against targets, both financial and non financial.
• Oversight of investments and our defined benefit pension scheme.

The terms of reference for this committee can be downloaded below.

Governance and nominations committee

• Facilitates diversity in the governance structure and ensures the right mix of skills and experience on the board and its sub-committees.
• Supervises the trustee election process to ensure this is open and democratic.
• Supports board development and evaluation.

The terms of reference for this committee can be downloaded below.

People, culture and inclusion committee

• Sets the chief executive and the leadership team's remuneration and considers all people policies and related matters, including pensions.
• Provides challenge and support to the board and leadership team in relation to the delivery of our cultural change roadmap.
• Oversight of our external work to support inclusion and volunteering across the sector.
• Provides challenge and oversight through lived experience, expertise and knowledge in relation to practice, culture and approach at NCVO.

The terms of reference for this committee can be downloaded below.