As Trustees’ Week 2025 begins, our new Governance in Focus report reveals a sector growing in confidence but still struggling to build truly inclusive board cultures.
Good governance underpins every charity’s ability to deliver its mission. Each year, Trustees’ Week is a chance to reflect on what’s working well and where boards can improve.
Our latest report brings together data and insights from hundreds of trustees and senior staff to show how governance is changing across the sector and what still needs attention.
This year’s findings show steady improvement across all eight principles of the Charity Governance Code. Most organisations rated themselves between ‘getting a grip’ and ‘competent’.
Boards scored highest on integrity, clarity of purpose and decision making, reflecting stronger structures and better understanding of risk.
Equality, diversity and inclusion remain weaker areas. While many boards value inclusion, it is not yet reflected in their culture or everyday decisions.
For the first time, NCVO’s Governance Wheel data compared responses from trustees and staff within the same organisations. Trustees rated governance more highly than staff, particularly on leadership, integrity and EDI, with scores up to 15% higher.
This perception gap shows that governance can look different from inside an organisation than from the board table.
Where staff and trustees shared similar views, overall governance scores were higher, suggesting that shared understanding supports more trusted decision making.
Only around one in five organisations said their board regularly reviews its culture or behaviours. Many trustees said they value openness and inclusion, yet staff inside charities do not always experience those values in practice.
Sally Stephens, NCVO’s lead governance consultant, said:
“Our analysis highlights a sector that understands what good governance looks like but still finds it hard to live it consistently. Many boards have strong intentions, but translating those into culture takes sustained effort.”
The report recommends that boards:
As Trustees’ Week 2025 begins, this research offers both encouragement and challenge. Governance across the sector is becoming stronger, more self-aware and more transparent.
Real progress will depend on boards turning intent into action and building trust within organisations and across the wider voluntary sector.
