Governing document templates
Use one of the Charity Commission’s model governing documents, either:
- as a template (recommended) – this makes it easier to register your charity
- as a reference – to see what a governing document looks like and what it must contain
Start by choosing the right governing document for your charity type:
- constitution (for unincorporated associations)
- charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) foundation or association constitution (for CIOs) – see below
- memorandum and articles of association (for charitable companies)
- trust deed or will (for trusts)
If you use a model governing document, complete the template in full. Select all of the options that apply to your charity, and sign and date it where required.
If you’re setting up a charity associated with a national organisation, it may have its own governing document template you should use. You must use that template in full without changing or adding to it. Alternatively, ask your national organisation if you can use one of the commission’s model governing documents instead.
What governing documents need to contain
Only write your own governing document if there isn’t a template that’s right for your charity. If you apply to register your charity, the commission will expect your governing document to contain certain sections (‘provisions’ or ‘clauses’):
| Section | What it needs to contain |
|---|---|
| Name | Your charity’s name and (in the case of a trust or an unincorporated association) power to amend the name |
| Objects | What your charity is set up to achieve (its purposes must all be charitable for the public benefit) |
| Powers | What the trustees can do to carry out its purposes (for example, raising funds, buying and selling property, borrowing money, working with other organisations) |
| Charity trustees | How many trustees there are, who can be a trustee, how they are appointed, how long they can hold office and if they can be reappointed |
| Charity meetings and voting | How many meetings are needed, how they are arranged, how a chair is appointed, how votes are made and counted (including minimum numbers for this) |
| Membership (if applicable) | Who can be a member, age restrictions, ending someone’s membership, how membership meetings are called |
| Financial | How the charity meets its legal accounting requirements, who controls the bank account, who can sign cheques and if two signatures are needed, other internal financial controls |
| Trustee benefit | How trustees must not benefit from the charity (excluding reasonable expenses) without commission approval or unless it is authorised in the governing document |
| Amendments (if applicable) | How the trustees can change the charity’s governing document, when commission approval is needed, how amendments are recorded |
| Dissolution | When the charity can be closed, what happens to any remaining assets (charitable assets can only be used for charitable purposes) |
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