Voluntary Sector Leaders Moot New Governance Structure for Big Charities

The idea of creating a new type of charity for the biggest not-for-profit organisations is firmly on the table after it was endorsed by the voluntary sector’s two most prominent figures. Sir Stephen Bubb, who has just stepped down as chief executive of charity leaders’ network Acevo, and Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of charity umbrella group NCVO, agreed that the sector should start thinking about a different form of governance for charities that have an annual turnover of more than £100m. Such a change could see the creation of unitary boards as standard for large charities, whereby their top managers would become directors, and the introduction of payment for non-executive directors. At present, this is allowed only by exception and in a handful of cases.