Write a trustee role description and advert

Finding trustees is a constant struggle for small charities. A clear role description and an inviting advert widen the pool. Saying plainly what the role involves, how much time it takes, that it is unpaid and how expenses work helps people decide whether to apply.

A free AI chat tool (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Claude)

Steps

1. Note the skills and experience the board is missing, the time commitment (meetings a year, hours between meetings), whether meetings are online or in person, and your expenses policy.
2. Check your governing document for how trustees are appointed, terms of office and any eligibility rules, and note them.
3. Example (made up, for illustration only): a small food bank with five trustees needs someone with finance experience to become treasurer. The role description sets out four evening meetings a year plus about two hours a month, travel expenses paid, and how appointment works under its constitution.
4. Run the prompt below.
5. Check the result against your governing document, and take any description of what trustees must do from the official guidance linked below, not from the AI tool.
6. Ask a current trustee to read it, then post it where people outside your usual networks will see it.

The exact prompt

Write a trustee role description (under 300 words) and an advert (under 150 words) for a [UK] charity.
Our cause: [SUMMARY]. Skills and experience we need: [LIST]. Time: [MEETINGS PER YEAR, HOURS BETWEEN MEETINGS, ONLINE OR IN PERSON]. Expenses: [POLICY]. The role is unpaid. How appointment works: [FROM OUR GOVERNING DOCUMENT]. How to apply and by when: [DETAILS].
Inclusive, plain English. Do not list legal duties: write one line saying trustees are responsible for governing the charity, followed by [LINK TO OFFICIAL GUIDANCE]. Do not promise anything I have not given you.