Guidance for charity trustees

The Charity Commission was published updated guidance for charity trustees on conflicts of interest on 22 April 2026, with research by the regulator suggesting many trustees are unsure how to recognise a conflict.

The redesigned guidance helps trustees identify and manage both financial conflicts – where a trustee or someone connected to them stands to gain money or other value – and conflicts of loyalty – where obligations to another person or organisation could influence a trustee’s judgement.

The updated Charity Commission guidance for trustees, known as CC29, is intended to help trustees identify and manage conflicts of interest and, in doing so, protect their charities from harm.

The updated guidance is shorter, clearer and includes common examples of situations in which a conflict of interest can arise in a charity.

Councils are encouraged to share this information as appropriate.

Charity Commission’s Charity Sector Risk Assessment 2025
Research with trustees by Charity Commission