Purpose
Get clear on what your trust is here to do. Tools to shape your vision, mission, values and strategic direction.
What this pillar covers
Purpose is knowing why your trust exists, what it is working towards, and how that shapes everything you do. A clear purpose makes decisions easier, keeps your board and staff pulling in the same direction, and helps your community understand what you stand for. The resources here will help you shape, refresh and put your purpose into practice.
Shaping your purpose
Start here if your trust is developing or revisiting its vision, mission and plans.
- Vision, Mission and Values ToolkitA practical toolkit to help your board and staff define or refresh what your trust stands for and where it is heading.
- Operational Plan ToolkitTurn your purpose into a working plan, setting out what you will do, who will do it and how you will know it is working.
Understanding the development trust model
Useful grounding for new board members, staff and volunteers, and for explaining what your trust is to your community and partners.
- What is a Development Trust? (flyer)A one-page introduction to the development trust model, handy for sharing with your community and new contacts.
- So You Want to Be a Development Trust (publication)A fuller guide to what being a development trust means in practice and what it asks of your organisation.
You might use this pillar to prepare for a board away day revisiting your vision, to check a new project idea against your stated purpose before committing resources, or to induct new trustees so everyone shares the same understanding of what your trust is for.
Not sure where to start, or want to talk something through? Your Member Support Advisor can help you find the right resource or just be a sounding board.