Practical guide Structures Why is the structure of an organisation important?

Why is the structure of an organisation important?

All organisations have some form of governance structure, and it’s important to find one which will provide the right amount of support and regulation for your organisation. Click here to find out about different types of structures for organisations.


Related resources

Guidance | Developing Governance Group

The Code of Good Governance

The Code of Good Governance sets out the principles and key elements of good governance for the boards of voluntary and community organisations. Published 2016, updated 2020. The 2024 consultation on updating has now closed. An updated Code is expected in 2025.

Tool | Dr Oonagh Murphy (Arts & Business Northern Ireland)

Governance Health Check

This toolkit provides advice on how to develop and maintain a constructive and effective Board for your arts organisation. Published: by the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland, February 2019

Website | The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

Manage your Charity

This resource is aimed at supporting charities to ensure the proper procedures and policies are in place to manage the charity’s resources effectively and, where appropriate, to make changes to their charity. Published: by the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland, 2014.

Guidance | ITC Arts

ITC: How to Set Up a Company

A step by step guide to the processes of registering your organisation as a Limited Company.

Guidance | ITC Arts

ITC: Legal Structures for Performing Arts Organisations

Understanding and choosing a legal structure for your organisation.

Guidance | NCVO
logo

Governance and Trustees

Practical support on governance by NCVO.

Study | Hilary Carty, David Bryan and Anne Murch

Achieving Good Governance: a challenge of our time

Clore Strategic Review of Governance Development Needs 2016/17. Published: August 2017.

Guidance | Cultural Leadership Programme

Governance Now: the hidden challenge of leadership

Cultural Leadership Programme commissioned a series of papers on the theme of governance in the cultural and creative sector.

Website | Charity Governance Code

Charity Governance Code

The good governance code for the charity sector.

Guidance | ACEVO, AoC, ICSA, NCVO, Small Charities Coalition, WCVA

Charity Governance Code for Larger Charities

Developed by a steering group with the help of over 200 charities, it is the aim of this Code to help charities and their trustees develop high standards of governance.

Website | ACEVO, the Association of Chairs, ICSA (the Governance Institute), NCVO, the Small Charities Coalition and WCVA

Charity Governance Code Toolkit

To be used in conjunction with The Charity Governance Code, this is a practical tool kit acting as a checklist against which Trustees can note their progress, actions and their points for continuing improvement.

Guidance | NCVO

Board basics

A collection of some of the most important sample documents, templates and tools for trustee boards from the NCVO.


What's next