So ya wanna be a digital trustee?
You do, but have you really thought about it?
With apologies for the overly jaunty title, I am on a journey with my writing skills and thank you for your tolerance.
OK! This one is for the tech people who are considering being a digital trustee for a third sector organisation (niche, I know).
Third Sector Lab ran the most recent of its Digital Trustees Matchmaking events in partnership with DataKind UK. During this hour and a half session funded by the Catalyst, attendees from the third sector and those who work in data & tech heard from Giselle Cory about what a data digital trustee could mean for their organisation, and then met in breakout rooms to do direct networking and try to find a match.
These thoughts came out of a post-event discussion with Ross McCulloch and Giselle Cory — thank you both for your brains!
Yes, we know giving back makes you feel good and is helpful. Yes, we know that volunteering is good for your CV, personal and professional development. Yes, your skills are super valuable and will help break down the silos that exist between sectors.
All that said, rather than rushing into a role as a trustee, here are some things worth considering before you do.
Giselle in particular had some excellent ways of phrasing these thoughts which are used in the headings below, so special thanks to them for the thoughtful insights.
1 — Be mindful of the cause.
Is there a charitable cause that you feel a personal connection to? Something that you can be passionate about and that can keep you going even when things are tricky? And conversely — is there anything that affects you so much emotionally that it would become difficult to stay involved with on a professional level? Ask yourself these questions before you commit.
2 — Unpaid work feels different
This may seem like an obvious one, but don’t brush it off too quickly. You may jump in during the recruitment process and say ‘I am really good at financial reporting, I do it all the time in my day job’ and end up doing the same task on your charity board. More screen time, similar tasks. In short — more of the same, except without pay. Is this really what you want to spend your time doing? If it is, great. If not, make sure you end up in a different place!
Make sure you understand your own motivations (diversifying your skills, gaining governance experience, contributing to a particular cause) and talk to the charity about them, so they can understand you, too.
3 — Consider the practical particulars
How much work are you taking on? When will you do it? How often do the board meet, and what level of input will be expected of you? Will the time you need to be a trustee fit with your private life? Will the additional demand on your time affect your relationships outside work?
Life is about more than just how many productive hours we can fit into a day, but it is easy to forget that sometimes. I have recently decided that perhaps I shouldn’t join the PTA on top of my other commitments, after I spent a week edging with burnout (it’s an odd kink). Quality time with other people, with yourself, that isn’t ‘productive’ in the capitalist sense of making money is priceless and essential. (Look at that, some zen master wisdom for free with all these other practical tips!)
4 — Use the hive mind
Joining a board with a specific remit like being the ‘digital’ person can come with a lot of pressure to know everything there is to know about digital. There is just no way this can be true for any one person. Your advantage though, is that you will be more familiar with the places to look, the communities to ask about things that you are unsure about than someone who doesn’t work in the digital space.
So — use that hive mind! Ask others! There are lots of Tech for Gooders out there who are able and so very willing to help. Digital Candle even offers free digital advice directly to charities, in case they need input on an operational question. Your own connections and knowledge of where to ask what questions are as much part of your skillset as your digital know-how.
5 — Do your due diligence
This one is for everyone. While it can feel very exciting to talk to an organisation that would like to have you on their board, and vice versa, there is no need to rush into things. Do your due diligence both ways.
Trustees — read up on the organisation, their budgets, strategy documents, reports, have conversations with their staff if you can, talk to the other board members. How inclusive are they? Check what level of legal obligation being a trustee with them would bring with it. Go in eyes open.
Charities — ask for a CV, check their LinkedIn, make time for formal and informal chats, do disclosure checks if you need them.
If you have any top tips for things to consider before jumping into digital trusteeing, share them with us!
In the meantime, you can find a lot of resources and links to our next Digital Trustee matchmaking events on the Third Sector Lab website.
