Patrons and Presidents

Patrons are people who lend support to a charity by taking on a high profile figurehead role. They are generally not trustees and are not involved in the charity’s governance. 

Presidents or vice-presidents are usually people who lend support to a charity by taking on a high profile figurehead role. They may have specific duties such as the chairing of an Annual General Meeting. 

Presidents are not trustees, unless the governing document clearly states otherwise (for example, some organisations use the term ‘president’ to refer to the chair of the trustee board).

To avoid any confusion, the role of a Patron or President and the limits to their authority should be set out clearly in writing. Some organisations also ask that a code of conduct is observed.