Which instrument describes the governance of a charitable trust?

• A. Memorandum of association
• B. Articles of association
• C. Trust deed
• D. Royal charter

Answer: (C)

Governance of a charitable trust is set out in the trust deed. This binding instrument, created when the trust is established, defines the charity’s purposes, appoints and powers the trustees, outlines their duties, and lays down how decisions are made, how the trust’s assets are managed, and how changes or dissolution are handled. It also specifies who holds the trust property and how activities are conducted in line with charity law. By contrast, a memorandum of association and articles of association belong to a company’s constitution, outlining corporate structure and rules, not a trust. A Royal charter is a royal grant that creates or recognizes a body with special privileges, not the governance document for a trust. So, the trust deed best describes a charitable trust’s governance.