The UQMA Framework™: A Systematic Approach to Active Financial Governance for Charity Trustees
Intro
Charity trustees are collectively responsible for ensuring that their organisation’s resources are used prudently, sustainably, and in furtherance of its charitable purposes. Yet in practice, financial governance at board level is often reactive, compliance-driven, or overly dependent on a small number of financially experienced trustees.
The UQMA Framework™ provides a structured, cyclical approach to financial governance that enables trustees, regardless of background, to engage actively, ask better questions, and take timely, informed decisions.
Developed specifically for the charity and not-for-profit context, UQMA supports trustees in meeting their duties under Charity Commission guidance while strengthening strategic oversight and financial resilience.
Figure 1: The UQMA Framework™ — a cyclical model for active financial governance.
What is the UQMA Framework?
The UQMA Framework™ is built around four interconnected stages that operate as a continuous governance cycle:
U - Understand (Context & Drivers)
Trustees develop a shared understanding of:
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The organisation’s financial position and funding model
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External and internal risk drivers
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Key assumptions underpinning budgets and forecasts
This stage ensures trustees are grounded in context, not just figures.
Q - Question (Constructive Challenge)
Trustees apply informed, respectful challenge by:
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Asking probing but non-adversarial questions
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Testing assumptions and explanations
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Exploring risks, scenarios, and alternatives
Questioning is framed as a governance responsibility, not a confrontation.
M - Monitor (Performance vs Plan)
Trustees monitor financial performance by:
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Reviewing meaningful, decision-useful reports
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Comparing actuals against budget, forecast, and trend
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Identifying early warning indicators
The emphasis is on insight, not volume of reporting.
A - Act (Decisions & Correction)
Trustees take appropriate action by:
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Making timely, proportionate decisions
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Agreeing corrective measures where performance deviates
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Ensuring actions are followed through and reviewed
Action closes the loop and feeds back into renewed understanding.
Why UQMA matters for trustees
The UQMA Framework™:
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Moves boards from passive receipt of financial reports to active financial stewardship
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Clarifies how trustees should engage, not just what they should read
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Reduces over-reliance on a single treasurer or finance professional
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Supports compliance with Charity Commission expectations on oversight, challenge, and decision-making
It is deliberately practical, repeatable, and scalable across charities of different sizes and complexity.
Intended use
UQMA is designed for use in:
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Trustee boards and finance committees
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Induction and ongoing trustee development
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Governance reviews and board effectiveness work
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Trustee finance and governance training programmes
IP & publication notice
First published: January 2026
Author: M. Magadzire
Copyright: © M. Magadzire 2026. All rights reserved.
The UQMA Framework™ may be referenced and cited with attribution.
Commercial use, adaptation, or training delivery based on the framework requires permission.
Suggested Citation:
Magadzire, M. (2026). The UQMA Framework™: A Systematic Approach to Active Financial Governance for Charity Trustees (Version 1.0) [Framework].
