Trustees

Role: Trustee – several roles available

About the opportunity

The Community Foundation for Surrey is an independent charitable foundation that turns private money into community money by matching local donors with local charities and community groups doing excellent work. 

We believe in a stronger, fairer Surrey, enabling everyone to support organisations who are making a positive difference to our communities so that no one is left behind.

We are building a strong movement of local philanthropists, with a unique place-based giving approach to support local people. We engage the generosity of a broad Donor base within Surrey, connecting them with those providing positive solutions within our local communities. Using our unique knowledge of the community and voluntary sector in our area, we come together to ensure a fairer county for all.

We work with individuals, families, businesses, and charitable trusts who want to make a real and lasting difference within Surrey, by connecting them with charitable projects that are providing vital support and reaching those most in need. Local Donors can establish a bespoke Fund with the Foundation, or contribute to one of our Collective Funds, supporting a growing programme of grant-making. We are proud to manage more than £17M in invested endowments and provide meaningful support to over 400 community projects each year.

Last year we awarded around £2m in grants, but our work has only just begun. In recent years, applications for grants related to poverty and disadvantage have increased by over 600% and applications for projects to support those suffering from mental ill-health have risen by 260%. 

2025 will be our 20^th anniversary year and our ambition is to grow our annual grant giving as we are currently over ten times over-subscribed. Significant growth is essential if we are to fulfil our role in ensuring that no one in Surrey is left behind. 

As Trustee you will help us to set the strategic direction and fundraising priorities of the Foundation, ensuring that we function within the legal and regulatory framework of the sector and make the best possible impact on the lives of those living in our county. You will join us at a time when our communities are experiencing more disparity of advantage than ever before in our county.

The primary purpose of a Board Trustee is to work with the Chair, the Chief Executive, and the other Trustees to ensure that the Community Foundation fulfils its objectives and performance targets. To that end, he or she is required to contribute to the effective running of the Board as a governing body.

What are we looking for? Specific skills and experience.

We believe that it is vitally important to work in partnership in our county, to support those most in need in our communities. To that end we are seeking to recruit a number of trustees as follows: 

1. A Trustee who could bring governance interest or experience to join our Personnel & Governance Committee.
   1. Could be someone with HR interest and background OR
   2. Someone with risk management or legal experience
2. A Trustee who has knowledge of Corporate Social Responsibility, Social value or Community Engagement.
3. A Trustee with wealth management or investment management experience to join our Finance & Development Committee.
4. A Trustee who will take the lead for the Board on our Funder Plus programme – this is the provision of pro bono support by business professionals to help charities with their business and financial planning. It is a relatively new programme for CFSurrey and we would like to grow and develop it to add real value to our grants programmes.
5. A trustee who will take the lead for the Board on our exciting new Arts, Culture & Heritage Social Impact Fund. Someone who is passionate about the life-changing impact that arts, culture and heritage can have on people and can help us grow a new fund in this area.

For all the Trustee roles:

• The Trustee role is a voluntary position, open to all applicants, prior trustee experience is not required and a full induction programme will be provided.
• We are particularly looking for Trustees who can help us to ensure that our Board is as diverse as the local community that it serves in order to ensure a range of opinions and lived experience on our Board.
• Minimum engagement equivalent to one full day per month (typically spread out).
• Trustees must be able to attend 4 Board meetings per year (2-3 hours each). Offices are in Woking, and all meetings are hybrid to support remote attendance.
• And attend annual Board Away Day.
• And Trustees are also encouraged to participate in a minimum of one Board Sub-Committee (2-6 meetings per year depending on the committee).
• Trustees should also be able to commit to attending occasional Donor development events and/or visit grant recipient events from time to time.  
• Trustees are appointed for an initial three-year term of office, after which they may be re-elected for a further 2 consecutive terms of three years.
• Trustees are voluntary positions, but expenses incurred in their duties may be reclaimed from the Foundation with the approval of the Chair and Chief Executive.

To apply: Please send a CV and covering letter indicating why you are interested in this opportunity, and what you would bring to the role to recruitment@cfsurrey.org.uk. Application deadline 7^th June 2024.

For an informal discussion about the role contact the CEO of the Community Foundation for Surrey (Rebecca.Bowden@cfsurrey.org.uk).

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.