We recruit executive, board, programme and functional leaders for grant-making trusts, charitable foundations, family and corporate foundations across the UK.
Grant-making trusts and foundations vary considerably in how they are funded, governed and run. Some have established teams and significant endowments, while others operate with small staff teams, work closely with founders or families, or sit alongside a corporate organisation.
Leadership appointments need to reflect those differences. A Chief Executive or Foundation Director may work closely with trustees or founders while overseeing grant-making, partnerships and the organisation's wider influence. Programme leaders need credibility with the organisations and communities they fund, while functional appointments often need to adapt their expertise to smaller or less conventional organisational structures.
We work with you to understand how decisions are made, the relationship between your board and executive team and what you need the appointment to achieve. We consider where direct foundation or grant-making experience matters and where candidates from charities, philanthropy, public services, business or other sectors can bring relevant expertise. This includes supporting foundations through founder succession, where a new Chief Executive needs to build on what has been established while developing their own relationship with the board and organisation.
Our experience spans leadership, programme, partnerships, finance and governance appointments across family foundations, corporate foundations, grant-makers and charitable trusts.
Trusts and foundations need specialist expertise across their finances, operations and people, often within relatively small teams or organisational structures that differ from larger charities.
We search across foundations and the wider charity sector while considering relevant experience from professional services, business and other sectors where it can transfer effectively.
Boards can play very different roles depending on how a foundation was established, where its assets come from and how closely trustees are involved in grant-making and organisational decisions.
We recruit Chairs, trustees and committee members for established grant-makers, family and corporate foundations and smaller charitable trusts. This includes helping organisations introduce independent trustees, recruit specialist expertise and bring perspectives connected to the people and communities their work supports.
Trusts and foundations may need experienced interim leadership during executive transitions, periods of change or while determining what they need from a permanent appointment.
We recruit interim leaders who can work effectively with trustees and existing teams while providing leadership for a defined period.
| Organisation | Role |
|---|---|
| Costa Foundation | Executive Director |
| Elizabeth Casson Trust | Executive Officer Elect |
| GiveOut | Executive Director |
| Leeds Community Foundation | Chief Executive |
| Longleigh Foundation | Chief Executive |
| The Ogden Trust | Chief Executive; Founding Director, Dale Futures |
| Rigby Foundation | Executive Director |
| The Stonyhurst Foundation | Director |
| Organisation | Role |
|---|---|
| The Gatsby Charitable Foundation | Project Manager; Project Officer |
| Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust | Head of Programmes |
| The Royal Foundation | Associate Director, Business Partnerships; Senior Manager, Business Partnerships; Partnerships Manager; Prospect Research Specialist |
| The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts | Director of Finance; Senior Finance Business Partners |
| Organisation | Role |
|---|---|
| Edge Foundation | Trustees |
| Elizabeth Casson Trust | Trustees |
| John Laing Charitable Trust | Trustees |
| Maitri Trust | Trustees |
| National Benevolent Charity | Trustees |
| Nationwide Foundation | Trustee |
| Peter Minet Trust | Trustees |
| RABI | Chair |
| Talbot Village Trust | Trustees |
| The Pemberton-Barnes Trust | Trustees |
Partner
Director | Charities
Consultant | Arts, Heritage & Culture
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Planning a leadership, programme or board appointment for your trust or foundation? Speak to our team about your search.