Grants advisor volunteer roles

Devon Community Foundation inspires people to give and helps Devon’s communities to thrive by changing lives together. We are the largest independent grant funder for charities and community organisations in the county, created by our communities and for our communities. 

We work with donors, community groups and charities across Devon, taking time to understand what each is trying to accomplish and supporting them to do so with impact.

We work with our generous supporters to reach the people most in need and help to create equality and opportunity in the diverse communities across Devon. We are also part of the wider, 47-strong UK Community Foundation network, who, for 30 years, has distributed millions of pounds towards smaller, locally based organisations, and provides vital support to every postcode in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

Devon Community Foundation  

Chair  

Across Devon, with UK wide representation 

Unremunerated, with expenses paid.  

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Board of an ambitious organisation, keen to continue to grow the scale, reach and impact of our work. With strategic planning under way, a dedicated team, committed trustees and a strong reputation across Devon, we have a strong platform from which to operate and effect change in the communities we serve.

We are looking to appoint a Chair to lead and inspire, as well as to act as an ambassador for the organisation, who brings: 

• Prior experience as a charity trustee and solid understanding of good governance practices

• Experience of operating at strategic leadership level 

• Experience of acting as ambassador and raising the profile of an organisation, leading to positive outcomes.

We are seeking a Chair who shares our values as well as our passion and commitment to the communities of Devon.

We are actively seeking to bring more diversity of perspectives and experience to our Board and welcome applications from currently underrepresented groups at board level. 

For further information, to access the appointment brief and to apply to this role, please visit the Prospectus website.

If you have any queries or wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisors Anna Gardet or Erica Ritchie via email.

Recruitment Timetable: 

Deadline for applications:  Monday 20th October 2025 

First round Interviews with DCF: 27th October 2025 

Second round Interviews with DCF: w/c 3rd November 2025 

Cripplegate Foundation is looking for new Governors (trustees) to join our board. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a trusted, independent and innovative grant- making organisation that has been supporting Islington for over 500 years.

Working alongside our partners at Islington Giving, we invest over £2 million a year in local charities and community groups. Together we amplify local voices, improve access to opportunities and support lasting change.

 Who we’re looking for

• Do you want to make a real difference in Islington?
• Are you passionate about tackling local poverty and inequality?
• Can you help amplify the voices of those we work with, through your personal or professional experience?
• Could you bring additional diversity to our board so that we better reflect the communities in which we work?
• Do you have some frontline charity experience, senior leadership or otherwise?
• Are you able to commit the time required to make the most of joining us?

We are genuinely encouraging a wide range of people to come forward and cannot emphasise enough how your background, life experience, approach and values are more important than any knowledge or experience of grant making, or of being a trustee elsewhere.

Full induction, mentoring and ongoing support will be provided. This is a voluntary/unpaid role, with expenses covered.

The closing date for applications is 16th October at 5:00 p.m.

For more details and how to apply, please visit our website and download the full Candidate Pack.

EHRAC is a team of experts in international human rights law and international mechanisms. We support and collaborate with human rights defenders in Ukraine and the South Caucasus to litigate ground breaking strategic cases to secure justice and challenge impunity. 

EHRAC’s Advisory Board provides guidance to the Co- Directors on issues of finance, operations, communications and strategic direction, and provides insight and advice on the situation in EHRAC’s target region. 

The Advisory Board member with financial management experience maintains an overview of EHRAC’s financial affairs. They ensure that effective and appropriate financial measures, controls and procedures are in place and provide support to EHRAC’s finance and grants team on an adhoc basis.

As well as attending the main meetings of the Advisory Board, they will join the Subcommittee, which consists of three Advisory Board members and meets quarterly (online or in person).

We are looking for someone who shares our values to join us as a Music Education Trustee, maximising the impact of our music education strategy in helping children and young people from families on low income in Surrey to make music.

Specific Tasks

Identifying, developing and overseeing appropriate group teaching and ensemble projects in primary and secondary schools with high pupil premium ratios. Such  projects will be funded or co-funded by CKT but delivered by other established music education providers 

Managing CKT’ s interface with

• Surrey Arts (including at chief executive and area manager level),
• Surrey state schools  as potential beneficiaries of CKT’s work
• other providers of music education in Surrey including Rock Schools

Working with:

• CKTs music education advisers to help define and deliver the above
• the bursaries trustee/manager to ensure that the criteria and process for CKTs bursaries maximises CKT’s impact
• the marketing and communications manager to best market what CKT offers to schools and music teachers
• Trustees, taking the lead on fundraising in developing applications for grants to fund CKT’s project work
• Acting as one of CKT’s Trustees and Directors attending and contributing to board meetings
• Performing such other tasks and activities for CKT as skills and time allow

Skills and experience required

In depth experience of music education at primary and/or secondary level

This will probably have been gained through practical experience either as a successful school head of music and/or in a county music service and/or in a music education charity or provider  

TREASURER (TRUSTEE)

Every 6 minutes someone learns that they are losing their sight. Every five hours, a baby is born with sight problems. In these moments, two profound questions emerge:

• Can this be stopped?

• How do I (or my child) live this life?

Our charity exists to address both questions. We are the only significant national funder with the efficiency, capability, and capacity to increase investment in medical research and social improvement. Together we can mitigate both the prevalence and impact of sight loss. We have a clear ambition – to save sight and to change lives.

We are now seeking a new Treasurer. This is an exciting point for us, and our new Treasurer will be central in enabling us to achieve our ambition.

We have a clear focus and vision, as well as a strong Board and senior leadership team, all of whom are ambitious for the potential impact we can make. We do not want this opportunity to pass us by and that’s what makes this such an important and exciting role for the right person.

As a trustee, you will have the opportunity to steer the course of our charity and our sector, shaping our strategies, and advocating for meaningful change. You will be help us be a driving force behind world leading research into sight loss prevention, and transformative initiatives that enhance the quality of life for countless individuals.

If you want to be part of something that will really make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

“I extend a heartfelt invitation to those who share our commitment to making a profound difference in the lives of individuals affected by sight loss. Our journey towards a future where eye diseases are prevented and the challenges faced by the visually impaired are overcome requires the collective effort of dedicated individuals. We are seeking trustees who are not only passionate advocates for our cause but also possess the vision, expertise, and dedication to guide and govern our organisation. Your unique perspectives and skills will play a pivotal role in shaping and defining our impact for years to come.”

Dr Heather Giles, Chair

ABOUT US

Our single, unifying mission is to save sight and change lives.

It is a mission that reflects two urgent questions everyone faces when they receive a diagnosis of sight loss: ‘How do I stop this?’ and ‘How do I live my life?’

Answering these questions guides our strategy as we progress a five-year plan with solid and lofty aspirations.

Our principal role is as a grant-maker. We award grants to the scientific community that could lead to scientific breakthroughs and treatments to stop eye diseases from progressing. In the future, we believe research can prevent people from losing sight and reverse sight loss. We invest to advance treatments that will cure eye disease and protect and grow the community of world-class scientists, technologists, and data scientists who can deliver tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

We have funded innovations that directly impact people who are blind or partially sighted, from music classes for children to projects that take eye tests into at-risk communities. We invest in programmes, organisations and activities that deliver equity for and with blind and visually impaired people.

OUR FINANCES

The charity is in a strong position financially, with a high level of reserves that we intend to draw down over the coming years as we focus on investing in sustainable growth and increasing our impact. Compared to many charities, we have well diversified income streams, predictable costs, and are in the fortunate position to hold a sizable portfolio of investments. Our plans for the short and medium term are to invest in our income generation infrastructure, and to significantly increase the amounts of funding we can put to our charitable purpose.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

As the most senior leaders in our charity, trustees play a pivotal role in guiding our strategic direction, amplifying our impact, and ensuring the fulfilment of our mission to save sight and change lives. You will serve on the main board and will also chair our Finance, Audit, Risk & Resources (FARR) committee.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Planning

- Provide leadership and strategic guidance to the charity, aligning efforts with the mission and values of the organisation.

- Collaborate with the board, executive team, and stakeholders to develop and implement long-term strategies that advance the charity’s impact and sustainability.

Governance

- Ensure effective governance, decision-making, and compliance with legal and ethical standards.

- Work closely with board members, fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, collaboration and open communication, harnessing different views and opinions.

Engagement

- Represent the charity at public events and networking opportunities to promote our mission and raise awareness about our cause.

Evaluation and Accountability

- Collaborate with the board to evaluate performance, ensuring alignment with the charity’s goals and objectives.

- Ensure the charity is accountable to donors and beneficiaries, that is financially robust and sustainable, and that is effective risk management in place.

Key Responsibilities of the Treasurer

- Chair the Finance, Audit, Risk & Resources Committee, ensuring effective scrutiny and oversight.

- Provide strategic financial leadership and ensure that appropriate financial controls and risk management frameworks are in place.

- Ensure compliance with statutory reporting and regulatory requirements in partnership with the executive.

- Act as a trusted advisor to the Chief Financial Officer and offer guidance to fellow trustees on financial matters.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Specialist experience

We are particularly interested in candidates who have:

- A recognised financial qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

- Experience of senior financial leadership – ideally as a CFO, COO, FD, or equivalent

- A sound understanding of finance, audit, and investment management

General attributes

Knowledge & experience

- An understanding of governance, and experience on a committee or board.

Skills & abilities

- Strategic thinking and the ability to contribute to long-term planning and vision to deliver impact.

- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.

- Entrepreneurial instincts and a healthy understanding of risk balanced with ambition using sound judgement.

Styles & behaviours

- High ethical standards and commitment to upholding the charity’s values, as well as a passion for advocating on behalf of individuals with, or at risk of, sight loss.

- Collaborative, highly inclusive, fostering trust and valuing difference perspectives.

- Solution-focused, with an ability to see the big picture and be pragmatic.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

Remuneration 

This role is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although reasonable expenses may be claimed.

Time commitment

While the exact time commitment may vary based on the charity’s needs and priorities, we anticipate the following general expectations:

- A minimum of four Board meetings per year

- A minimum of four subcommittee meetings per year

- Preparation for meetings, review of materials, and other trustee engagement as appropriate.

- Annual strategy day with full Board and executive team.

- Meetings with members of the executive leadership team as appropriate.

- Representing the charity at high profile events, functions and public engagements to enhance its reputation and partnerships.

Location

At present Board meetings are held in central London. Subcommittee meetings are held remotely.

HOW TO APPLY

If you have questions about the role and would find it helpful to have an informal conversation, please contact us at our trustee recruitment inbox and we will be happy to arrange a call.

To make an application, please send your CV and a supporting statement (max two pages) to our trustee recruitment inbox outlining your motivation for applying and how you meet the attributes outlined in the personal specification.

We hope you will consider making an application. Together, we can achieve extraordinary things.

The Ark Gedling is a Christian charity that exists for the prevention and relief of poverty and hardship; it is a UK registered charity and a member of Advice UK. It provides a community café, with a range of activities to support community development and mutual support, which operate in conjunction with advice sessions, so that local people receive expert advice alongside compassionate community support and empowerment. It works in close partnership with other charities and with local churches. We are excited to announce we are recruoting new trustees to support the project into a new phase in our 20-year history.