Fundraising and commercial director volunteer roles

Treasurer to help arts charity to expand

We are seeking a Treasurer to provide strategic financial oversight at a pivotal moment in IOU’s development. This is a key governance role, working to ensure the organisation's sustainable growth. 

Vision

At IOU we believe in a world remade by artists free to experiment.

IOU Creation Centre is cultural engine for artistic experimentation where radical ideas are tested, made real and released into the world to turn imagined futures into reality.

We exist to get radical artistic ideas into the world. Rooted in Calderdale and reaching far beyond, we back artists to disrupt expectations, imagine futures and make ambitious new work experimenting with art, engineering, technology and landscape to transform people and places.

What will you be doing?

IOU is entering an exciting and transformational period as we approach our 50th anniversary in 2026 and continue the transition from a nationally recognised producing arts company into IOU Creation Centre — a new model centred on artist development, interdisciplinary making, creative technology, engineering, and community participation.

We are seeking a Treasurer to join our Board at a critical and ambitious point in the organisation’s development. Over the last few years, IOU has successfully diversified its business model through the creation of IOU Hostel Ltd, our trading subsidiary, which provides earned income, artist accommodation, and residency opportunities alongside our charitable activity. We are now undertaking important work to strengthen financial systems, reserves, governance structures, and long-term sustainability across both organisations.

Our Board is currently made up of trustees with experience across the arts, fundraising, governance, education, HR, and strategic development. We work collaboratively and closely with the executive team, and pride ourselves on maintaining a supportive, open, and thoughtful culture while also constructively challenging the organisation as it evolves.

The Treasurer will play a key strategic role in helping shape IOU’s next chapter. This includes supporting oversight of:

• financial planning and reporting
• reserves and cashflow management
• governance and financial controls
• the relationship between the charity and trading subsidiary
• longer-term organisational resilience and sustainability

The Treasurer will also chair our Finance Committee, which meets monthly online and works closely with the Executive Director and Finance Manager to review management accounts, budgets, risk, and financial planning before recommendations are made to the wider Board.

This is a particularly exciting time to join IOU. Alongside our 50th anniversary programme and major Heritage Lottery funded archive project, we are developing new partnerships, artist residency models, and approaches to cultural participation rooted in Calderdale and the North of England. We are also exploring how the Creation Centre can become a nationally distinctive rural centre for contemporary interdisciplinary art and making.

As a trustee, you would have the opportunity to contribute to real organisational transformation — helping shape how a small but ambitious cultural organisation builds a resilient future while continuing to take creative risks and support artists and communities.

We are especially keen to hear from people who enjoy working strategically and collaboratively, and who are excited by the challenge of supporting an arts organisation that combines creativity, social impact, entrepreneurial thinking, and cultural ambition.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a Treasurer who shares our belief in the value of arts, culture, and creativity as tools for social connection, experimentation, and positive change. We are particularly interested in someone who can combine strong financial insight with a collaborative and strategic approach to governance.

Our ideal candidate will have professional experience in finance, accounting, business management, or financial leadership, and be confident supporting a small but ambitious organisation through a period of development and transformation. Experience of working with charities, social enterprises, cultural organisations, or trading subsidiaries would be valuable, although not essential.

We are especially looking for someone who can:

• understand and oversee financial reporting, budgeting, cashflow, creative tax credits, reserves, and risk
• support the Board and executive team with strategic financial planning
• help ensure robust financial systems and controls are in place
• communicate financial information clearly to trustees and colleagues from non-financial backgrounds
• provide constructive support and challenge in a collaborative way
• chair our Finance Committee and help strengthen financial confidence across the organisation

As IOU operates both as a charity and alongside a trading subsidiary (IOU Hostel Ltd), experience of mixed-income models, social enterprise, hospitality, or commercial trading would also be beneficial.

We value trustees who are thoughtful, open-minded, and interested in how organisations evolve. We are not looking for someone purely transactional or corporate in approach; we are looking for someone who understands how good governance can support creativity, people, and long-term resilience.

We are also committed to improving representation within our governance and leadership. We particularly welcome applications from people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, those with lived experience that is underrepresented in the cultural sector, and individuals who can bring different perspectives, networks, and experiences to Board discussions.

Previous trustee experience is not essential. We will provide support and induction for someone who is enthusiastic about contributing their skills and developing within the role.

What difference will you make?

As Treasurer, you will play a vital role in helping IOU strengthen its long-term sustainability and successfully navigate a significant period of organisational transformation and growth.

IOU is approaching its 50th anniversary in 2026 and is evolving from a nationally recognised producing arts company into IOU Creation Centre — a new model focused on artist development, creative technology, interdisciplinary practice, engineering, participation, and community engagement. Alongside this, we are managing a growing mixed-income model that includes our trading subsidiary, IOU Hostel Ltd, which supports earned income generation, artist residencies, and wider organisational resilience.

Your contribution will help ensure the organisation is financially robust, well-governed, and strategically positioned for the future. As Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee, you will support the Board and executive team to strengthen:

• financial planning and reporting
• reserves and cashflow management
• governance and financial controls
• oversight of the trading subsidiary
• long-term sustainability and investment planning

This role comes at a particularly important time. We are currently reviewing our financial systems, reporting structures, legal arrangements between the charity and trading subsidiary, and future business planning. Your insight and guidance will help shape these developments and support better decision-making across the organisation.

The Treasurer will also help improve confidence and understanding of financial information across the Board by ensuring reporting is clear, accessible, and strategically focused. This will support trustees from a range of professional backgrounds to engage more actively in financial discussions and governance.

Beyond finance, your support will help enable IOU to continue delivering ambitious artistic and community programmes across Calderdale and beyond. This includes artist residencies, workshops, touring work, heritage and archive projects, environmental initiatives, and opportunities for people who may not normally engage with arts and culture.

As an organisation rooted in community participation and diverse creative voices, we are also committed to strengthening representation within our governance and leadership. We recognise that this is an ongoing area of development for us, particularly in ensuring our Board better reflects the ethnic diversity and lived experiences of the communities we work with and alongside. We welcome trustees who can bring different perspectives, experiences, and networks to help shape a more inclusive and representative future for the organisation.

Additional information

Please download the Opportunity and to apply provide a CV and cover letter. 

We're looking for new Board Members who are interested in making a real difference to the future of Graeae.

A pivotal member who is recruited for their specialist skills or knowledge and because they are representative of those with a stake or interest in Graeae’s work. In law, Trustees of Graeae have three particular duties – compliance, care and prudence – which are set out in the recruitment pack.

We are interested in hearing from Deaf, Disabled and neurodivergent individuals and looking to recruit 3-4 people with experience in one or more of the following:

• Financial management
• Law
• Producing (commercial and subsidised sectors)
• Business planning and management
• Equity, diversity and inclusion
• Delivering digital projects
• Fundraising
• HR

Being a Graeae Board Member can be stimulating, challenging and rewarding. It offers the chance to work with a dedicated, committed, resourceful and professional group of people (staff team, Board and advisers) in an innovative and challenging environment.

About the role

UK Feminista is looking for people committed to feminism and women’s equality to join our volunteer Board of Directors.

Founded in 2010, UK Feminista is a charitable organisation working for a society free from sexism and violence against women and girls. We campaign for systemic change so that women can enjoy their rights as enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. We exist to tackle the root causes of sex inequality. Our core programmes are combating commercial sexual exploitation; and tackling sexism and sexual harassment in education. Please read more about our programmes of work on our website.

The role of the Board of Directors is to:  

• Take legal and financial responsibility in order to safeguard the assets and the continuity of UK Feminista.  

• Be satisfied that financial information is accurate and that financial management systems and controls are robust and defensible.  

• Ensure that UK Feminista complies with its Articles of Association, company law and other relevant legislation and regulations.  

• Ensure that the policies and practices of UK Feminista meets the organisation’s needs, are in keeping with its charitable objects and strive to achieve best practise.

• Further the charitable objects of UK Feminista.  

In carrying out the collective responsibilities of the Board, the role of the individual Director is to:  

• Follow UK Feminista’s Code of Conduct at all times.  

• Declare conflicts of interest and exercise confidentiality and independent judgement at all times.  

• Contribute relevant knowledge and expertise to the organisation’s activities at the request of the Director.  

• Be a proactive advocate for UK Feminista.  

• Act as an ambassador to UK Feminista, including building the profile of the organisation; seeking relevant fundraising connections and support; and representing the organisation at meetings and acting as spokesperson when requested by the Director.  

• Contribute to the development of the organisational strategy through providing support, constructive challenge and ideas, in collaboration with the Director.  

About you 

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not require previous board experience. We particularly encourage applications from Black and ethnically minoritised, disabled and neurodivergent individuals.   

Person specification:

• Strong commitment to the aims of UK Feminista.  

• Strong understanding of sex inequality and commercial sexual exploitation.  

• An ability to work effectively as part of a team.  

• An ability and willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to complete Board Member duties. 

• An ability to think strategically and exercise good judgement.  

• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of being a Board Member. 

• An understanding of and commitment to upholding the Board’s governance role as distinct from the operational role of staff.  

• Knowledge, skills and experience in a field or practice of relevance to UK Feminista’s activities.  

• A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.  

We are seeking particular expertise in these areas: 

• Data protection 

• Finance and fundraising – in particular, fundraising areas outside of grants, and strategic partnership development

• Digital, marketing and public relations 

• Experience completing organisational transition to CIO 

Level of commitment 

UK Feminista is a small organisation, so this is a hands-on Board Member role. As well as four 90-minute online board meetings a year and attending an annual in-person Away Day in London, Board Members attend additional adhoc meetings, events and provide organisational support as needed. 

UK Feminista is a non-profit company limited by guarantee. No one on the Board of Directors is personally liable.