Chair of the Association of Charitable Foundations

Eligibility                                       

In order to be eligible to serve as a trustee, the Chair must have a current association (trustee or employee) with a UK-based foundation that is a member of ACF

Role Overview

ACF is seeking a chair who will lead the board to forward its strategy, purpose and values, ensuring impactful, inclusive governance and positive outcomes for its members. The chair will guide trustees in fulfilling their responsibilities, fostering a collaborative and accountable board culture and working closely with the chief executive to achieve ACF’s strategic goals. Acting as ACF’s ambassador the chair will leverage their leadership, network and insights to champion ACF’s work and enhance its presence across the foundation sector.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a strong commitment to both ACF and the foundation sector who has experience of working with or on a board of trustees. The ideal candidate will  have excellent interpersonal skills and experience of facilitating space where diverse and sometimes conflicting opinions can be addressed productively and collaboratively.  

About ACF

The Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) is the leading membership association for the UK’s foundations and grant-making charities.

• Our Vision is diverse, vibrant, and effective foundations, working together for social good.

• Our Purpose is to strengthen foundations to rise to the challenges of our times.

• Our Values are that: we care, we are open, we are evidence based, we are ambitious.

Our 450 members collectively hold assets of around £50bn and give over £2.5bn annually to a diverse range of causes, organisations and people: from community groups, charities and social enterprises to museums, hospitals and schools. Together they cover the full range of foundations, from small to large, and operating in many different fields of grantmaking and social investment, including the arts, social justice, the environment, research and education, across the UK and overseas.  

Our work builds common understanding of the work and role of foundations, including with government, and enables our members to be more than the sum of their parts, collaborating and developing their practice, and navigating complexity in the challenges they face. We support foundations by providing policy and advocacy, research and information, and a wide-ranging programme of events and learning.

Our ambitions

This is a pivotal moment to step into the role of Chair at ACF. As we approach the midpoint of our transformative five year strategy (2023–2027), ACF is positioned to make a powerful impact at a time when social and economic challenges, growing inequality, and the effects of the climate crisis are more pressing than ever. Foundations have an essential role in addressing these issues—and are wrestling with how to strike the right balance between responding to urgent needs, funding innovative solutions that can help to address the underlying causes, and ensuring their resources make the greatest possible difference. All of this at a time when the demand for foundation funding has dramatically increased.

As the leading membership association for foundations, ACF is committed to supporting our members through these challenges with a forward-thinking, sustainable approach. The Chair will guide ACF through the next phase of our journey, steering our work as we address the rising demands for philanthropic support and meet increased expectations for accountability, transparency, and impact.

In this role, you’ll lead the board in charting a clear path forward, tackling important decisions, and setting a vision that ensures ACF remains a trusted, sustainable force in the sector. For an exceptional leader passionate about the potential of philanthropy, this is a rare opportunity to make a lasting difference.

The chair should embody inclusive, values-driven leadership, fostering collaboration, accountability, and alignment with ACF's mission and principles. They will champion diversity, integrity, and collective decision-making to ensure the board operates effectively and upholds the highest standards. We are proud to have a collaborate board who work together well, and with the executive team.

Join us in leading the foundation movement to rise to the challenges of our times.

Practical details

Remuneration: The role of Chair is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although expenses for travel and other out-of-pocket expense (eg child care) may be claimed

Location: ACF is located in London. Currently two board meetings in each year are held in person, with the others taking place online.

Time commitment: Minimum average time commitment over the year estimated at 1.5 days per month. This includes:

• one in-person awayday (10am-4pm) and three further board meetings per year (two online, one in person, averaging 2-3 hours per meeting).

• The Chair meets quarterly with the Treasurer and Vice Chair, online for one hour, as the Officers Group.

• The Chair is an ex officio member of our Nomination and Remuneration Committee, which meets three times a year, online, for up to 90 minutes.

• The Chair also has regular keep in touch meetings with the Chief Executive, and represents ACF at various events and meetings with key stakeholders – usually three or four in each year.

Length of term: 3 years per term with a maximum of 2 terms

Reporting to: Board of Trustees

Role description

Objective

The Chair will lead the board and hold the executive team to account for ACF’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the board of trustees, and ensuring that each trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity. The Chair will also support, and, where appropriate, constructively challenge the chief executive and carry out their annual appraisal. They will ensure that the Board functions as a team and works closely with the entire executive of the charity to achieve agreed objectives. They will act as an ambassador and the public face of the charity in partnership with the chief executive.

Principal responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the charity and board to provide clear strategic direction and maximum impact for members, ensuring effective governance aligned with ACF’s purpose and charitable objectives.

• Guide trustees to fulfil their duties responsibly, regularly reviewing risks and opportunities and maintaining strong financial health.

Governance

• Optimise governance structures for ACF’s effectiveness, fostering positive change and resolving any conflicts within the board.

• Appraise the performance of the trustees and board on an annual basis as/if appropriate

• Ensure the board possesses a balanced mix of skills, knowledge, and experience, diverse in terms of demographics and thinking, and reflective of ACF’s membership.

• Adhere to and implement policies adopted by ACF.

 External Relations

• Represent ACF and its members, acting as an ambassador, and spokesperson when appropriate.

• Leverage personal and professional networks to support ACF’s strategic goals and external partnerships.

 Effective and inclusive board

• Ensure that board discussions and decisions are inclusive, valuing diverse opinions and perspectives and where people feel confident and comfortable to contribute.

• Chair board meetings efficiently and effectively, bringing impartially and objectivity to the decision making process to ensure decisions reflect the long-term best interests of ACF.

• Promote full engagement (while being inclusive of different communication styles and needs), collective ownership and constructive relationships among trustees.

• Collaborate with the chief executive to give direction to board policy-making, ensuring effective meeting planning and decision follow-through.

Relationship with the chief executive

• Develop a strong, constructive and supportive working relationship with the chief executive, holding her accountable for strategic objectives while respecting role boundaries.

• Conduct an annual appraisal of the chief executive and where appropriate recommend salary adjustments to the Nomination and Remuneration Committee for approval by the board.

• Support the chief executive’s professional development opportunities.

Additional information

• The Vice-Chair acts on behalf of the Chair when needed and undertakes assignments at the request of the Chair.

• This description outlines the primary responsibilities but may include additional duties aligned with the role.

• ·       ACF’s board comprises 12 trustees elected by the membership (for a 3 year term, with a maximum of 2 terms) and up to 3 trustees co-opted by the board.

• ·       ACF’s staffing complement is currently 17.5 FTE (headcount of 21).

Person Specification

Personal qualities

• Strong commitment to ACF, its strategic objectives, and the foundation sector.

• Ability to lead a membership organisation that represents and champions a range of complex and diverse perspectives.

• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building, and networking skills; tactful, diplomatic, and an effective listener.

• Skilled at fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and diverse team environment.

• Able to commit the necessary time to the role, with a dynamic and forward-looking approach

Experience

• Proven charity governance experience, with a background in working with or on a board of trustees.

• Experience in external representation, public speaking, and stakeholder engagement.

• Skilled in chairing meetings and events.

Knowledge and Skills

• Broad understanding of civil society, the foundation sector and issues affecting it.

• Strong leadership skills, able to motivate and unite staff and volunteer teams.

• Financial management knowledge with insight into charity finance and governance.