Job Description

The Stronger Foundations Programme Manager role is a brilliant opportunity to join a small, friendly, team in the charity sector. This post will provide strategic programme management for our exciting “Stronger Foundations” programme. This programme has been established with our membership to identify key principles and aspirations of what it means to be a ‘stronger’ foundation, both now and in order to prepare for a changing world. Together we aim to answer the question:

‘What is excellence in all areas of foundation practice and how can we achieve it?’

Why join us?

ACF is the membership body for UK foundations and grant-making charities. Driven by a belief that foundations are a vital source for social good, our mission is to support them to be ambitious and effective in the way that they use their resources. We do this through the provision of policy and advocacy, research and information, and a wide-ranging programme of events and learning. Our 370 members collectively hold assets of around £50bn and give over £2.5bn annually.

Charitable foundations are a vital force for social good. At their best, they are the most transparent, intentional and efficient way of transforming private wealth into public benefit. They embody the belief that things can be better - mobilising funding, resources and expertise to support others, whether by preserving social good that is under threat or catalysing it where it is absent.

Comprising a small, dedicated and ambitious staff team, ACF’s work sits at the intersection of private capital and public good. 

Working collaboratively and in partnership with our trust and foundation members, ACF provides a range of services and support including:

• a busy programme of themed networks, workshops, conferences, seminars and roundtables
• on line and hard copy briefings for members
• policy development for the trust and foundation sector
• media and communications services to represent the interests and work of trusts and foundations to a range of audiences, including Government and politicians.

The Stronger Foundations Programme

The programme has six thematic areas, each with a working group:

• Diversity, equity and inclusion
• Impact and learning
• Strategy and governance
• Transparency and engagement
• Funding practices
• Intentional investing

The programme, which began in mid-2018, is using evidence, subject experts and those in other sectors and jurisdictions, to identify principles of excellence and a route to realising them in practice.