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Director August 2019 Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
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Welcome Thank you for your interest in the John Ellerman Foundation – a well-established member of the UK’s family of grant-making foundations, and a great place to work. We are an independent endowed grantmaker. Our aim is to advance the wellbeing of people, society and the natural world. That broad remit lets us focus on where our funds will make the greatest difference. Our independence gives freedom to act without fear or favour, support difficult or unpopular causes, and take risks when justified by
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the rewards. We are led by our values, responsive to what is most needed, and committed to providing core funding. The Foundation is unusual in that the Trustees play a very active part – and consequently, as determined by our founder, they are paid for the additional duties they undertake. These include some of the tasks that would normally be done by executive staff – such as sifting funding applications, visiting applicants, and writing reports and recommendations for decision by the board. Trustees are also closely involved in developing the grants strategy and overseeing the investment portfolio.
Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
We’re looking for a Director to work with an exceptional group of Trustees in leading the Foundation. If you are that person, you’ll have several years’ leadership experience, a collegiate approach, imagination, humour, and a passion for making the world a better place. You’ll also have the sensitivity to recognise that giving away someone else’s money is a special privilege, and one that requires an unusual degree of humility and respect. You don’t need to have been employed in the charitable sector, but you should have personal experience and knowledge of charity practice, and be in sympathy with its purposes. You might work in business, the civil or other public service, an operational charity, or a grant-making foundation. You will need management experience, to lead and inspire our small executive team, and
Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
an understanding of what makes for good governance. Despite the technical distinctions between trustees and staff, we are not hierarchical, and encourage our staff team – led by our Director – to play an active part in board and other discussions. Our new Director will come into a welldefined role, which provides a strong platform for the future. But the scope to develop, both the Foundation and personally, makes this a highly appealing position. If you think this could be for you, please get in touch with our consultants at Prospectus. They, and we, want to hear from you. Hugh Raven Chair
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Background The John Ellerman Foundation was created from the wealth and generosity of a father and son, and set up as a grantmaking trust in 1971. The first Sir John Ellerman was an accountant who went on to become the richest man in Britain at that time. His wealth came from a variety of businesses, principally shipping, in the early 20th century. His son, who inherited the title from his father and was also called John, was responsible for donating the funds from those businesses to create the Foundation. The Foundation retains the broad philanthropic interests of our settlor, whilst continuing to reflect changing times. Today our aim is to advance the wellbeing of people, society and the natural world. We hope to achieve our aim by:
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Funding organisations working in arts, environment and social action.
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Managing our funds in such a way that balances the desire to maintain grantmaking capacity with operating in the longer term, which means 30-plus years.
Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
Our Values Our values reflect how we work. •
We are a responsive funder, listening and responding to what applicants judge is important.
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We have developed funding guidelines, enabling us to be discerning in our decisions about whom and what to support.
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We value our relationships and seek to have a personal touch. Our Trustees are involved at every stage of an application, and we always visit or meet an applicant before a grant is made.
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We prefer to be connected and are in regular contact with relevant colleagues and partners in the charitable world. We also like to keep in touch with grantees, convening and linking with them and others from time to time.
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We are willing to be flexible, and may venture outside our funding criteria if we believe a different approach would be more effective.
Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
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What the Foundation funds
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Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
We aim to advance the wellbeing of people, society and the natural world by focusing on the arts, environment and social action. We believe these areas, both separately and together, can make an important contribution to wellbeing. All of our grant applicants must have an income over ÂŁ100,000 and must be doing work of national significance. The Foundation has a track record of providing core funding, but will also make grants for projects if that is what is most needed.
Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
In 2018 we launched a new grants strategy. We retained our three broad areas of interest, sharpened our focus in Arts and Social Action (with its new name), and extended our Environment category to include support for work that tackles the harmful effects of human activity. Alongside this, our interest in funding museums and galleries outside London continues through our special fund. Just over a year into our new strategy, Trustees are keen to take stock, learn from experience, and turn their attention to how the Foundation can add value to the grants we make.
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Our Performance For the year ending 31 March 2019 we made 55 grants worth £5.2m, allocated as follows:
36%
30%
Social Action
Arts
£5.2m 5% Other
29%
The average overall grant size continued to increase, to a total of £93,318. Most grants are for two or three years, with the average annual amount being £34,797. Of the 55 grants, 91% were for core funding. Whilst our funding criteria provide a framework for decision making, by remaining flexible, Trustees can venture outside them when they think this could add value. A recent example was the grant to Social Finance, which led to a collaboration with like-minded funders with a common interest in older people, a topic of long-standing concern to the Foundation but not currently an explicit funding priority. This flexibility has also enabled us to make a small number of social investments over the years.
Environment
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Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
As an endowed funder, the Foundation relies on the returns from our investments to make grants, and we monitor both sides of our activity very carefully. The value of the Foundation’s assets varies from month to month. In the year to 31 March 2019, the value of the investment portfolio was £144m, with a total return of 6.8% over the previous year. Our aim is to operate in the long term, meaning 30-plus years. Trustees have decided that annual expenditure is calculated at 4.5% of the Foundation’s assets (smoothed over the last three years).
Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
You can read more about our approach, achievements and performance in our latest Annual Report here. We encourage interested candidates to take a look at our website for more information about who we are and what we do www.ellerman.org.uk
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How the Foundation operates
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Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
Trustees are responsible for the direction and oversight of the Foundation, and in doing so take a collegiate approach to working with one another and the executive team. Last year we undertook a substantial recruitment exercise, which brought three Trustees with new skills, experience and perspectives to the work of the Foundation. Trustees are aware of and enthusiastic about the benefits of a diverse board and team. There are currently nine Trustees and five staff.
transparent relationships with our grantees and direct our funding to where it can make the most difference. It also gives unusual depth to Trustees’ understanding of the Foundation’s grants policies and processes, and opportunities for debate and constructive challenge.
Trustees are highly engaged, do more than would usually be expected in such a role and are remunerated for this additional contribution. Appointed for their specialist knowledge and experience – which may be in investments, our funding categories or professional skills – they are active in planning and monitoring the investment and grants strategies, and are personally involved at all stages of an application, including visiting applicants and writing reports for the Board.
We aim to live by our values, which reflect how we think, work and engage with grantees and the wider sector. Building and maintaining relationships through every stage of our grant process, whilst being thoughtful and learning from the grants we make, is an important part of our culture. We also value being part of a wider funding ecology, which brings pooled resources and the benefits of sharing expertise and risk.
We have carefully thought through this operating model and believe our Trustees’ engagement in the grant making process brings special insights and opportunities, allowing us to truly live our values, build meaningful and
Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
The relationship between the Board and Executive is one built on trust and mutual respect, with a less formal hierarchy than you may typically find in a similar charity.
Interested candidates should be enthusiastic about working in a culture where there is a high level of Trustee engagement, and comfortable with leading a small team. More details about the current team and Trustees can be found on our website.
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Context of the role
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Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
The Director leads the Foundation, supported by a small executive team. The role is both strategic and operational in nature, supporting the Board to ensure robust governance, whilst helping to steer and maintain strategic focus and instil the Foundation’s values in all its activities and engagements. The Director works closely with Trustees to ensure that the funding focus remains relevant in a rapidly changing external environment, whilst exploring how the Foundation can add value to grants made and the sector more broadly.
Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
Alongside operational and leadership responsibilities, the Director is a key ambassador for the Foundation, building and maintaining strong relationships and partnerships across sectors and with funding peers. The Director plays a key role in championing the Foundation’s ability to act as a convenor, amplifying the impact and voice of our grantees. This convening role is an area we are open to exploring further in the coming years.
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Director of John Ellerman Foundation Role Description Job Purpose Provide collaborative, values-based leadership to the Foundation, supporting trustees and staff in developing and fulfilling its mission and strategy as a supportive and listening funder in a changing and often challenging external environment. Responsible to Chair of the Trustee Board.
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Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
Governance
External
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Support and advise the Chair and Trustees across all grant-making, finance, investment and governance matters
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Position the Foundation externally in line with its values, purpose and strategy
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Ensure the Chair and Trustee Board and Committees receive information, advice and paperwork in a timely and professional manner to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities, including keeping them up to date with, and providing advice on, external developments
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Build and sustain strong relationships across the sector, with applicants and grantees, other charities, funders, agencies and strategic partners, keeping alert to new trends and developments in philanthropy and the wider sector
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Lead communications, ensuring the Foundation is represented positively, deal with media enquiries, ensuring appropriate website and social media presence, creating and responding to new opportunities
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Develop the Foundation’s convening role, bringing organisations and people together to share learning and build knowledge
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Respond to and initiate new responses and partnerships to tackle current and future external events
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Support Trustees in their regular oversight and review of the Foundation’s policies and risks
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Plan and organise a regular programme of regular meetings, strategy development and away days
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Support the Chair to ensure Board appraisals take place as agreed
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Oversee production of the annual report and financial accounts
Grant-making •
Develop the work of the Foundation by keeping abreast of, developing and supporting new initiatives and approaches as agreed with the Trustees
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In conjunction with the Head of Grants, ensure the development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and review of grantmaking in line with the strategy
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Participate in visits and sifting, and support the Chair to ensure appropriate Trustee involvement in these
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Maintain current partnerships and explore opportunities for collaboration
Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
Finance and investments •
In conjunction with the Head of Finance & Resources, ensure accurate and timely financial and investment planning, management and reporting
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Support the FIC and Trustee Board in deciding the spend policy and allocation of grants budget to the areas covered by the grants strategy
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Contribute to FIC annual strategy meeting and advise on governance in relation to any developments
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Contribute to and advise the FIC on the approach to and implementation of Mission Related Investment, from strengthening ESG considerations to social and impact investing
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Operations and resources •
In conjunction with the Head of Finance & Resources, ensure the Foundation has the people and other resources to operate as effectively as possible
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Provide leadership and support to develop a motivated and energetic team
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Manage the process for the recruitment and induction of new Trustees and staff
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Advise the relevant Trustee Committee on the remuneration of staff and Trustees and any benefits
General •
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Undertake any other duties as may be reasonably required
Terms and Conditions •
Salary circa £95,000
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6 month probation period, after which a 12.5% pension contribution is paid conditional on the employee contributing an additional 5%.
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Life assurance
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Private healthcare
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25 days holiday a year, increasing by an additional day for each year of service after 5 years, to a maximum of 30 days.
Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
Person Specification Experience •
An outwardly credible senior executive with a successful track record of organisational leadership
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A strong understanding of public policy and financing in relation to one or more of the Foundation’s areas of grant making
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Some experience and knowledge of the charity sector
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Experience of building and maintaining successful partnerships, peer working or networks
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Experience of convening others around a common goal or subject
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Proven ability to provide inspiring leadership, particularly to a small team
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Ability to lead, motivate and empower a small team
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Good communicator internally and externally with excellent ambassadorial skills
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A clear thinker and writer, and a confident and persuasive presenter
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High degree of numeracy with a broad understanding of budgets and financial accounting
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Efficient, organised and strong planning abilities
Qualities •
Relevant experience in matters of governance in relation to a Trustee Board
Highly credible, with a serious interest in and curiosity about the Foundation’s grantmaking categories
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Experience of financial management, ideally with some knowledge of investment management
Naturally collaborative working style that embraces a non-hierarchical approach
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Open to learning and impact focussed
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Common sense, calmness and sense of humour
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Energy, thoughtfulness and a willingness to ‘muck in’
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Self-reflective learning style, open to a challenge
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Comfortable working in a small team and in a quiet office
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Highest standards of integrity and professionalism
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A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
Evidence of having worked effectively with a Non-Executive Board and with staff to achieve shared objectives Experience of using evidence and impact to steer strategy and future focus
Skills •
Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work with individuals at all levels, recognising and embracing diversity in all its manifestations
Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
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How to apply To apply, please forward a CV, together with a supporting statement (which should be no more than two sides of A4). Please provide evidence of your suitability against the criteria in the Person Specification in your statement as well as explaining your interest in becoming Director of the John Ellerman Foundation. At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire. Please flag any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.
Applications should be made via the Prospectus website: https://www.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/details/hq00175768 Deadline for Applications: 15 September 2019
Preliminary Interviews with Prospectus: 20-30 September 2019 Final Panel Interviews:
7 October and 21 October 2019
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Director | John Ellerman Foundation | August 2019
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