Oxfordshire Community Foundation opens search for Chair

Nick Case took on the role of Interim Chair when John Taylor stepped down as Chair in March 2020. His brief was to carry on the work that John had started with the publication of the seminal Oxfordshire Uncovered report, and lead the foundation in its work addressing priority areas of disadvantage across Oxfordshire. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic refocused OCF’s priorities as it responded to support local charities, awarding over £1 million in grants from its Community Resilience Fund to date. In July 2020, the Board asked Nick to continue as Chair with the agreement that the position would be reviewed in early 2021.

In the interests of good governance and to maximise the opportunity of finding the very best candidate, the Board has now decided to conduct an open search for a Chair for a minimum term of three years. The Chair will have the following priorities:

• Act as an ambassador for the foundation, raising its profile in the wider community and developing new philanthropic opportunities
• Provide support to the OCF executive team in developing its annual income in order to deliver its ambitious strategic objectives
• Support the Chief Executive in developing and delivering the mission and vision
• Provide inclusive leadership to the Board, ensuring that all trustees are engaged and motivated
• Develop the knowledge and capabilities of the Board, ensuring an appropriate mix of professional skills and life experience, as well as a Board that is representative of the Oxfordshire community.

In a short time, Nick has achieved a great deal, including:

• Setting up the Community Resilience Fund and overseeing OCF’s response to COVID-19
• Agreeing the retirement of the previous CEO after 10 years in the role, and overseeing the recruitment of a new CEO
• Leading a review of strategy and priorities involving both current trustees and a number of critical friends to ensure the greatest possible objectivity
• Recruiting new trustees to the Board as part of the foundation’s overall aim of improving diversity and representation across different communities in the county
• Developing fundraising and launching new Patrons and Friends programmes.

OCF’s Chief Executive Adrian Sell commented: “Nick’s achievements will make a positive lasting difference to OCF. We are looking for a Chair who can continue this momentum, leading the Board and supporting the executive team. We welcome applications from people who are passionate about our county and are personally committed to making a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable in the community.”

OCF is also seeking further trustees with skills and backgrounds that complement our existing Board. More details can be found on OCF’s website. View the full job descriptions and apply.

About Oxfordshire Community Foundation

• Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) works to improve lives by addressing social and economic disadvantage. We tackle the most pressing social problems locally: homelessness, educational inequality, and loneliness and isolation.
• Despite its wealth and success, our beautiful county hides a number of simply shocking and upsetting social problems here on our doorsteps. As part of our work, we uncover these issues and understand what causes them. We then bring together charities, philanthropists, businesses and the public sector to research, design and fund long-term solutions.
• Our work is all about collaboration and consensus-building. We make the best ideas happen – solutions to the problems, not sticking plasters. This leads to sustained and meaningful improvements to people’s lives.
• OCF makes around £1 million in grants every year to charities across Oxfordshire that are working at the grassroots level to tackle pressing problems faced by its citizens, including emergency response to crises such as COVID-19.