The Institute of Fundraising has begun the process of recruiting a new chair, with Richard Taylor set to step down from the organisation in the summer having come to the end of his three-year term.
In an announcement on its website, the IoF said it is “seeking to appoint a new chair who can build on our strong foundations and work collaboratively with our board and chief executive to lead the IoF” as it delivers on its new four-year strategic plan.
The job description said the IoF is looking for a new chair who “will be passionate about fundraising and the role the IoF plays in leading, representing and championing the fundraising profession and community”.
The description also said that the ideal candidate would “have the gravitas to engage credibly with a wide range of stakeholders”.
The appointment will be for a three-year term, with “the possibility of re-appointment” for a further three-years.
Some of the ‘essential’ specifications necessary for a successful candidate include being a member of the IoF; having a “strong and visible passion and commitment to fundraising, the Institute and its strategic objectives”; an ability to represent the IoF in the media and “strong inter-personal, networking and relationship building abilities”.
Peter Lewis, chief executive of the IoF, said: "Our new chair will be joining us at a pivotal and exciting time for both the institute and wider charity sector. The last 18 months has seen considerable change for the fundraising community, and increased public, political and media scrutiny of our work has become a new normal.
"The IoF plays a key role in this new environment representing the views and sharing the insights of our members and the wider fundraising community, supporting our members to achieve excellent fundraising, and championing innovation and best practice. The merger with the Public Fundraising Association last year has created one single membership body for the fundraising community, and our membership communities of individuals, organisations and corporate supporters is the biggest it has ever been and continues to expand.
"Our new chair will play a pivotal role in the future of the whole fundraising community, leading the IoF’s highly expert and committed Board and fantastic volunteer and staff team. "
Taylor steps down
Current chair Richard Taylor is stepping down from the role he has held with the IoF for the last three years.
A spokeswoman from the IoF said that Taylor was unable to seek a second three-year term as chair of the Institute, as he had previously served a three-year term as trustee prior to his being made chair.
Taylor has worked in the fundraising profession for over 18 years. He spent over 17 of those as the fundraising and marketing director for Cancer Research UK, the largest fundraising organisation in the country.
He was originally set to leave his role with CRUK in the summer of 2015, to take on a commercial director role with consumer research agency Which? Taylor ended up turning down the opportunity to join Which? to stay on as the chair of the Institute of Fundraising, during the so-called ‘summer of discontent’ following on from the death of Olive Cooke, and the subsequent fundraising scandals in the media.
He was appointed as the interim director of fundraising at Macmillan in October 2015.
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