Chair
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is working to speed up and support the transition to a more equitable and just future, free from poverty, in which people and planet can flourish. Inspired by the work of our founder over a century ago, today we are a wealthy, independent, social change organisation working across all nations of the UK. Our work is anchored around poverty. We see ending destitution and deep poverty and expanding economic security as critical pathways to achieving our mission, responding to the most acute manifestations of disadvantage around us and the deeper, structural drivers of injustice growing from our current economic and social model.
The Role
As we enter 2023, a refreshed Executive Team and Trustee body is working towards a new mission: to speed up and support the transition to a more equitable and just future, free from poverty, in which people and planet can flourish.
With an endowment of over £400m, we are committed to putting all of our wealth in service to that mission – not just through how, or how much, we spend; but how and where we choose to invest our wealth. The importance of our mission and the resources we hold impel us to be ambitious for change.
As a wealthy, independent foundation with talented, passionate staff we believe we can play an important direct role in this work. But we also recognise that deep and lasting change will only come from a larger movement, and that JRF is just one organisation in a wide ecosystem. Our ambition is to play a supportive, generous role in that ecosystem, using our independence and wealth to think long-term about the infrastructure we can put in place to support others – including those who are currently furthest from power.
Having agreed our new organisational direction, we are now looking for a Chair who shares our vision for change. Someone who holds a deep belief that a more equitable and just future for the UK, free from poverty, is possible. And someone who has a passion for both the urgent and the deep work needed to shape and speed up that transition.
If you believe you have the personal qualities, skills and experience we are looking for, we very much look forward to hearing from you.
