PERSONAL BEST FOUNDATION

Help change young lives through athletics

Trustee – Strategic Fundraising & Income Development

Voluntary | Reasonable expenses reimbursed

Approximately one day per month

Hybrid, with quarterly Board meetings in London

Could your fundraising expertise help a young charity reach more children and young people?

At Personal Best Foundation, we believe in the power of athletics to change lives. We create opportunities for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and underserved communities to participate, achieve their personal best and improve their health and wellbeing.

Established in 2022, we are an independent charity affiliated to and supported by England Athletics (the National Governing Body for Athletics). We have made a strong start, developing fundraising activities across individual giving, community fundraising, trusts and grants, and corporate partnerships.

Now we want to build on those foundations. Our ambition is to grow and diversify our income, develop sustainable funding relationships and strengthen our ability to make a lasting difference to young people's lives. We're looking for a Trustee with proven experience of leading successful fundraising strategies to help us achieve that ambition.

The opportunity

Joining an experienced and committed Board, you'll bring your strategic fundraising expertise, insight and constructive challenge needed to help shape the Foundation's future.

You'll help us scrutinise our fundraising strategy, assess opportunities, challenge our assumptions and make informed decisions about sustainable income growth.

This is a Board-level role, not an operational fundraising position. Our Foundation Manager leads day-to-day delivery, and your contribution will be to strengthen the Board's strategic oversight and decision-making.

It's an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution at an important stage in the development of a young charity, helping establish the financial foundations needed for its long-term impact.

Who we're looking for

You'll have a proven track record of leading successful fundraising strategies and growing or diversifying charitable income.

You might be an experienced fundraising leader, a charity CEO or director, or someone who has led income development within another organisation.

You'll bring sound strategic judgement, the ability to ask constructive questions and an understanding of what makes charitable fundraising successful and sustainable.

Experience of fundraising within a small or growing charity, developing strategic partnerships or securing long-term funding would be particularly valuable.

Previous Trustee experience is not essential. We welcome applications from people considering their first Board appointment and can offer support from experienced Trustees.

Practical details

The role is voluntary, with reasonable expenses reimbursed. The estimated time commitment is approximately one day per month, including quarterly Board meetings in London, occasional online meetings, strategy days and events. 

For full details, please see the Role Description.

How to apply

To apply, please upload your CV and a covering letter (maximum two sides of A4) via https://careers.englandathletics.org/ 

Your covering letter should include:

• your experience of planning and implementing strategies for charitable income generation, including one specific example and its result.

• what you hope to contribute to the Board.

• what attracted you to this role and to the Personal Best Foundation.

Please note the annual commitment set out in the Summary Information on page 2 of the Role Description.

Applications will be shortlisted against the essential criteria.

If you would like an informal conversation with an existing Trustee before applying, please contact Samantha O’Shea soshea@personalbestfoundation.org.uk. This conversation is optional and does not form part of the selection process.

We welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds and are committed to ensuring diversity of thought and representation on our Board.

The closing date for applications is 5.00pm Friday 27th November.

First interviews will be held online on Wednesday 16th December.

Second interviews will be held in London on Friday 15th January 2027.

The Personal Best Foundation actively encourages applications from suitably qualified and experienced candidates regardless of gender, gender identity, sexuality, ethnicity, disability, age, religion or belief, parenting, caring or marital status. We recognise the potential that every individual brings.