Chair of Campaign Board | First Give

Route to a Million — Join First Give as its new Campaign Board Chair and activate the generosity of one million young people.

Location: Hybrid / London

Closing date: Rolling applications

First Give – providing hope for the future

In the face of unprecedented challenges, communities in the UK are grappling with deepening divisions and a growing sense of disconnection. However, research shows that 88% of 10-20 year olds care about making the world a better place, yet the number of young people participating in social action has fallen year on year. Ten years ago, First Give was launched to ignite a spark of social conscience in young people and provide them with access and opportunity to participate and become engaged in and support their communities. In that time, we have achieved remarkable results, empowering and energising almost a quarter of a million young people to take meaningful action in support of charities and causes that matter to them.

This has primarily been achieved through our flagship programme, which works with a full year group of secondary school students. They learn about social issues, research and connect with charities, and carry out social action in support of a chosen local cause. Our impact goes far beyond that of the individual causes that have benefited from our work. Through our groundbreaking programme, young people gain a better understanding of the needs, as well as the fulfilment and the impact of giving. They are inspired to donate more time and money and, ultimately, build a more generous society in the future.

And the results speak for themselves: 98% of students reported improving awareness of social issues and how charities help people in their local community. 90% of students told us they were likely or very likely to do more social action in the future. 95% of lead teachers told us First Give was successful at igniting a spark of social conscience in students at their school.

But right now, even with the addition of a new programme, designed to ensure as many schools as possible can access our work, we are reaching only 7% of state secondary school children across our eight target regions in England & Wales. Now is the time for us to do even more.

Route to a Million Campaign

Capitalising on our strong foundations and proven formula, we are launching a bold new strategy and an enabling fundraising campaign to rapidly accelerate our growth. Our aim by 2034 is to have activated the generosity of a million young people through our programmes. To fund this investment and set us on the right growth trajectory, we need to raise an additional £1.5m over the next three years through an ambitious fundraising campaign, Route to a Million. If successful, this will have a catalytic effect, allowing us to scale sustainably and transform our impact over the next decade and beyond.

Can you chair the new First Give Campaign Board to realise this vision?

Who we are looking for

The Campaign Board’s role is to support First Give in philanthropic initiatives, helping us achieve our Route to a Million ambitions. We’re looking for an influential leader to drive this campaign forward and seize upon this unique opportunity to leverage impact. As Chair, you’ll play a key role in the development of the fundraising strategy, open doors through your networks, and create and lead a dynamic Campaign Board to help us achieve our vision.

The Chair of the Campaign Board will bring senior leadership skills, significant influence in their field and strong business acumen while acting as an Ambassador for the Route to a Million Campaign and First Give. You’ll take a lead role in the appeal, driving fundraising through your knowledge, contacts and expertise, alongside the Campaign Board. In addition to leveraging networks, generating ideas, and opening doors for new funding opportunities, the Chair should be open to donating personally too, setting the example for others to follow.

We are seeking an individual with empathy and passion for First Give’s purpose, mission and vision. Someone who wants to support young people in making socially conscious decisions and driving positive change among future generations, fostering and igniting a sense of community cohesion.

Time commitment and term of office

We anticipate this role will require a commitment of around 1-2 days a month, with some evening engagements. We’re flexible on how this time is spread, and our team will provide full support to ensure your time is well spent and impactful. We are asking for a commitment of 3 years. The main First Give charity office is in the Pears Hub in West Hampstead, London. Board meetings are held in person here.

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners.