Charity Fund Panel Member (CSVA)

Can you help? 

The Epsom & Ewell Community Fund is currently looking for new members.

Anyone resident in the borough, or with a clear link to the local community can become a Panel Member.

What do we do: 

1. The Fund uses the income from its capital to support organisations within the borough who help those in need.

2. As a panel, we meet approximately 4 times a year to look at and approve applications for grants.

The role additionally includes:

• Raising awareness of the Fund and its impact.

• Raising philanthropic donations to the Fund from local high net-worth individuals, businesses, and members of the public.

• Managing the strategic development and growth of the Fund.

• Acting in the best interest of the Charity, beneficiaries, and future beneficiaries at all times.

The role is similar to that of a Charity Trustee, but does not involve the statutory responsibilities of being a Trustee. It is a voluntary position. 

 

 

What skills do I need?

The fund is an ‘area fund’ under the Community Foundation for Surrey.  The money it holds is in two sections.  The capital is held in the Endowment Fund; the income from the capital is held in the Grants Fund and is available for awarding grants.  

The Epsom & Ewell Community Fund Panel is usually between 5 and 8 members.  Approval of grant awards is by majority approval of the members of the Panel. All grant decisions and actions are minuted.  Panel members should declare any conflict of interest and where appropriate will not be involved in any grant award decisions relating to the application.  

We are looking for people with some of the following qualities and experience:

• A passion to improve the lives of local people, especially those experiencing disadvantage

• An understanding and/or experience of the voluntary sector 

• Knowledge / experience of fundraising / philanthropic giving 

• Professional skills such as IT / social media, Marketing, Fundraising, Events Organisation, or Business Networking 

• Ability to network in the local community 

• Ability to operate as part of a close team of volunteers.

It would be helpful to have some of the following competencies:

• Communication – establishes rapport and demonstrates commitment to engendering positive relationships with the wide range of Foundation stakeholders, internal and external.

• Influence – effective in persuading others of the foundation’s worth and eliciting positive commitments. 

• Able to harness the skills of others to reach objectives

• Leadership – experience of leading by example, motivating others in pursuit of organisational goals.

Governance Framework

• The Community Foundation for Surrey https://www.cfsurrey.org.uk/ has two governing documents, its Memorandum and Articles of Association which set out the formal duties and responsibilities of Trustees.  The Epsom & Ewell Community Fund has a Fund Agreement with the Foundation.  This covers our relationship with the Foundation and the criteria under which we can award grants.

• Foundation is a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity. The Foundation manages over 89 different funds, and each fund is overseen by a Panel or an individual donor.