Candidate brief for
The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
For the position of Group Chief Executive
May 2026
About The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
The Charities Aid Foundation is a leading charity operating in the UK and internationally. Formed over a century ago, it exists 'to accelerate progress in society towards a fair and sustainable future for all'. It uses its social enterprise approach to connect charities, business, and philanthropists together to simplify giving, allowing civil society organisations around the world to access vital funding and other support to enable them to focus more upon the great work they do.
In the year to April 2025, the organisation distributed over £1.2 billion to more than 130,000 non-profits around the world. It is one of the largest charitable foundations in Europe, and works with people, companies, and charities to facilitate and encourage giving, and provide financial services tailored to the needs of charities, including banking, investment and advisory services.
The whole organisation has a workforce of nearly 750. At its heart, the charity has a hybrid workforce of circa 450 with its main operating centre in West Malling, Kent and a London office located in the City. CAF Bank, a for-profit subsidiary provides the UK charity sector with commercial banking services through its workforce of circa 170, also based in West Malling. CAF America, a not-for-profit subsidiary based in Washington DC and a workforce of circa 130 enables cross-border philanthropic giving.
The organisation is undergoing a significant digital transformation. CAF Bank has recently completed a successful roll-out of its new customer operating platform which will enable it to improve its services to UK charities. CAF in the UK and CAF in North America is now accelerating the digital transformation of services to both donors and charities.
The current Chair of CAF, Sir Edward Braham, joined the Board in July 2025 which is leading the organisation through its next important stage of growth to deliver even greater impact through the services it provides.
https://www.cafonline.org/docs/default-source/annual-reports/caf_group_annual-report.pdf
WHO CAF WORKS WITH?
Charities CAF enables charities and social enterprises to do more life-changing work through its advisory services, funding, and finance solutions. These include strategy & planning, banking, investments, fundraising tools, and social investment.
Donors CAF partners with companies and private donors to realise greater impact with their giving. CAF's regulatory expertise and sector-leading charity validation ensure effective, quick, and safe cross-border giving.
Public sector CAF works with governments, non-profit organisations and charity partners to achieve maximum impact, including delivering large-scale grant making programmes. CAF acts as a voice of the charitable sector with Government, policymakers, and regulators, to ensure appropriate conditions for donors, charities, and social enterprises.
HOW CAF DELIVERS ON ITS PURPOSE
By serving the charity sector Helping charities and social enterprises thrive is at the heart of what CAF does. As a charity, it understands the challenges – and the value – in being a non-profit organisation. With advisory services, funding and finance solutions, CAF helps other charities carry out life-changing work and strengthen their long-term resilience.
Through its research and policy work, CAF represents the interests of the charitable sector and donors with government, policymakers and regulators. CAF's research into charity resilience, charity finance, and changes in giving habits, provides key evidence of the challenges faced by the sector, the support it needs, and the ways in which charitable activity and fundraising are challenged by the economic landscape society faces. CAF's research informs its work with partners across the charity sector, and engagements with Government on issues of public policy. The Charity Resilience Index, along with the annual UK Giving Report and World Giving Index offer rich insights and set out the long-term strategic challenges for charities presented by current economic conditions.
By making giving easier The charities CAF works with need their donors' generosity more than ever. Whether it is a one-off donation, setting up long-term giving, or embarking on a philanthropic journey, CAF links generous people with causes they want to help. CAF is as ambitious about philanthropy as its donors. CAF aims to be a centre of excellence in grant making, and a leader in social and impact investing, bringing exciting and innovative opportunities to its clients and partners.
CAF partners with Microsoft in the design and development of its new CAF global digital ecosystem, using the very latest technologies to create new and improved services and solutions. This will bring innovation and unique insight to the sector, connecting donors with charities, and supporting growth in giving and impact in the years to come.
Through international reach Our presence in the UK, America and Canada enables hundreds of millions of pounds each year to move across borders and arrive safely with thousands of charities to make a greater impact. CAF convenes an international network of like-minded charitable organisations where each partner is an expert in their region. Together, the network promotes innovation, share best practices, and improve cross-border giving. The collective aim is to achieve a global impact, providing donors and charities with a range of ways to give internationally, while ensuring the highest standards of regulatory compliance.
As more people look to give internationally, CAF ensures donations stay secure, cost-effective, and where possible tax advantaged. CAF's verification service ensures funds go to genuine causes and stay compliant with UK (HMRC), US and Canadian rules on foreign donations. As the only organisation of its scale and level of expertise to manage donations to overseas non-profits, CAF ensures the highest standards of regulatory compliance, reducing risk to the reputation of donors.
CAF enables donors to make strategic, impactful gifts to any qualifying non-profit overseas; raise funds across the UK, US, Canada, and EU; or build up a foundation or trust in the most efficient way.
FINANCIAL POSITION
Despite challenging economic conditions, CAF has retained control of its costs, and a stable financial position. In the adverse economic environment, CAF has continued to distribute record levels of funding to charities and social enterprises in the UK and around the world. Growth has been particularly notable in CAF America, the group's North American subsidiary, where donor contributions from both regular giving and third-party giving platforms has increased.
CAF's consolidated accounts cover its UK, US and Canadian charitable and trading subsidiaries, notably CAF Bank, CAF America and the CAF American Donor Fund. Unrestricted income is primarily generated from donor advised fund operations, fees, investment income and loan interest, while restricted income mainly reflects donations to donor advised funds and legacies. At 30 April 2025, restricted donor advised funds stood at £1.99bn, with total assets increasing to £2.0bn and financial investments of £1.04bn. CAF Bank deposits rose to £1.45bn, supported by strong charity depositors, high liquidity (around 80% of assets) and growing lending of £283.2m. Group unrestricted funds totalled £115.2m, with income of £113.2m, including £30.0m of investment income.
The full details of CAF's finances, as well as its policies on reserves and investments are available in the annual report (currently for year 2024/2025).
CAF BANK
CAF Bank is a specialist provider for the charity sector, and a key part of CAF Group. The Bank's services are geared towards helping organisations support the people who need them. This includes helping borrowers to find affordable solutions, with any surplus reinvested. Its emphasis on sustainability continues to grow, and charitable clients can now access a range of ESG-focused investment funds. For CAF, this is a vital step towards creating a fair and sustainable future for all.
The Charities Aid Foundation connects charities with funds, and is the sole shareholder of CAF Bank, which helps charities to manage those funds. The bank provides financial services to 14,500 charities and social purpose organisations, ranging from micro charities to large organisations. In the year-to April 2025, CAF Bank recorded a pre-tax profit, which was reinvested back into the Bank's plans for growth.
Products include current accounts, free online banking (including dual authorisation), loans, development funding, working capital, overdraft facilities, and cash flow funding. For individuals, the Bank offers a tailored philanthropic banking service, including social purpose loans.
Looking forwards, the Bank will continue to develop more accessible, secure, efficient products and services. It will continue to empower donors, companies, charities and social organisations by offering banking services to the sector regardless of their size or cause; increasing the number of loans advanced to charities; enhancing their online banking services; and investing in upgrading their IT infrastructure.
caf_bank_annual-report.pdf
CHARITIES AID FOUNDATION GROUP GOVERNANCE
Charities Aid Foundation Group includes CAF in the UK, CAF America, CAF Canada, CAF Financial Solutions Ltd and CAF Bank. Each constituent member benefits from specific governance, oversight, and executive leadership, all reporting up to the group Chief Executive and the Board of Trustees. Charities Aid Foundation is a registered charity (number 268369) and is governed by a Declaration of Trust dated 2 October 1974 (as amended from time to time). The Board of Trustees is responsible for the management of CAF and oversight of the delivery of its strategic objectives.
The Trustees delegate management responsibilities to the Chief Executive and also delegate certain functions to the sub-committees described below. Each sub-committee has specific terms of reference and a Chair appointed by the Trustees. Trustees strengthen the sub-committees by co-opting experts in the relevant field. This delegation is controlled by requiring regular reporting from the Chief Executive and the sub-committees to the Board of Trustees.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee The Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee consists of independent members as well as Trustees with relevant expertise. The committee's purpose is to review and make recommendations on the following on behalf of the Trustees:
- internal control and risk management systems
- effectiveness of internal audit
- CAF's relationship with its external auditors
- procedures for compliance with anti-money laundering legislation
- annual report and accounts
Investment, Finance & Impact Committee The Investment, Finance & Impact Committee is a panel of independent investment experts chaired by a Trustee. The purpose of the committee is to advise the Trustees on investment matters regarding CAF's funds as well as the funds held on behalf of donors or as agent. This is undertaken in the context of CAF's long range strategic plans, operational activities and Charity Commission guidelines. The committee monitors compliance with agreed investment policies and performance benchmarks. It also performs an annual review of compliance with procedures relating to investments, as well as providing other advice on an ad hoc basis.
Nominations, Remunerations & Culture Committee The Nomination, Remuneration and Culture Committee (NRCC) supports the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities in respect of the appointment and reappointment of Trustees, Committee members, appointments to the Boards of subsidiaries of the Charities Aid Foundation and relevant third-party advisors. The NRCC also provides oversight of people strategy, including
Executive Leadership The Board of Trustees delegates management responsibility to the Executive Committee, under the current leadership of interim Chief Executive, Caroline Siarkiewicz, who joined in early April. This has enabled the long-term CEO Neil Heslop, to step into a period of garden leave through to the end of July this year. Below is the latest Group Executive Committee profile.
The Role
The Charities Aid Foundation is seeking an experienced executive to lead the organisation through a period of sustainable growth, across a broad portfolio of activities, in a challenging economic and geo-political environment. The successful candidate will have demonstrable C-suite leadership experience blended from across the not for profit/social enterprise/philanthropy and financial services sectors within the UK. They will possess the experience and ability to leverage the organisation's reputation, strong client community, and a suite of products and activities that benefit the charitable sector, giving distinctive value for large numbers of individual and corporate donors alongside the charities that turn to us for assistance.
The Group Chief Executive will be accountable to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, reporting to the Board to formulate and regularly review the organisation's mission and achievement of its strategic objectives.
With full executive responsibility and delegated authority, he/she will be responsible for overall leadership, controls, strategy planning and operating of the organisation, ensuring alignment across the group of the delivery of the Charity's purpose. The Chief Executive will lead a sustainable operating model which enables the organisation to raise money, safely give money, and promote the development of civil society.
Key Responsibilities
- To lead, manage and advise the Group executive team to formulate, consolidate and drive forward the strategy and vision of the Charities Aid Foundation and its objectives;
- To lead and inspire the organisation to enable it to achieve its mission and grow its position as a primary go-to organisation for donors, (both UK and international);
- To ensure the sustainable financial health of the organisation in an increasingly challenging external economic environment;
- To report to and work with Trustees to ensure that financial reserves are responsibly maintained at appropriate levels, whilst ensuring optimal service delivery;
- In tandem with key external partners and stakeholders, to drive CAF's influencing of public policy which improves public perceptions and attitudes to charitable giving and drive social impact;
- To create a customer-focused culture dedicated to finding contemporary and innovative ways to serve diverse stakeholder groups and maximise impact;
- To oversee the organisation's ongoing digital and technological transformation that underpins fit for purpose, accessible products and services to our customers, (donors and charities);
- To be the lead external executive face of the Charities Aid Foundation, build relationships, and work with government, charities, corporations and individual donors to enhance the organisation's social impact;
- To lead on driving organisational alignment behind the Charity's purpose, building strong, long-lasting relationships across all group entity leadership teams, especially across the Group executive team;
- To ensure the organisation discharges its constitutional, regulatory and legal obligations to protect the organisation and its reputation;
- To seek opportunities to expand and promote the organisation to ensure that in alignment with key partners and stakeholders, the Charities Aid Foundation has an optimal profile in the sectors its serves.
Governance Responsibilities
- Chair the Group executive committee comprising the Group CFO, CAF Bank CEO, CAF America CEO, MD CAF UK, Chief Information Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief People Officer and Executive Director of Governance (currently nine roles);
- Attend the Charities Aid Foundation Board meetings as a permanent participant, along with the Group CFO;
- Attend and support all relevant and appropriate sub-committees of the Board of Trustees;
- Hold appointments on subsidiary Boards, where this is a requirement;
Key Experience
- Proven track record of the successful management and growth of an organisation of significant scale and complexity;
- Demonstrable familiarity of leadership in the not for profit and financial services sectors;
- Successful leadership in the effective management of financial resources in order to achieve maximum impact of services;
- Sound commercial acumen and judgement;
- Strong track record of managing complex stakeholders, building effective networks, and influencing the agenda in relevant fields, including national government, the public sector, corporations, philanthropic giving communities, NGOs, and relevant regulators;
- Experience of operating at board level with significant entities;
- Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop a high calibre leadership team;
- Experience of successfully leading alignment within a group setting.
Personal Attributes
- Results orientation: focused on the formulation and execution of strategy, galvanising and motivating a senior team, the organisation, and network of partners and stakeholders to deliver the mission of CAF;
- Collaboration and Influencing: possess the gravitas and credibility to command the respect of a diverse group of colleagues, provide clear direction and motivation through collaborative leadership; ability to positively influence stakeholders, not for profit sector leaders, and the external media to enhance the organisation's reputation and further the cause of civil society;
- Good judgement: able to manage the trade-offs between the commercial success and financial sustainability of the Charities Aid Foundation, its subsidiaries and the Charity's objectives;
- Leading with Impact: the acumen and aptitude to provide effective leadership across a group setting.
Role Dimensions
- 620 UK staff, with 450 within the Foundation Charity and 170 within CAF Bank. In addition, there are circa 135 staff based in North America working within CAF America and CAF Canada.
- Charitable Contributions of £1.5billion.
- Operating Income of circa £97.3million (Group).
- Assets under management or control of circa £2.5billion, separate to Bank deposits of £1.5billion.
Location: London and West Malling.
Compensation: The salary range on offer is £265k to £305k.
CAF operates a hybrid working approach with Executive roles being 'office-first', meaning role-holders are required to work the majority of their time in an office environment and be visible.
How to Apply
KEY DATES
Closing date for applications is Friday, 29th May 2026.
The final interview process with Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) will take place on 22nd and 25th June or 6th and 7th July.
APPLICATION
In order to apply, please submit a comprehensive CV along with a covering letter which sets out your interest in the role and encapsulates the aspects of your experience relevant to the required criteria.
The preferred method of application is online at: www.odgers.com/96013
If you are unable to apply online, please email: 96013@odgers.com
All applications will receive an automated response.
All candidates are also requested to complete an online Diversity Monitoring Form which will be found at the end of the application process. This will assist Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) in monitoring selection decisions to assess whether equality of opportunity is being achieved. Any information collated from the Diversity Monitoring Forms will not be used as part of the selection process and will be treated as strictly confidential.
PERSONAL DATA
In line with GDPR, we ask that you do NOT send us any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning health or sex life and sexual orientation, genetic and / or biometric data) in your CV and application documentation. Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal Data in your CV/application documentation will be understood by us as your express consent to process this information going forward. Please also remember to not mention anyone's information or details (e.g. referees) who have not previously agreed to their inclusion.
CONTACT DETAILS
For a conversation in confidence, please contact:
Sarah Lowndes Jones 96013@odgers.com
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