Animal Concern Now Recruiting New Trustees

Fundraising Trustee Job Description and Person Specification

Scotland based charities Animal Concern and Animal Concern Advice Line (AC/ACAL) are seeking new trustees to join our board and be part of taking the charities to their full potential. 

As both charities are in a transitional phase, current trustees are looking to achieve long-term sustainability while supporting and directing their small team of staff. Collectively, the trustees have oversight of the charities and responsibility for making important decisions about how they are run. 

It is important for our board members to be familiar with general principles of animal welfare, as well as small charities’ best practice. In particular, we are seeking expertise to help safeguard the finances of the charities through comprehensive fundraising and financial planning as well as strategic foresight. 

The board meets three times a year to discuss AC/ACAL’s activities and organisational strategy, though online meetings can be held as required. In person meetings are typically in Glasgow.  

At our Annual General Meetings, trustees who are up for election/re-election must provide a CV and statement to be presented to our members, who will then vote for their election/re-election to the board. 

Prior to being co-opted as a trustee, one must first become a member. Anyone who has been a member for 3 years is eligible to stand for election to the board.

The role is unsalaried but reasonable travel and accommodation expenses for meetings will be reimbursed. Trustees will have full access to our SCVO membership and the various training courses and workshops they offer.  

There is no closing date - our invitation is open until we are at capacity.   

Person Specification 

The Board of Animal Concern (AC) and Animal Concern Advice Line (ACAL) are currently seeking applications from people who can meet the following specifications: 

Commitment 

• A commitment to the mission of Animal Concern and ACAL. 

• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship. 

• Can attend the minimum required three meetings per year, plus the AGM, usually held on Saturdays.  

• Can read and respond to emails and communications in a timely, considered and respectful manner. 

Soft Skills 

• An appreciation for small charity work and remote organisations. 

• Team players who can work well with others. 

• Can make decisions based on the good of Animal Concern and ACAL. 

• Organisational skills. 

• Creative thinking. 

• Strategic vision. 

In addition, the Board is seeking members with appropriate professional skills, experience and expertise which lend themselves to the running of a small, remote charity.  

Our priority areas of expertise we are recruiting for are: 

Essential 

• Governance – familiarity with policy, compliance, charity law and best practice procedures, especially in Scotland 

• People management – awareness of best practice guidelines with HR or team management  

Desirable 

• Fundraising – fundraising strategy, trust fundraising, grant applications, legacy programmes, individual giving, philanthropy management and/or 

• Finance, business acumen – financial management, accounting, strategy, income generation and enterprise, preferably within a charity setting. 

• Digital – any amount of experience with digital operations, strategy, digital marketing, website management and analytics. 

• Marketing – working experience of business marketing, press, publicity, public relations preferably within a charity setting.

For more information or to express interest, please contact Elena Edwards, Company Secretary, at elena@animalconcern.org or call 01389 841 111.