Become a Data Activists 🚀 trustee!
We are now seeking a *fourth* trustee to complement our existing team and help drive our organisation forward.
About us
Data Activists is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering smaller charitable organisations to leverage the power of data and technology. Our mission is to provide free, high-quality data services to nonprofits that may not have the budget for dedicated staff or external IT support. Whether it’s analytics, data management, or web development, we work closely with our clients to maximise their impact. By offering our expertise at no or low cost, we aim to level the playing field and help these vital organisations achieve their goals more effectively.
At Data Activists, we recognise that the lack of technical expertise and robust infrastructure severely limits the effectiveness and efficiency of many nonprofit organisations in their pursuit of social impact. These limitations can have compounding effects, hindering charities from fully realising their potential to create positive change.
As a very early-stage organisation, we are currently operating on a self-funded basis with our founder serving as the sole volunteer. Despite our nascent status, we have already begun providing services to charities across the UK and the EU, working on refugee rights, the war on Gaza, and the political left in France, and have offered advice to organisations focused on homelessness and youth work.
We are at a crucial point in our development, with several funding opportunities in progress. However, we recognise that securing funding for innovative, off-the-beaten-path initiatives like tech, data, and infrastructure support can be challenging, especially when compared to more traditional areas like casework or humanitarian aid. The incoming trustee will have the opportunity to significantly influence our fundraising strategy and overall direction if they wish to do so.
Our Board of Trustees
Currently, Data Activists is led by three trustees:
- Youssoup, our founder, has a broad expertise in data and technology
- Keziah is an expert in the UK charity system
- Ruth brings an exhaustive experience and knowledge of project management and the humanitarian sector
We are now seeking a fourth trustee to complement our existing team and help drive our organisation forward.
The Trustee Role
We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to join our board of trustees, with a particular focus on fundraising and financial management.
This is an unpaid, voluntary position with a term length of one year, renewable by mutual agreement.
You can be based anywhere in the UK, as we are fully remote.
Apart from attending our quarterly board meetings, you will work at your own pace.
As a trustee, you will play a crucial role in overseeing the strategic direction of Data Activists, ensuring we fulfil our mission and comply with all relevant regulations. We estimate a time commitment of approximately 2 days per month, including attendance at quarterly board meetings and participation in fundraising activities.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute to the strategic direction and governance of Data Activists
- Develop and implement a fundraising strategy to support our mission
- Help us identify and pursue funding opportunities, including grants, corporate partnerships, and individual donations
- Contribute to overseeing financial planning and budgeting processes
- Ensure compliance with charity law and best practices in financial management
- Attend and actively participate in board meetings and relevant committee meetings
- Act as an ambassador for Data Activists, promoting our work to potential funders and partners
- Support the development of marketing and communication strategies to raise our profile
Person Specification
Essential:
- Passion for leveraging technology and data for social good
- Willingness to work in a small, new, nimble structure where a lot is still to be defined
- Experience in fundraising, particularly within the nonprofit sector
- Knowledge of the UK charity sector and funding landscape
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Understanding of charity governance and the role of a trustee
- Ability to think strategically and contribute to organisational development
Desirable:
- Experience in budget management
- Experience in grant writing and managing relationships with funders
- Understanding of data analytics or technology sectors
- Previous experience as a charity trustee
The items above are an indication: if you don’t fit the description perfectly but are passionate about our mission, we encourage you to apply. We mainly care about having someone passionate: if you’ve never been a trustee before, if you think you’re too inexperienced, or have never worked on fundraising, but care about amplifying the social impact of nonprofits, please apply anyway!
How to Apply
If you want to contribute to Data Activists’ mission and believe you have the skills and experience we’re looking for, we want to hear from you. Please send your CV and a short email explaining why you’re interested in this role and how your skills and experience match our requirements to: