Philanthrope
In 2024, Philanthrope was proud to support Stonewall, a leading advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, to restructure its Board in order to deliver strategic change and long-term sustainability.
The context
Cause: Stonewall stand for all LGBTQ+ people. They imagine a world where LGBTQ+ people everywhere are free to be themselves and can live their lives to the full. In every community in the UK, and around the world, LGBTQ+ people are still being abused, thrown out of their homes, and bullied in schools and workplaces. And for some LGBTQ+ people this is particularly acute.
Stonewall have a powerful opportunity to challenge and address these impacts through their campaigning and programme delivery work.
Strategy: Stonewall’s journey has been marked by progress, challenges, and evolving perspectives. Its impact on LGBTQ+ rights remains significant, but recent controversies have raised important questions about its role and direction.
After navigating the pandemic and contending with a difficult political environment, the Board began a period of strategic change under a new CEO aimed at delivering a sustainable long-term position in order to continue it’s important programme of work and campaigning.
Requirement: There was the need for improved strategic leadership, strong governance, commercial decision making and sustained financial health.
To deliver this, Stonewall instructed Philanthrope to help define and execute the search for commercial and financial expertise to appoint to the Board. Seeking non-executives with experience leading charities, alongside experience working in social justice and campaigning, there was also a critical need to appoint people who share in, and are driven by, Stonewall’s values.
The solution
Discovery: Following a series of meetings to develop our understanding and establish alignment with major stakeholders alongside Stonewall’s culture and strategic vision, Philanthrope articulated the requirement and delivered a search proposal. This outlined our suggested approach and process, including a market map; highlighting key organisations, skillsets and indicative profiles that would likely add value to Stonewall’s board in line with agreed parameters.
Search: Once a strategy and approach was decided, Philanthrope began to research and proactively test the market, quickly delivering a longlist to review collaboratively with Stonewall. Following this review, we began to speak to potential candidates. Our approach was exhaustive, contacting hundreds of executives and interviewing dozens of interested parties. This approach allowed us to gauge interest, benchmark candidates and explore wider networks whilst further refining the profile Stonewall would ultimately decide to appoint via regular updates.
Selection: Ultimately, Philanthrope delivered a shortlist of exceptional leaders with strong track records in highly relevant organisations and, most importantly, a passion for the cause. We then managed the interview process and negotiated the appointments on behalf of Stonewall.
Appointment: As a result, Stonewall appointed two superb leaders that will support Stonewall into future, providing unmatched financial and commercial experience and expertise.
The client
“We are so fortunate to benefit from the wide range of financial, commercial and leadership experience that Caroline and Kushal will bring to all of us at Stonewall. Stonewall has a unique and important role to play in advancing and protecting LGBTQ+ people’s human rights, in the UK and across the world. Their wisdom and insight from their lives and careers to date will put us in good stead to strengthen and secure our impact for the long term.”
Cat Dixon, Chair of Stonewall, welcoming the appointments