Funding & Partnerships Lead for Impact Residency - Accelerator for Black social entrepreneurs

Help launch a residential start-up accelerator programme that supports Black social entrepreneurs through learning, investment and networking opportunities.

What will you be doing?

What is the idea?

In April 2021, we will launch a 6-month programme in which we will invite 5 Black founders of social enterprises to live and work together in our co-living space (The Collective Canary Wharf). During the part-time programme, we will provide regular coaching sessions, workshops, personal mentoring, PR opportunities, and funding to help accelerate the growth of their business. 

How can you help?

We're looking for a driven, talented, and committed Funding & Partnerships Lead to help make this initiative a reality. The Collective Foundation has been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis and almost entirely relies on volunteers. 

Your activities will include:

• Fundraising: Securing investment/funding from donors and investors to directly invest in the 5 Black-led social enterprises we will support.
• Partnership Development: Establishing other Strategic partnerships that can provide in-kind benefits to our cohort.
• Other support: Any other related support to the Foundation Director with the above activities.

How would we work together?

You will work directly with the Foundation Director (Andre Damian) who is currently 1 of 2 full-time staff members at The Collective Foundation. We are a small team and will work together virtually via our online collaboration tools (Slack, Zoom, Asana).

What impact you will make

Black Founders have structurally less access to Accelerators, venture capital and other opportunities in the start-up space. Less than 1% of venture-funded start-ups are Black-led. We recognise that talent is everywhere, and through this programme we aim to level the playing field and combat negative racial bias.

You will also help to facilitate a programme that supports the growth of promising social enterprises that create a positive impact on society.

What are we looking for?

Useful skills and experience to have

• Project Management
• Event Management
• Partnership Building
• Communications
• Operations

Commitment

We ask volunteers to commit at least 2 days per week for at least 2 months. Whilst your contribution is on a voluntary basis, we work best with reliable people who have enough capacity to support, and are able to communicate if they are no longer able to commit.

What difference will you make?

You'll be supporting an initiative that will lead to the growth of impactful social enterprises and to the creation of more opportunities for Black founders. Your help is essential to our organisation, as we've had to severely cut our budget and staff due to the COVID-19 crisis.

What's in it for the volunteer?

• Opportunity to contribute to a pioneering initiative, the first of its kind.
• Autonomy and freedom to help shape the programme, we are a very entrepreneurial team of people and welcome your ideas.
• Chance to grow any new skills you have recently been exploring.
• Support from the Director of the Foundation if you are looking for further employment beyond The Collective Foundation: a reference, a LinkedIn recommendation, resume review, connections/introductions, etc.