Co authored by Beth Knight, Board Chair.
In January 2024 we took a strategic step in launching the Save the Children Corporate Advisory Board (CAB). A board that we took six months to design and thoughtfully recruit, bringing together a group of extraordinary leaders from diverse industries who are committed to driving lasting change for children through impactful partnerships with business. Over a year on we’re navigating increasingly uncertain times and private sector investment is crucial. The role of our CAB is more important than ever.
Reflecting on what has been achieved so far, it’s proven itself to be more than just a board in the traditional sense - but a source of expertise, innovation, and passion. These senior leaders bring their unique skills and insights to the table, working hand-in-hand with us to tackle some of the toughest challenges facing children today. Together, we’re creating a new model for nonprofit leadership, long term impact and fundraising that has the potential to be replicated more widely in the third sector.
WHO ARE THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE BOARD?
Our Board Chair Beth Knight (Lloyds Banking Group) joined in July 2023 to spearhead the design, recruitment and launch of the CAB. Board members now include Hannah Shoesmith (Schroders), Helen Philpot (The Sun), Joanna Lim (Amazon), Justin Wilson (Salesforce), Melissa Cameron (Advent), Sachin Jogia (NED with tech and product experience), Zain Richardson (ASMALLWORLD) and Neelesh Heredia (Financial Services and Philanthropy leader). Each member brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective, and it’s this diversity of thinking that is helping us to navigate complex challenges and seize new opportunities.
HOW IS IT MAKING A DIFFERENCE?
The CAB supports Save the Children across various focus areas:
- Impactful Partnerships: The CAB facilitates collaborations that leverage corporate expertise and resources, driving initiatives across our work in education, healthcare, climate resilience and more. These partnerships are designed to create mutual benefits, ensuring that both Save the Children and our corporate partners achieve their respective goals. As an example, together with Unilever’s ice cream business in Madagascar and their partner Symrise, Save the Children is improving the livelihoods of vanilla farming communities and ensuring a strong and sustainable vanilla supply chain.
- Operational Effectiveness: By aligning corporate capabilities with Save the Children's objectives, the CAB provides advice on effective approaches to programme development and organisational efficiency. Save the Children’s newest partnership with Virgin Atlantic is a great example of using the power of Virgin Atlantic’s people and planes to support communities when disaster strikes. The board’s role is important in navigating complex environments and supporting the team to identify the most impactful commitments from corporations to support these initiatives.
Innovative Solutions: The diverse backgrounds of board members have allowed them to develop innovative problem-solving approaches. For example, using technology to enhance data transparency and emergency response strategies. By concentrating on benefits for both NGOs and corporations – such as increased brand loyalty for businesses – partnerships are becoming long-term collaborations that lead to systemic change. The partnership with GSK exemplifies the benefits of long term collaboration with our shared vision of reducing preventable deaths and illness of children under the age of five and a commitment to innovation and learning that was demonstrated at our Global Health symposium in October 2024.
Unlocking fundraising: The CAB emphasises the importance of mutually beneficial partnerships with corporations. These collaborations not only provide essential funding but also facilitate knowledge sharing and resource mobilization. For instance, our partnership with Norton Rose Fulbright has contributed critical flexible funding to Save the Children’s work, alongside valuable pro bono legal expertise that has allowed us to participate in formal investigations such as the UK Covid Inquiry to represent the impact of government decisions on children’s lives.
Sector-Specific Opportunities: Save the Children focuses on sectors that align with our mission, such as financial services, technology, healthcare, and retail. These sectors present substantial opportunities for collaboration due to their resources and commitment to social responsibility goals. The Board’s advice helps to strengthen the impact of cross-sector collaboration and fast-paced engagement amidst emergency appeals. These connections are helping Save the Children build awareness of our impact investing portfolio and climate finance propositions within targeted organisations and individuals.
Personal Advocacy: Board members actively share their experiences and the organisation's mission through their networks. This kind of personal promotion complements formal marketing and communications efforts - and can attract new donors who resonate with personal stories. For example, the Board Chair joined a trip to Kenya in November 2024 to maximise the impact of this experience for partners and the Save the Children team in Kenya.
AN APPROACH DESIGNED TO BE REPLICATED
For the reasons stated above, the success of our CAB so far is encouraging for other nonprofits to consider similar structures, but there will certainly also be other varieties of Boards that work in different contexts.
Replicating this model requires careful selection of board members who align with an organisation’s mission and values. The potential benefits, such as access to expertise and increased visibility, far outweigh the challenges. By fostering collaboration between sectors, advisory boards can help nonprofits like ours navigate an increasingly complex landscape while driving meaningful social impact.
LOOKING AHEAD
As the philanthropic landscape continues to change, we remain resilient. Excitingly we have recently extended the term for our board members and will continue to work in collaboration to help accelerate our progress towards a world where every child has the chance to thrive.
Find out more about our Corporate Advisory Board here.
