Co-op Foundation appoints new senior leader
The Co-op Foundation has appointed a new Head of Funding and Partnerships as it enters an exciting new era as Co-op’s charity.
Louise Snelders will bring 20 years’ grant making experience from her previous position as Head of Funding at the National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF). In this role she oversaw a wide range of funds, while also leading the redesign of funding processing and systems.
Alongside this, Louise is also active in the charity sector, most recently spending five years as a trustee for YMCA North Tyneside, her final year of which was spent as Chair.
Her senior level appointment follows that of Nick Crofts, former Co-op Members Council President and Executive Director of Aspire Liverpool, who joined the Foundation as CEO in January 2021.
Louise said:
“The opportunity to bring my passion for collaboration and learning to the Co-op Foundation is a welcome one.
“Co-operation is at the core of the Co-op Foundation and I’m excited to work with the team to help strengthen communities and tackle inequality across the UK.
“By taking learnings from the pandemic and listening to those we work with, we can innovate how we fund, be more flexible as a funder, and create a more equitable way of supporting communities that is inclusive and values diversity.”
The Co-op Foundation is Co-op’s charity, helping people to challenge inequality and co-operate for change so they can share a fairer future.
It is currently developing a new strategy, building on its learning during Covid, that will help to establish itself as an innovative funder, while aligning closely to Co-op’s vision to co-operate for a fairer world.
Nick Crofts, CEO, Co-op Foundation said:
“Having Louise on our senior leadership team is a real coup for us. Her background working to improve communities is a perfect fit for the work we do at the Foundation to improve wellbeing, skills, and spaces across the UK. Louise will be integral in helping us build on our successes so we can move forward into a really exciting future.”
Sign up to our blog to be the first to hear about its new strategy, funding opportunities, and ways to get involved.
