A new chapter: reflecting on 20 years as Director

After more than 20 years at Friends Provident Foundation, I will retire from my role as Director in 2027. Reaching this milestone has prompted a great deal of reflection – on the people I have worked alongside, the partnerships we have built, and the collective ambition for a fair economy that has shaped the Foundation’s work over the years.

I have been so fortunate in having 20 years of Trustees who were my first colleagues, guides and supporters. Together, they consistently challenged and inspired us to think bigger, reach higher. Their generosity and commitment have been central to anything that has been achieved. Together, we have held fast to a shared purpose: creating a world where money and finance serve a fair and sustainable society.

I have also had the privilege of working with a small but exceptional staff team. Their expertise – spanning grants, capital markets and social investment, communications and operations – has enabled the Foundation to use all its assets with intention and integrity. Their willingness to rise to challenges has made work a joy.

From our beginning in 2004, Friends Provident Foundation has sought out fellow travellers, both in the UK and internationally. Collaboration has been one of our greatest strengths. In the UK, we have co-designed and co-funded grant programmes with Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Barrow Cadbury Foundation and City Bridge Foundation.

We have co-invested in impact alongside Resolution Foundation, Better Society Capital, JRF and Panaphur. We have taken part in, and at times led, shareholder resolutions through the Charity Responsible Investment Network.

Alongside funding and investing in others, we have also taken direct action to create new ways of working that have shaped the wider sector: the Foundation Practice Rating, the decade-long Financial Inclusion Monitoring report, and the Investing Olympics/Endowments Investing Challenge among them. Each of these initiatives reflects a belief that change happens faster and more effectively when we work in partnership.

This combination of strong governance, dedicated staff and purposeful collaboration means the Foundation is exceptionally well placed for an exciting new chapter. The next decade holds enormous potential for the organisation to deepen its impact and continue pushing the boundaries of what philanthropy and investment can achieve.

As I look ahead to my final year in post, I do so with pride in what we have built together and confidence in what comes next. It has been an honour to play a part in the Foundation’s story – and I look forward to seeing how the next chapter unfolds.

Danielle Walker Palmour  

August 2026 

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The Board of Trustees, led by Caroline Taylor, is recruiting a CEO to build on this remarkable legacy. Starfish Search has been appointed to lead the recruitment process, which will launch in early Autumn.