She splits her time between managing the first stage of the application process, assessing grants and supporting trustees with their decision-making and building relationships with grantholders. She also overseas the Foundation’s learning strategy which reflects our belief in the need for flexibility and longevity in funding systems change projects.
Jo has a background in international project management and monitoring and evaluation; developing grant proposals, managing global partnerships and designing MEL systems. Before joining the Foundation, Jo was project manager for an international development charity involved in fair finance and spent a year living in Kenya working as a fundraising advisor for a local charity. She has also worked in local government, managing a network of international relationships, and co-ordinating EU funding proposals.
Jo is on the fundraising advisory group for Refugee Action York and occasionally helps out preparing meals in the kitchen. She loves learning languages and from time to time has a go at French and Spanish- but in reality most of her spare time these days is taken up by two young sons, playing football or cars and trains!