Chair

The William Syson Foundation is seeking an exceptional candidate to join its Board of Trustees as Chair. Established in 2012 by Scottish banker and arts enthusiast William Syson, the Foundation is dedicated to the advancement of arts, heritage and culture in Scotland. Following a significant bequest in 2019, the Foundation now manages assets of approximately £14 million and distributes around £500,000 annually to support the sector.

This is a pivotal moment to lead a specialist arts sector grant-maker that has awarded nearly £3 million since 2020. As Chair, you will provide strategic leadership to a Board of four Trustees and a dedicated staff team of two, ensuring the delivery of a newly defined medium-term strategy. This strategy focuses on enriching lives through the delivery of professional arts, prioritising entrepreneurialism, skills retention and access for young people.

The Board plays an active role in grant-making, and the Chair will help guide discussion and decision-making in this area. We are therefore looking for a Chair who can combine strong governance with a deep commitment to the Scottish arts landscape and the ability to support the effective delivery of the Foundation’s strategic priorities.

Who we are

The William Syson Foundation is an Edinburgh-based charity and specialist arts grant-maker dedicated to benefiting the people of Scotland. Founded by William Syson, a banker with a profound love for music and the visual arts, the Foundation carries forward his legacy of extraordinary generosity. Our core objective is the advancement of arts, heritage and culture, ensuring the practice and enjoyment of disciplines including music, theatre, literature and the visual arts.

We operate through three distinct grant programmes: a Small Grants Fund for awards up to £5,000, a multi-year Core Support Fund for strategic priorities and the Beatrice Huntington Award for Cellists. Since 2020, we have awarded almost £3 million, funded by returns from our £14 million unrestricted investment portfolio. We pride ourselves on transparency, publishing our grant data through the 360Giving Data Standard. Our small, professional team consists of a Foundation Manager and a Grants Manager who handle day-to-day operations under the strategic guidance of our Board. We aim to inspire and empower, removing barriers so every young person in Scotland can access quality professional arts.

About the role

As Chair, you will provide critical leadership to both the Board of Trustees and the staff team, ensuring the Foundation remains focused on its mission and supports the effective delivery of its strategic plan.

You will lead a Board that maintains high standards of governance, ensuring the charity operates legally and effectively as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Working alongside four fellow Trustees, you will exercise responsible stewardship over the Foundation’s £14 million in assets to maintain long-term grant-making capabilities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and monitoring the Foundation’s strategic direction in collaboration with the staff.
• Ensuring the Foundation remains focused on its mission and supports the effective delivery of its strategic plan.
• Chairing quarterly Board meetings in Edinburgh, away days and sub-committees.
• Managing the performance of the Foundation Manager and Grants Manager.
• Representing the Foundation as an ambassador at functions and events.
• Leading Trustee recruitment to strengthen the Board’s skills and diversity.
• Playing a central role in shaping and making grant decisions across our Small Grants and Core Support funds.

Your leadership will directly impact the sustainability and resilience of the Scottish arts sector.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a leader with an active interest in the arts and a deep understanding of the issues currently facing the sector in Scotland. The ideal candidate will possess significant experience as a Board Member, ideally within the charitable sector, and a strong grasp of charity governance and management in Scotland. You will have a proven track record in setting strategic direction and the ability to think creatively within an organisation’s external environment.

Essential qualities and skills include:

• Sound, independent judgement and the ability to balance tact with constructive challenge.
• Experience in monitoring financial performance and understanding complex financial data.
• Strong leadership skills to manage a staff team and guide a professional Board.
• An ability to work effectively with a small team, demonstrating sound judgement in relation to organisational capacity and priorities.
• The capability to act as an effective ambassador and build relationships with national bodies and partners.

Grant-making experience, an understanding of financial and property investments, and experience in organisation building or growing an entity are desirable. Above all, you should share a passion for enriching lives through the professional delivery of arts and heritage.

Time commitment: 1-1.5 days per month.