We're looking for trustees!

Join the CAST Board to enable an empowered, vocal and influential civil society, confident in their use and understanding of AI and digital.

CAST is an award-winning charity that supports the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector to use digital and AI in ways that are effective, equitable and mission-led. We combine direct support to individual organisations with work that builds stronger connections and collaboration across the wider ecosystem.

Our Board plays a key role in shaping our direction of travel, providing invaluable guidance and inspiration, introducing us to key charity, funder and government contacts - and acting as a trusted critical friend when challenge is needed.

We are currently seeking at least two new trustees who can help us to lead the sector in AI capacity building and policy influence.

We’re particularly keen to hear from people that work in small or medium-sized charities; social sector infrastructure organisations (membership bodies, funding organisations etc), as well as people with policy and government networking experience. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team, and particularly welcome applications from people currently underrepresented within our organisation and the wider sector, including people from minoritised communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people, younger people, and people from working-class or other underrepresented backgrounds.

As well as considering individual skills and experience, we know that Boards and charities work to be high-value creating teams. We’ll be thinking carefully about how applicants would contribute to the overall mix of perspectives, backgrounds and strengths across the Board and ensure we can act as one team in working towards our mission.

If you haven’t yet been a trustee and are interested, we’d be keen to support you to thrive in this role.

Please read through the information below - and if you’re interested in learning more or joining the CAST Board, please contact our Director, Dan Sutch, via email at [email protected] by 11.59pm on Friday 19th June to arrange a conversation. It would be really helpful if you could share in that email why you’re interested in joining the Board, and share your experience (perhaps your LinkedIn profile, a CV or your portfolio).

In late June / early July, we’ll hold panel interviews with our Chair, Director and one other trustee, where we’ll ask candidates to share their interest in the role; what they hope to bring to CAST and why they’re looking to support CAST’s mission.

We are aiming to appoint new trustees to join their first Board meeting in September 2026 (online).

About CAST

CAST is a UK charity working to accelerate the agency, presence and influence of social impact organisations in the technologies that affect us all. Our vision is for an empowered, resilient and influential civil society, responsive to the changing needs, behaviours and expectations of their communities, confidently using digital and AI tools to their full potential.

We work directly with charities to help them embed digital and AI tools and processes across their services, strategy and governance. We also work closely with funders, partners, digital specialists, government and sector leaders to create an environment which supports and encourages charities to explore the full potential of existing and emerging technologies.

Our context and ecosystem and the role we aim to play

CAST is committed to a networked approach whereby we maintain a relatively small team while working with and through others who share our broad goals. In serving the needs of charities and social impact organisations, we see our key collaborators as being charities and social sector organisations; sector networks, infrastructure organisations and membership bodies; trusts and foundations; specialist AI / digital consultancy and service delivery organisations and government (local and central).

We operationalise our values: we are bold, responsive, open, curious and kind.

Supporting the sector with AI

We continually sense and respond to the most critical sector needs - and as such, the majority of our work is currently focused on supporting charities and funders to address the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. We use the self-designed framework ‘Worthwhile AI’, to ensure that our use of AI aligns with our values - and to work towards championing AI that is worthwhile for all. We’re working with The Developer Society to build the sector-owned AI tool Worthwhile Chat, set for release this summer. Read on for more information on how we support charities, funders and the sector as a whole with AI.

AI support for charities

We draw on the information gleaned from our annual AI survey and internal insights engine, as well as other relevant research and our many sector touchpoints to ensure our support meets the most pressing needs. Our AI support resources include: beginner and intermediate level courses; charity-led Guides; an AI Canvas; a Spheres visual; a library of experiments, and a resource hub.

We also convene peer learning and discussion spaces for charities, including the Digital Leads Network and our Coffee Connections service. We strive to platform charity leaders at relevant events, and invite them to join us at speaking opportunities wherever possible. In addition, we’re working on a number of innovative programmes, including providing AI and diagnostic tool development support for the Investing in the Power of Civil Society pilot.

AI support for funders

We work closely with funders to help them navigate the fast-changing landscape of AI, respond to emerging challenges and opportunities - and connect with each other to share learning and reduce duplication of effort. Central to this networking element is the AI for Grantmakers group: set up by CAST in December 2023, it now comprises more than 500 members, from 375 UK trusts and foundations, who meet regularly online.

In addition, our GrantAdvisor UK platform seeks to facilitate dialogue between grantseekers and grantmakers - and we are currently building AI-powered grant assessment, diagnostic and learning tools with both regional and national funders.

AI: strengthening relationships - and advocating for the sector

Neither our charity nor our funder work operates in isolation: non-confidential insights are shared between the Digital Leads Network and the AI for Grantmakers groups. Last year, we also began working with IVAR to strengthen communication between charities and grantmakers, with the ultimate aim of empowering more confident, robust and well-informed responses to AI across the board.

We also worked with Zoe Amar to launch the Charity AI Task Force, championing the responsible, inclusive and collaborative use of AI across the sector. In May 2025, CAST co-authored and managed the delivery of a response to the government's AI Opportunities Action Plan, calling for immediate engagement with the VCSE sector - which resulted in direct and ongoing contact with the Head of AI Adoption, Governance and Skills for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

This is just a snapshot of CAST’s work; you can read more in our latest impact report, and explore all of our work on our website. You can also view our latest published accounts here.

Moving forward, we’re keen to ensure that the sector’s critical AI capacity is further strengthened and that there is greater policy influence building from the lives and experiences of VCSEs and the communities they support. If you believe you can help us do that as part of our Board, we’d love to hear from you!

How CAST is funded and governed

CAST was established as an independent charity in 2015 with seed funding from Nominet Trust. It has a mixed income model with funding from charities, trusts, foundations and business in the form of grants, sponsorship and consultancy contracts.

CAST’s current Board is composed of four trustees, with broad experience across the social sector, AI, data services, social impact - and digital strategy, transformation and solutions. The Board is chaired by Gaia Ines Fassò. Quarterly Board meetings, deeper dive sessions to address particular opportunities or needs and a dedicated Finance & Audit committee ensure that the charity is well managed and well governed.

We are now looking to appoint at least two new trustees to create a Board of at least six committed trustees to support CAST’s work.

Recruiting new trustees

We are looking to appoint at least two new trustees, whose role would be to:

  • Support the creation and ensure the delivery of CAST’s strategy and annual budget
  • Approve CAST's annual report and accounts
  • Ensure that CAST’s work remains relevant to the evolving needs of charities and social impact organisations
  • Support CAST and our partners to expand the reach of digital and AI initiatives across the charity sector
  • Guide, support and monitor the work of the Director and senior leadership team
  • Ensure legal compliance including with regulatory requirements and contractual or restricted grant arrangements
  • Protect the long-term sustainability of CAST
  • Promote the work of CAST externally
  • Always act in line with the six key duties of a trustee.

This recruitment will supplement CAST’s Board with fresh experience and thinking, in order to make a positive impact on strategy-setting and decision-making. With this in mind, if you align with CAST’s values and mission, and believe you fit the role description, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

CAST is committed to having a Board that represents a diverse range of thinking, backgrounds and perspectives. We’re looking for all trustees to have a commitment towards CAST as an equitable and inclusive organisation.

Trustees must all demonstrate the following competencies:

  • Sound strategic direction and judgement: trustees must be forward thinking, risk aware and able to draw on a wide range of factors when decision-making
  • Commitment: we need trustees able to devote the necessary time to prepare for meetings and to participate actively in achieving the mission of CAST
  • Team working: trustees must be committed to working with other Board (and, where relevant, committee) members to act in the best interests of CAST.

Trustees must all demonstrate the following personal qualities:

  • Integrity: trustees must show integrity in all dealings with the CAST team and stakeholders
  • Passion: we’re looking for those with conviction about the social sector and a passion and intellectual interest in the use of digital and AI to achieve greater resilience and impact
  • Inventive and agile: trustees must be open to new and network-based models of working and appreciative of the multi-stakeholder governance issues surrounding CAST.

Our trustees are vital volunteers supporting CAST’s work and we are incredibly grateful for all the time and expertise they share with us. We’d hope that not only bringing your skills and qualities to CAST, that you will also benefit through learning more about the running of a charity, charity governance, finance and strategy, as well as the evolving digital and AI landscape.

Time commitment

The aim is to keep CAST’s Board as a small group of six committed and engaged trustees bringing skills, expertise and networks, working positively together and with the CAST team. This will mean time preparing and taking part in Board and Committee meetings, yet also working with individuals outside of the formal meeting. We are therefore looking for individuals who are able to commit to the time needed. We estimate this as 8 - 10 days per year for trustees including Committee members. Based upon:

  • Board meetings x 4 with one a year in person for extended strategy work = 3 days
    • assuming 0.5 days for 2 meetings and 1 day each for two meetings such as those that require more extensive reading, or in-person attendance.
    • 3 days (with the expectation of being able to attend a minimum of 3 meetings per year.)
  • Members of committee 4x meetings = 2 days (with the expectation of being able to attend a minimum of 3 meetings per year)
  • Additional contribution approx. 1 day per quarter = 4 days
    • 121s with CAST team/attending team meetings contributing specific expertise
    • Representing CAST
    • Annual 121 with Chair

The majority of time will be remote with at least one Board meeting a year in person, usually in a central London location, and usually in early December.

This role is offered on a voluntary basis. All travel and subsistence expenses relating to trustee duties and responsibilities will be reimbursed in full, up to the limits set out in our expenses policy.

Process

If you are interested in learning more or joining the CAST Board, please contact our Director, Dan Sutch, via email at [email protected] by 11.59pm on Friday 19th June to arrange a conversation. It would be really helpful if you could share in that email why you’re interested in joining the Board, and share your experience (perhaps your LinkedIn profile, a CV or your portfolio). We’ll arrange these calls on a rolling basis throughout May and June.

In late June / early July, we’ll hold panel interviews with our Chair, Director and one other trustee, where we’ll ask candidates to share their interest in the role; what they hope to bring to CAST and why they’re looking to support CAST’s mission.

We are aiming to appoint new trustees to join their first Board meeting in September 2026 (online).