One of Britain’s largest charities is sacking its entire board as part of a diversity drive after branding itself “white and privileged”.
The Tudor Foundation, which has an endowment of £288 million and received £2.35 million in government funding in 2018, wants a “more diverse group” and wants to put “social justice and anti-racism” at the heart of its work.
The group, which donates around £20 million a year through charitable donations, was founded in 1955 with the financial backing of Sir Godfrey Mitchell, founder of the construction company George Wimpey. Many of his descendants were on the board of trustees, including Matthew Dunwell and his brother Benjamin, and both will face removal.
An email from the Tudor Trust’s interim chairman, Raji Hunjan, seen by The Telegraph, reveals the charity is planning a “total reshuffle” of its family-led board. Instead, a new board of trustees and a permanent president “better represents the demographics and lived experiences of the communities we serve” will be appointed. Maintenance is expected to be completed by August 2024.
The changes follow an internal “anti-racism review” described in a press release last year as “a journey towards a better understanding of the history of racism.”
The foundation said in March that it would move away from its “long history as a family foundation” and replace its board of trustees as part of a “reimagining process.” Ms. Hunjan was appointed to oversee the transition in June, and the foundation’s website praised her “commitment to racial and social justice.”
The foundation is understood to have used diversity and inclusion consultancy Cadence Partners for its recruitment process. The group specializes in “inclusive hiring” and “building talent pipelines” for “minority ethnic, disability, gender, LGBTQ+” and lists revolutionary Marxist Angela Davis as the “voice of social justice.” The group’s other clients include the Trussell Trust and the RSPCA.
Many outsiders were also consulted in the search for the new board. This includes the co-founder of the Power & Integrity project, whose mission statement argues that “colonialism, patriarchy, and racism intersect with and support unjust social ‘norms’ that distort society “in favor of existing privileges.”
In November 2020, the foundation released a ‘Racial Justice Statement’ in response to the “disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic” and Black Lives Matter protests. The statement acknowledged the “white and privileged” profile of the current board and attributed their lack of representation to their status as a family-led foundation.
The trust funds a wide range of charities and lists donations to “a self-help charity run by racist women in Glasgow” and “CIC” in its most recent annual reports. [community interest company] “There is a gendered approach to establishing and supporting user-led support groups in Leeds”.
racial justice
Ms. Hunjan posted a statement on LinkedIn in October advertising vacancies for a permanent president and three trustees who “can center intersectional racial justice in our work.” The foundation’s decision is driven by a desire to “be governed by a more diverse group of trustees.”
The foundation listed 18 employees headquartered in its Notting Hill office in its 2022 accounting records. According to the leaked email, the organization is now “very small” and there is a public posting on the group’s website announcing “three trustees, including a presidential candidate” in its first round of recruitment. The email states that some staff have already left the organisation.
Christopher Graves, who was paid £120,000, left his role as managing director in April after 38 years of service. He did not work in any other organization.
Shilpa Shah left the board of trustees in March 2022 to take on the role of independent facilitator during the “reimagining.” Alongside chief financial officer Aabida Mohmed, he leads the “Racial Justice Organizing Group” within Tudor, which aims to “develop approaches to strengthen the psychological safety of racist colleagues.”
The foundation faced criticism in the spring after announcing it was pausing new applicants to focus on internal racial justice, citing a desire to learn about “white supremacy culture.” Grantmaking capabilities will reopen next year under the guidance of the new chairman, with applicants asked to list whether their operations are run by “BAME, deaf or disabled people”.
Grant making decisions
Baroness Tina Stowell, former chair of the Charity Commission, said: “Grant-making charitable foundations make strong contributions to charities that deliver huge benefits to people and communities. “Which charities they choose to support is a matter for each foundation, but if foundations allow controversial political agendas to begin to influence their grantmaking decisions, this can be concerning and limit the usefulness of their philanthropic efforts.”
A spokesman for the Tudor Trust said the group had “begun a well-publicised step change in its mission, which includes reviewing the charity’s granting priorities to reflect the contemporary needs of our grantee community”.
“As part of a planned evolution, the board of trustees decided to refresh the board to better represent the demographics and lived experiences of the communities we serve. We are extremely grateful to all of our trustees who have helped us get to this stage of our journey, and we encourage everyone who decides to take this opportunity to pick up the baton.” We wish you the best for the future.”