EMF hires new head of marketing

The Ethnic Minority Foundation (EMF) has appointed its first director of marketing and fundraising in a bid to build a &£100m endowment fund to help nurture future black business leaders and professionals.

Jim Swindells joined the charity this week from animal hospital charity the Blue Cross. He had been there since 1999 and had previously worked as fundraising and communications director at the disability charity Sense.

The EMF aims to recruit 100,000 professional volunteers over the next ten years, who will not only donate to the endowment fund but will also offer their skills to help ethnic minority organisations and train individuals. So far around 20,000 people have agreed to make some contribution.

Swindells says: “The foundation was established four years ago and has been funded primarily by central government. The plan is to move on from that and build up a fund. We are seeking to recruit individual supporters who are in tune with the organisation’s goals and we also need to form a direct marketing function. One of my first tasks is to recruit an effective marketing team.”

He adds that he also aims to look for sponsorship from companies. “The issue of creating a multicultural society in which opportunities are there for all is something that will attract sponsors.”