ConnEx connects leading C-suite executives with charities facing their biggest transformation challenges, entirely free of charge
Nearly half of UK charities struggle to recruit and retain senior expertise. The solution? Britain’s most influential executives, volunteering the skills they’ve spent careers building.
La Fosse, the tech and transformation recruitment specialist, has relaunched ConnEx, its groundbreaking programme that connects top C-suite executives with charities that need them most, at no cost to the organisations involved.
The relaunch comes at a critical moment for the sector. Almost half (44%) of UK charities report difficulties in recruiting and retaining employees in 2025, leaving many organisations without the senior strategic expertise needed to navigate rapid digital change, growing financial pressures, and increasing demand for their services.
The official relaunch event took place on Thursday 12th February at the Natural History Museum, bringing together confirmed charity partners including Action for Children, MHA, Parkinson’s UK, RNLI and the RSPCA. Each organisation presented its transformation challenges directly to executives in attendance, who were then invited to apply to join their advisory boards on a voluntary basis, covering areas including Data and AI, cyber security, and finance transformation.
Ross Tanner, Managing Partner for La Fosse Executive, commented: “The commercial world is evolving at unprecedented speed, and charities are experiencing those same pressures. Yet the harsh reality is that many of the most influential leaders, particularly the top 1% of talent who could drive the greatest change, remain far beyond the financial reach of most third sector organisations.
“ConnEx exists to bridge that divide. By connecting world-class executive expertise with purpose-driven organisations, we’re not simply offering guidance. We’re delivering measurable impact, strengthening the sector for the future, and ensuring leadership is mobilised for good.”
Expertise where it’s needed most
ConnEx brings together executives across the full breadth of senior leadership, calling on CFOs with strategic financial and commercial insight, CTOs driving digital innovation, CISOs tackling information security and data protection threats, CDOs evangelising the use of Data and AI, CPOs building high-performing cultures, and COOs building resilient and efficient operations.
The programme has already delivered multiple successful charity-executive partnerships. The Natural History Museum is one such example, having been strategically matched with senior advisors to tackle pressing transformation challenges with expert support.
Ross added: “This is a meaningful opportunity for executives to apply their expertise for social good, connect with like-minded leaders, and find flexible advisory roles that really make a difference. We wanted to create a platform that allows people to give back in a meaningful way, but utilising the skillset they’ve built over their careers.
“For charities, it’s a gateway to strategic consultancy, cross-functional expertise, and long-term partnerships that enable more funding to reach their patrons, without the usual trade-offs.”
A bigger, bolder return
ConnEx returns larger and more ambitious than before, and at exactly the right moment. The third sector needs bold, innovative support more than ever. For executives with the capability to provide it, the opportunity to do so has never been more accessible.
“ConnEx is returning at a critical time,” Ross continued. “The third sector needs bold, innovative support more than ever and we’re proud to be meeting that need head-on. This marks a pivotal time for La Fosse as we relaunch our bigger and better pro bono offering, set to create lasting impact where it matters the most.”
Interested in becoming a future sponsorship partner, or to learn how your charity could benefit from the scheme, visit lafosse.com/pro-bono/