La Fosse relaunches ConnEx to link executives & charities

La Fosse has restarted ConnEx, a pro bono initiative that pairs senior executives with UK charities to provide advisory support on technology and organisational change.

The programme connects non-profit organisations with volunteer C-suite leaders specialising in critical areas such as data and AI, cybersecurity, and finance transformation. According to La Fosse, prominent charities including Action for Children and MHA have already signed up to participate.

Under the scheme, participating charities present their specific transformation challenges to the executives. Interested leaders then apply to join a charity's advisory board on a voluntary basis to help drive these projects forward.

Relaunch event

La Fosse plans a relaunch event at the Natural History Museum, which it described as a previous beneficiary of the scheme. La Fosse said the event will gather charity leaders and executives in one venue.

La Fosse is seeking further interest from both third-sector organisations and senior executives willing to volunteer their expertise. The programme specifically targets leaders with professional backgrounds in finance, technology, information security, data, people, and operations to address critical skills gaps within the charitable sector. To meet these evolving needs, La Fosse aims to recruit a diverse range of C-suite roles, including CFOs to provide strategic financial and commercial insight, and CISOs and CDOs to strengthen protection against information security and data protection threats. Additionally, the initiative is calling for CTOs, CPOs, and COOs to lead digital transformation and operational efficiency, framing these roles around specific organisational challenges to ensure charities receive targeted, high-impact support.

Sector pressures

The relaunch comes as charities report hiring and retention challenges, according to research cited by La Fosse. The company pointed to findings that 44% of UK charities report difficulties in recruiting and keeping employees in 2025.

La Fosse positioned ConnEx as a route to senior input that charities may struggle to fund through the market. It said charities face many of the same external pressures as commercial organisations.

"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," said Ross Tanner, Managing Partner, La Fosse Executive.

Advisory model

ConnEx uses an advisory board format rather than a full-time placement. La Fosse said executives apply to advise specific charities after hearing about their priorities and challenges.

The company said the programme previously generated "multiple successful charity-executive partnerships". It highlighted work with the Natural History Museum as an example of an earlier match that addressed operational challenges through expert advice.

Tanner said the programme provides a route for executives to take on flexible advisory roles with charities.

"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," said Tanner.

He said charities gain access to strategic advice and cross-functional expertise through the programme. He also linked advisory support with financial efficiency inside charities.

"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," said Tanner.

La Fosse said it expects ConnEx to focus on transformation topics that cut across technology, operating models and risk. It pointed to data and AI projects, cyber security governance and finance transformation among the areas where charities seek senior leadership input.

"ConnEx is returning at a critical time. 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," said Tanner.