The National Lottery Community Fund appoints new Chief Executive and renews its commitment to communities

Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for The National Lottery Community Fund with the appointment of a new Chief Executive and the publication of a renewed commitment to communities.

The UK’s largest community funder has today announced that David Knott has been appointed as its new Chief Executive. The move will see him taking the helm permanently after acting as interim CEO since June this year.

David joined The National Lottery Community Fund in October 2020 and brings with him considerable experience in civil society and public service. Prior to joining, he was Director for Civil Society and Youth, responsible for policy on charities, volunteering, young people, philanthropy, dormant assets, impact investment and mission-led business.

He has also worked internationally, advising on governance and public policy in more than a dozen countries, and in the private sector.

In a first move under his leadership, The National Lottery Community Fund has published Putting Communities First - Our Commitments to Communities. After 18 months dominated by providing crisis support, this sets out clearly what grant holders and other partners can expect over the coming year and sends out a strong message that the funder remains focussed on how to best support communities, particularly as they build back from the pandemic.

David has also taken the step of outlining his vision to grantees and other stakeholders in a statement published on The National Lottery Community Fund’s website today.

David Knott, newly-appointed Chief Executive of The National Lottery Community Fund, says: “Over the last five years we’ve backed more than 72,000 community projects through over £3.4bn of grants. This money is life-changing for people and communities, which is why I am delighted to be leading The National Lottery Community Fund into the next, exciting new chapter.

“As we build back from the pandemic, my commitment is to put communities first. The National Lottery Community Fund will be there to support people and communities to prosper and thrive, and we’ll redouble our efforts to have the greatest possible impact we can across the UK. As we do this, fairness and inclusion will be at the heart of our organisation. These will be my priority areas as we move forward – there for the communities we serve by being the best we can be.”

Blondel Cluff CBE, Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, says: “I am delighted to welcome David Knott as the new Chief Executive. He will lead our organisation forward and ensure that it is confident, accountable and purposeful.

“National Lottery players raise £36 million a week for good causes – we are privileged to be trusted shared custodians of this public money and to be supporting communities as they emerge from a challenging period in which the true value of community was demonstrated so vividly. We will be there to support – putting communities first in all we do. To achieve this, we must be able to demonstrate the difference we are making and to use impact evidence to shape our future direction.”

During the pandemic, in 2020 alone, The National Lottery Community Fund distributed almost £1 billion to charities and community organisations across the UK.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk