Trustee spotlight: Alex Schaafsma - Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

The latest in our series of interviews with our Trustees, here we talk to Alex Schaafsma.

Alex is a relatively new Trustee, joining the Foundation in 2024. A qualified solicitor, Alex is a partner at Birketts LLP, a national law firm with a large office in Cambridge.

Trustees at Cambridgeshire Community Foundation provide a vital role – supporting and shaping our work and strategic direction to ensure that we are providing the best possible support to local non-profit organisations and our community.

Alex is now a core part of that team. We asked her what motivated her to become a Trustee with us:

“I very much like to be part of my community and I feel it is important to contribute where you can.” Alex tells us. “When I was younger I did a lot of fundraising for charities through physical challenges – I’m a bit old for that now, so I feel this is a really great way to still be involved.”

Inspired by others

Over the last year, we awarded almost £4 million in grants to a wide variety of projects across the county. This breadth of reach and impact is really important to Alex. She tells us, “The Foundation supports a lot of smaller charities that perform a really important role, but otherwise wouldn’t get much funding.”

Alex goes on to tell us that she never fails to be surprised at “how many fantastic people are out there doing amazing things for other people and expecting nothing in return.” Continuing that “Everyone knows about major charities and those with big profiles, but there are actually so many out there that people aren’t generally aware of – just quietly getting on with trying to help others.”

If, like Alex, you’d like to use your time to support local causes across our county, we are currently looking for new Trustees to join our Board.

“
The Foundation supports lots of smaller charities that otherwise wouldn’t get much funding.
”
Alex Schaafsma
Trustee, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

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