Comic Relief welcomes new grants director

5th June 2017

Ruth Ruderham has been appointed as Comic Relief’s new grants director.

Ruth joins Comic Relief in July, and will bring a fresh and ambitious approach to our grant making work. Helping to improve how charitable funds are spent and ensuring the money raised has the best long term impact changing people’s lives.

Ruth brings 15 years of experience of leadership roles in the charity sector and has been instrumental in transforming some of the UK’s best known charities, including Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth and the Princes Trust International as well as helping to build up one of the UK’s largest ever start up charities, Canal & River Trust.

Liz Warner, CEO Comic Relief, said: “Ruth brings the leadership, ambition and vision needed to ensure that Comic Relief has the biggest possible long term impact on people’s lives. She shares our determination that the money we raise works as hard as possible to help those who need it most. She is passionate about driving real, sustainable change.

“Ruth also recognises how new technology and digital communications can transform how we raise and spend money. And what I like about her is that she sees the vital importance of having even more dialogue with the organisations we invest in and the people we fund and work with. She believes in being collaborative and working in partnership.”

Ruth Ruderham said “I am delighted to be joining Comic Relief at such an exciting time. I have known and admired the work of Comic Relief throughout my career, not just because of the huge difference they have made to issues of global poverty and social injustice through their grant making, but also because of the vital role they have played in raising awareness of these issues with the UK public.

“To join the leadership team that will review and update the way we engage – from our grant making process to our communication channels and messages – is an incredible challenge and one that I am excited to accept.”