Orla Black

Background

About Orla Black

Orla is currently Director of Grants and Fund Development for the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. She is married to Joey, and mother to Dervla, Senan, Finbarr and Fionnuala. A value based leader with extensive experience in grant making through management of 70+ funds, including on behalf of Comic Relief, NI Government Departments, Nationwide, ARN Foundation, NET, and local Community Benefit Funds. Her current role in the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland involves leading the Grants and fund development Department. This includes development of grant making policy, grant analysis, and implementation of donor care, for both new and existing donors, and line management of a large Grants and fund development team who process over applications each year, with an annual funding spend of over £8million. Orla led on the Foundation’s coronavirus response, building an initial emergency fund of to over £5million, supporting over organisations to deliver emergency and renewal support. The success of this response further led to the securing of new funds of over £30 million. Since beginning her role at the Foundation in October 2015, Orla has been instrumental in transforming and growing the Foundation’s grant making and impact, including leading on the Foundation’s efforts to be a more open and trusting grant maker, supporting the third sector to access much needed funds, flexibly and at pace. Orla is a member of the CFNI Senior Management team. Her experience in general community development, economic development, grant making, management, communications, and peace building, spans over twenty years in the community sector. She has facilitated dialogue in areas where there are political tensions, and her work has been hailed as a model of best practice. She is passionate about people and the third sector, and is a strong advocate of the value of the sector in delivering change in society.