A new venture set up by Sturgeon Capital, the Sturgeon Foundation will provide support and opportunities for women and the underprivileged to access education linked to a career in technology. The Foundation will formalise Sturgeon Capital's scholarship program in the countries where it invests, namely Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. 50% of the Foundation's funds will be reserved specifically for scholarships for women. The remaining 50% will be available for underprivileged students, both men and women, whose families earn less than the median level of income in their country. 

The Sturgeon Foundation believes that no individual should be prevented from achieving their potential simply because of the circumstances of their birth. To address this, the Foundation will provide full or partial scholarships in partnership with local and international universities, colleges, and academies with a focus on tech-related courses. The level of support will depend on the type and duration of course, which can vary from multi-year university degrees to shorter college or academy courses over the space of a few months. Emphasis will be placed on developing practical skills that maximise the employment and career opportunities after graduation.

In the initial stage, the Sturgeon Foundation will be funded by a commitment from Sturgeon Capital through the management fees that it receives on its funds. Today Sturgeon Capital manages $275m, and will be launching another $75-100m fund in the middle of 2022. This growth means that by 2024, the Sturgeon Foundation could be receiving up to $500k per year to allocate to scholarship programs. This is an exciting opportunity to join a new charity at its formative stage. 

The Board of Trustees is the Foundation's governing body, and is responsible for determining its character and mission, and for overseeing its activities.

The Board is responsible for the effective, efficient and economical use of the Foundation's funds. It sets and monitors the Foundation's strategic direction to ensure the sustainable delivery of its core objectives.

As it develops and then expands, Sturgeon Foundation is seeking Trustees who will provide guidance and appropriate constructive criticism.

As the Sturgeon Foundation looks to formalise a previously ad hoc emerging markets-scholarship program, it seeks two Trustees to join its Board. One will bring senior experience in education grants, and the other will bring senior experience in managing relationships between charities and corporates.

Education Grants. The successful candidate will have a background in educational grant / scholarship giving, will know how to choose students, and with which organisations to prioritise collaborating. More generally, they will help to 'sense check' the Foundation's work. They could have experience at a reputable / leading institution in one of the Sturgeon Foundation's target markets, but this is not essential. Ideally, they would have an interest in tech and / or start-ups. As improving prospects for women is a key part of its goal, the Foundation particularly welcomes applications from women.

Corporate / Charity Relationships. The successful candidate will have a background in educational grant / scholarship giving, will know how to choose students, and with which organisations to prioritise collaborating. More generally, they will help to 'sense check' the Foundation's work. They could have experience at a reputable / leading institution in one of the Sturgeon Foundation's target markets, but this is not essential. Ideally, they would have an interest in tech and / or start-ups. As improving prospects for women is a key part of its goal, the Foundation particularly welcomes applications from women.

Although the final terms of appointment are yet to be finalised, the term length is likely to be three years, renewable once. Meetings are likely to be quarterly, and the Trustees will received extensive support from Sturgeon Capital. Reasonable, pre-agreed domestic expenses will be reimbursed.