Katie Boswell

Katie uses her skills as an applied researcher, skilled facilitator and systems thinker to support organisations to understand the change they want to see and how to get there. She uses approaches such as theory of change, user involvement, strategy and systems change to get to the heart of issues and the role that organisations can most effectively play. Since joining NPC in 2015, she has worked with clients including DCMS, The Health Foundation, Scope, Macmillan, The Elders, London Funders, The Robertson Trust, Power to Change and Friends Provident Foundation.

Katie is passionate about centring lived experience and justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) throughout the social sector. She is currently part of a task and finish group to embed diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within NPC’s consulting practices as well as a working group on JEDI at Finance Innovation Lab, where she is a Trustee. She regularly works with clients to think through these issues, from supporting a large corporate to integrate DEI in its grantmaking to facilitating workshops with a community organisation working with refugee women on how to meaningfully centre lived experience. She also co-authored NPC’s guidance on rebalancing power dynamics in grantmaking.

Katie is a firm believer in the power of thinking and acting more systematically to tackle the root causes of complex social issues. In 2018, she worked with Lankelly Chase Foundation to gather practical insights on systems change, which were shared in Thinking big: How to use theory of change for systems change. In 2020-2022, she led our research and learning partnership with Fulfilling Lives Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham to map the system around adults experiencing multiple disadvantage and understand how the system can change. She has authored NPC reports on funding systemically to tackle homelessness, collaborating for a cause, and our framework for Place.

Before joining NPC Katie gained ten years’ experience in grant-making, research and consultancy. At One World Children’s Fund she managed a programme that partnered with community-based organisations in over twenty countries. She has worked and studied in the UK, USA and India. In 2013, she completed a Masters in Development Management, during which she specialised in institutional development, social research methods, education, and human rights. Katie is a Trustee of the Finance Innovation Lab, which aims to transform the financial system so that it works for people and planet.

You can find Katie on LinkedIn.

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Pronouns: She/Her. Pronunciation: KAY-tee BOZ-well

Why I work for NPC

‘NPC is at the forefront of vital debates about the social sector and everyone in the team is passionate about making a difference to people and communities.’