Fundraising and sustainability experts join Global Returns Project Board as charity exceeds £3 million raised to-date for climate solutions
London 11 May – The Global Returns Project (GRP), a UK charity unlocking new philanthropy to deliver urgent solutions for our planet, today announces the appointment of Stefanie Pfeil and Sofia Blount as Trustees, following a record-breaking fundraising campaign for high-impact environmental charities.
In April, GRP announced that it raised £1.6 million for high-impact environmental charities in the 2025/26 financial year, exceeding its £1 million target and hitting £3 million raised in total for its charities, to-date. This success marks the latest in a series of high-growth years for GRP, with annual fundraising for its portfolio of charities increasing from £362k (2023/24) to £586k (2024/25) to £1.64 million (2025/26).
To accelerate its momentum, GRP is delighted to welcome two new Trustees with significant experience in fundraising, sustainability, governance and strategy.
Stefanie Pfeil is the founder of Give Rise Consulting, where she works with climate organisations on fundraising strategy, philanthropy, and organisational development. She brings twenty years of experience leading development, communications and external affairs teams across the international NGO sector, including at ClientEarth, Farm Africa, the International Rescue Committee (UK) and War on Want.
Sofia Blount brings over a decade of leadership experience at the intersection of conservation, law and policy. As a Trustee of Blue Marine Foundation for eight years, she played a central role in guiding the organisation’s growth from an early-stage charity to a leading international NGO. She is currently Strategic and Policy Advisor to the Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP), and a consultant at Kanaloa, an organisation which deploys capital, expertise and influence across science, law and policy to drive enforceable ocean protection and ecological recovery. Previously, as a co-founder and director of Omnia Strategy LLP, she led complex international projects on biodiversity protection and legal reform.
Jack Chellman, CEO of the Global Returns Project, said: “We are thrilled to have Stef and Sofia on our team at this critical moment in our growth. Smashing our £1 million campaign target did not only deliver vital funding to a diverse portfolio of today’s highest impact nature and climate charities. It also put the Global Returns Project on track to unlock exponentially more funding for these organisations in the years to come. Stef and Sofia’s guidance and support will be vital for keeping us on that path to success.”
Stefanie Pfeil, Trustee of the Global Returns Project, said: “Less than 2% of global philanthropic giving goes to climate – and closing that gap has driven most of my career. I’m joining the Global Returns Project because I think making effective climate and nature giving accessible to anyone, not just institutions, is one of the most important things we can do right now.”
Sofia Blount, Trustee of the Global Returns Project, said: “From the reefs to the rainforests, nature cannot wait. The environmental crisis can often feel overwhelming, but I have seen firsthand how strategic funding, science-led conservation and committed leadership can restore ecosystems and create lasting change. Joining the Global Returns Project’s board will allow me to help direct resources towards ambitious and credible projects that protect our ocean and natural world, whilst also engaging audiences to see that environmental recovery is not just possible, but essential.”
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