PRA — Founder Role Trajectory

Years 1–2

Executive Chair

Year 3

Non-Exec Founding Chair

Years 4–5

Chair + Foundation Dev.

Year 5+

Foundation Chair

Phase 1

Yr 1–2

Executive Chair

Proof of Concept — Hands-on leadership and funder stewardship

Core Responsibilities

Set strategic direction and protect the model during its most vulnerable phase
Lead funder relationships — DFI engagement, seed pitch, grant compliance
Recruit and onboard the Executive Director
Chair the board and maintain governance standards from inception
Manage the Namibia launch: site, partners, first cohort
Represent PRA to NIPDB, MHETI, DFIs, and strategic allies

Key Outcomes

PoC funded and operational within 6 months of grant receipt
Executive Director recruited and functioning independently by end Year 2
Board fully constituted with all agreements signed
First MEL report delivered demonstrating measurable outcomes

↓ Operational handover to Executive Director

Phase 2

Yr 3

Non-Executive Founding Chair

Governance transition — From doing to overseeing

Core Responsibilities

Step back from daily operations; ED assumes full authority
Chair board meetings; lead annual strategy and governance review
Maintain key funder relationships at strategic level
Serve as escalation point for mission-critical decisions
Begin scoping the Phoenix Resource Foundation
Mentor next generation of PRA leadership

Key Outcomes

PRA operates independently of founder in daily decisions
Foundation concept paper drafted and board-reviewed
Second-round funding secured on PRA's track record
Values demonstrably intact — no mission drift during transition

↓ Foundation establishment begins

Phase 3

Yr 4–5

Founding Chair & Foundation Development

Building the permanent institutional home for the mission

Core Responsibilities

Legally establish the Phoenix Resource Foundation
Define Foundation mandate: mission guardianship, endowment, grant-making
Draft and ratify the Founder's Charter
Build Foundation board: 3–5 independent trustees
Transition legacy and endowment-style funding to Foundation
Plan PRA chair succession

Key Outcomes

Phoenix Resource Foundation legally established and operational
Founder's Charter ratified by both boards
Foundation endowment seeded
Clear architecture: Foundation as custodian; PRA as delivery vehicle
PRA chair succession candidate identified

↓ PRA chair handover · Foundation fully operational

Phase 4

Yr 5+

Chair, Phoenix Resource Foundation

Vision guardianship, legacy stewardship, and long-term strategic horizon

Core Responsibilities

Chair the Foundation board; set the long-term strategic horizon
Protect founding values from mission drift or governance dilution
Manage endowment and grant-making function
Represent the PRA mission in high-level forums
Commission strategic research under Foundation mandate
Advisory relationship with PRA ED — available but not operational

Key Outcomes

PRA is self-sustaining and not dependent on any single individual
Foundation holds sufficient capital to fund its mandate independently
Founder's Charter embedded in institutional culture
Next generation of African leaders within PRA ready to carry the mission

Compensation Trajectory (CHF per annum)

Years 1–2 · Executive Chair

CHF 48,000 – 60,000

Year 3 · Non-Exec Chair

CHF 24,000 – 36,000

Years 4–5 · Chair + Foundation

CHF 36,000 – 48,000

Year 5+ · Foundation Chair

Honorarium

Long-Term Governance Architecture (Year 5+)

Phoenix Resource Foundation
Mission guardianship · Endowment · Strategic research

↓

David Mercer — Founding Chair
Vision · Values · Long-term horizon

↓

Strategic direction & grant-making

↓

Phoenix Resource Association
Operational delivery · Programmes · Partnerships

↓

Independent Chair
Board governance

Executive Director
Operations & delivery

↓

NED Board · Advisory Panel · In-Country Teams

“The founder’s equity is the mission, not the salary.
The founder’s legacy is the institution, not the title.”

— Founding principle, Phoenix Resource Association