United Kingdom · Sustainability · Senior (5-8 years)

Senior Community Investment Coordinator

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

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One email: what AI is changing in this job, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandSenior (5-8 years)
  • Direct reportsNo direct reports
  • Reports toCommunity Investment Manager
  • UK framework levelUsually a professional owning their own work, or leading a small team

Also advertised as Senior Social Impact Specialist · Community Programmes Lead · CSR Project Manager

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

LRN Level 4 Diploma in European Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurship Learning Resource Network · Level 4 · covers 1 of 12 standards
OCNLR Level 4 Award in Social Media Marketing OCN London · Level 4 · covers 1 of 12 standards
OCNLR Level 4 Diploma in Digital Marketing OCN London · Level 4 · covers 1 of 12 standards
IAO Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management Innovate Awarding · Level 5 · covers 1 of 12 standards
OCNLR Level 4 Certificate in Business Administration OCN London · Level 4 · covers 1 of 12 standards
ISM Level 5 Diploma in Sales (RQF) Institute of Sales Management · Level 5 · covers 1 of 12 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Social Media Marketing Management LRN Level 4 Diploma in European Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Social Media Marketing OCNLR Level 4 Award in Social Media Marketing
Implementing a Corporate Social Responsibility strategy IAO Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management
Corporate Social Responsibility OCNLR Level 4 Certificate in Business Administration
Develop working relationships with stakeholders ISM Level 5 Diploma in Sales (RQF)

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Sustainability Fluency building care for people and planet into the work
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Senior Community Investment Coordinator

5 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Social Media Marketing Management Learning Resource Network · covers 1 of 12 standards Level 4
  2. Social Media Marketing OCN London · covers 1 of 12 standards Level 4
  3. Implementing a Corporate Social Responsibility strategy Innovate Awarding · covers 1 of 12 standards Level 5
  4. Corporate Social Responsibility OCN London · covers 1 of 12 standards Level 4
  5. Develop working relationships with stakeholders Institute of Sales Management · covers 1 of 12 standards Level 5
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Senior Community Investment Coordinator?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • AI-Assisted Impact Storytelling
  • Systems Thinking for Social Change
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Senior Community Investment Coordinator plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

3What this role really is

A Senior Community Investment Coordinator runs the partnerships and programmes that turn a company's community commitments into real work on the ground. The job means managing key relationships and making sure money and time spent lead to real change, balancing social impact with organisational goals.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Benevity / YourCause (by Blackbaud) / CyberGrants Advanced

Configuring grant cycles, building custom reports on programme performance, managing partner data, and training non-profit users on how to use the portal for applications and reporting. You'll be the expert user for your programmes.

Asana / Monday.com / Trello Expert

Building complex project plans for signature programmes from scratch, creating automations to streamline workflows, managing team capacity (informally, for junior mentees), and building reporting dashboards to track progress across multiple initiatives.

Creating complex financial models for programme budgets, cleaning and manipulating raw data from partners, and building robust analyses to track KPIs and demonstrate impact. You'll be going beyond basic spreadsheets.

Tableau / Power BI Advanced

Building interactive dashboards to track programme KPIs, visualising impact data for reports, and creating compelling data stories for internal leadership presentations. You'll be designing these, not just using pre-built ones.

Microsoft PowerPoint Advanced

Creating compelling narratives and visual presentations for senior internal audiences and external stakeholders, communicating complex impact stories clearly and persuasively.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Grant Approval (new partner) No independent approval. Prepares initial screening report for supervisor. Recommends partners up to £10,000; requires Manager approval. Recommends partners up to £25,000; requires Manager approval. Can approve smaller, routine renewals up to £5,000 after manager consultation.
Programme Budget Adjustments Escalates all budget change requests to supervisor. Can propose minor reallocations within a programme budget (up to £2,000) with Manager consultation. Can recommend budget adjustments up to £10,000 within assigned programmes; requires Manager approval for anything larger or outside programme scope.
Partner Relationship Management All partner communication reviewed by supervisor. Escalates all issues. Manages routine partner communications and minor issues independently; escalates significant challenges to Manager. Manages all aspects of key partner relationships independently, including resolving most issues. Consults Manager on high-risk or highly visible partner challenges.
Programme Design Changes Suggests minor improvements to existing activities to supervisor. Proposes and implements minor programme activity changes within existing framework, with Manager approval. Designs and implements new programme components or initiatives within strategic focus areas. Requires Manager approval for significant new programme launches or major strategic shifts.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Programme Budget Adherence
Managing the budget for your assigned signature programmes and ensuring spending stays within agreed limits.
Target · Within +/- 5% of allocated programme budget

If your programme has a £250,000 annual budget, you'll aim to spend between £237,500 and £262,500 by year-end, with clear justifications for any variance.

Key Partner Impact Reporting Rate
Ensuring our non-profit partners submit their impact reports on time and with complete data, which is crucial for our own reporting.
Target · 95% of key partner impact reports submitted by deadline

For 10 key partners, you'd ensure 9 out of 10 reports are in by the due date, chasing up the stragglers politely but firmly.

Employee Volunteer Engagement (for owned programmes)
The proportion of employees participating in volunteer opportunities linked to your specific programmes.
Target · Achieve 85% of target sign-ups for coordinated volunteer events within your programmes

If a programme needs 50 volunteers for a specific event, you'd aim to get at least 43-44 confirmed sign-ups, working with the volunteer lead.

Strategic Alignment of Programme Spend
Ensuring that the funds allocated to your programmes directly contribute to our defined strategic focus areas (e.g., STEM education, environmental conservation).
Target · 95% of new grant dollars allocated to strategic focus areas

If we're focusing on 'youth employability', you'd ensure almost all your new grants go to organisations directly addressing that, not just general charity.

Depth of Partner Relationships
Building genuine, trusted relationships with our non-profit partners, moving beyond a transactional funder-recipient dynamic.
  • Partners proactively seek your advice or input on their challenges
  • they feel comfortable sharing honest feedback (good or bad)
  • you're seen as a reliable and supportive resource, not just a 'corporate ATM'. You'll get informal feedback from your manager and partners.
Programme Design & Innovation
Developing and refining community programmes that are effective, innovative, and truly address identified needs, not just 'copy-pasting' old ideas.
  • Programmes you lead demonstrate clear logic models and theories of change
  • positive feedback from community partners on programme relevance
  • successful pilots of new approaches
  • your manager sees you bringing fresh ideas to the table.
Internal Stakeholder Influence
Effectively influencing internal teams (Marketing, Legal, Finance) to support and collaborate on your community programmes.
  • Internal teams respond promptly to your requests
  • they proactively offer support or resources
  • you're invited to cross-functional planning meetings
  • your manager observes you navigating internal politics successfully to get things done.
Mentorship & Team Support
Providing valuable guidance and support to junior team members, helping them develop their skills and navigate challenges.
  • Junior colleagues seek your advice
  • your manager observes you providing constructive feedback during code reviews or project discussions
  • you actively share knowledge and best practices with the team.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Making a Tangible Difference

You'll feel most energised when you see the direct results of your work – a community centre opening, children learning new skills, or a local environmental project thriving. You're driven by the real-world impact, not just the numbers.

Seeing photos of a newly renovated playground you helped fund, or getting a thank you email from a non-profit partner after a successful programme launch.

Building Meaningful Relationships

You genuinely enjoy connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, whether it's a community leader, a non-profit CEO, or an internal colleague. You thrive on collaboration and the shared purpose of working towards a common goal.

Spending an afternoon on a 'site visit' with a partner, discussing their challenges and successes, or successfully bringing together disparate internal teams for a joint volunteer initiative.

Solving Complex Social Challenges

You're not looking for easy answers. You're drawn to the challenge of understanding deep-seated social or environmental problems and figuring out how our company's resources can be part of a sustainable solution, even if it's just a small piece of a bigger puzzle.

Researching new approaches to youth unemployment in a specific region and designing a programme that genuinely addresses the root causes, rather than just superficial symptoms.

What frustrates people
  • The 'Feel-Good' Metrics Trap: Being pressured by Marketing to report on vanity metrics (e.g., 'number of likes') instead of the deep, outcome-based metrics that actually matter.
  • Budget Whiplash: Your programmes are often seen as discretionary, making them the first to be cut during a tough quarter, forcing you to break promises to community partners.
  • Quantifying the Unquantifiable: Constantly battling to justify your budget to finance leaders who want a hard ROI on everything. Explaining the long-term brand value of community trust is an uphill battle.
  • The 'Pet Project' Problem: A senior executive returning from a gala and wanting to fund their spouse's favourite charity, even if it has zero alignment with the company's established community strategy.
  • Data Scavenger Hunt: Chasing down non-profit partners (who are already overworked and understaffed) for quarterly impact reports and data that your grant management system requires.
What this role does not give you
  • A perfectly predictable, routine workday – expect curveballs.
  • Unlimited budget to pursue every worthy cause.
  • Direct control over large teams or significant financial assets (you'll influence, not command).
  • An environment where every single project you start makes it to full deployment.

8Who you work with

This role directly shapes our company's reputation as a responsible corporate citizen. Your work ensures our community investments are strategic, effective, and avoid 'impact washing', which in turn helps build brand loyalty, attract top talent, and satisfy investor expectations around ESG performance. Get it right, and we're seen as a leader; get it wrong, and we risk public backlash and a damaged reputation.

Inside the business
  • Community Investment Manager (your direct boss)
  • Marketing & Communications team (for telling our story)
  • Finance team (for budget approvals and payments)
  • Legal team (for grant agreements and due diligence)
  • Employee Volunteer Programme Lead (for coordinating staff involvement)
Outside the business
  • Key non-profit partners (our primary collaborators)
  • Community leaders and local government representatives
  • Industry peers and sustainability networks

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Proven track record (5+ years) in community investment, CSR, or non-profit programme management, ideally within a corporate setting or a large charity working with corporate partners.
  • Demonstrable experience in leading and managing complex projects or programmes from conception to completion, including budget oversight and impact reporting.
  • Strong experience in building and managing relationships with diverse external stakeholders, particularly non-profit organisations and community leaders.
  • Advanced proficiency in grant management software (e.g., Benevity, YourCause) and project management tools (e.g., Asana, Monday.com).
  • A solid understanding of impact measurement methodologies and the ability to translate data into compelling stories.
  • Experience mentoring or informally guiding junior colleagues, providing constructive feedback and support.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced Data Visualisation & Dashboarding

Simply presenting data isn't enough anymore; senior leaders and external stakeholders need to quickly grasp complex information. The ability to create highly interactive, insightful, and aesthetically pleasing dashboards that tell a clear story is becoming critical for demonstrating impact and influencing decisions.

Principles of effective data storytelling · Advanced features in Tableau/Power BI (e.g., param · User experience (UX) design for dashboards · Automated data refresh and integration with grant · Accessibility considerations for visualisations

  • This month: Take an online course on advanced Tableau or Power BI dashboard design. Focus on interactivity and user experience.
  • Next quarter: Redesign an existing programme dashboard, incorporating new features and feedback from your manager on clarity and impact.
  • Month 3-6: Explore how to integrate data directly from our grant management system into your dashboards, reducing manual data export/import.
  • Month 6-12: Present your improved dashboard to senior leadership, actively seeking feedback on its effectiveness in communicating impact.

Quick win: Identify one key metric that's currently hard to understand in a report. Create a simple, clear visualisation for it using your existing tools.

Low-Code/No-Code Automation for Workflows

Many routine administrative tasks in community investment—like sending follow-up emails, scheduling meetings, or triggering internal approvals—can be automated. Learning low-code/no-code platforms (e.g., Microsoft Power Automate, Zapier) will free up significant time, allowing you to focus on strategic work and partner engagement.

Workflow mapping and process optimisation · Trigger-action automation logic · Integration capabilities between different softwar · Error handling and monitoring automated workflows · Data security and privacy in automated processes

  • This month: Identify one repetitive task you do weekly (e.g., sending reminder emails for reports). Research how it could be automated using a tool like Zapier or Power Automate.
  • Next quarter: Build a simple automation for that task. Start small, test it thoroughly, and document the process.
  • Month 3-6: Explore how to automate data transfer between two different systems you use (e.g., pulling partner contact info from one system to another).
  • Month 6-12: Share your automation successes with the wider team, inspiring others to find similar efficiencies.

Quick win: Set up a simple email automation for recurring internal notifications or reminders. It's usually straightforward and provides immediate benefit.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Attending industry conferences and webinars on CSR, social impact, and sustainable development (e.g., Ethical Corporation, Responsible Business Summit).
  • Participating in professional networks focused on corporate community investment to share best practices and learn from peers.
  • Taking online courses or workshops on advanced data visualisation, impact measurement methodologies, or stakeholder engagement strategies.
  • Volunteering for a non-profit organisation in a governance or advisory role to gain deeper insight into their operations and challenges.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI-Assisted Impact Storytelling

With the sheer volume of data and stories coming from our programmes, manually synthesising it all for compelling reports is becoming unsustainable. AI tools are rapidly improving at identifying themes, drafting narratives, and even suggesting visualisations, allowing us to communicate impact faster and more effectively.

  • Natural Language Processing (NLP) for qualitative
  • Generative AI for report drafting and summarisatio
  • Ethical considerations of AI in storytelling (avoi
  • Data visualisation best practices with AI assistan
  • Prompt engineering for specific narrative outcomes

Systems Thinking for Social Change

Many social and environmental problems are interconnected and complex. Simply funding individual projects isn't enough; we need to understand the wider system to create lasting change. This means moving beyond isolated interventions to understanding root causes and influencing multiple levers within a system.

  • Interconnectedness and feedback loops in social sy
  • Identifying leverage points for maximum impact
  • Understanding unintended consequences of intervent
  • Collaborative approaches to systemic change
  • Mapping complex stakeholder ecosystems

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Impact Measurement & Management (IMM)
  • Theory of Change / Logic Models
  • Grantmaking & Due Diligence
  • Stakeholder Mapping & Engagement
  • Materiality Assessment Principles

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Mid-Level Community Investment Coordinator (Internal Promotion)

    3-5 years as a Coordinator

    Skills to master

    • Flawless execution of routine grant cycles, strong initial partner relationships, accurate data collection and basic reporting, proactive problem-solving for programme delivery.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully managed at least one full community programme from start to finish with minimal supervision.
    • Consistently met all reporting deadlines and budget targets for assigned projects.
    • Received positive feedback from non-profit partners on your responsiveness and support.
    • Demonstrated initiative in identifying and proposing solutions to programme challenges.
  2. 2

    Programme Manager (Large Non-Profit / Charity)

    5-7 years in a non-profit programme management role

    Skills to master

    • Experience managing complex projects with diverse funding sources, strong understanding of non-profit operations and challenges, excellent stakeholder engagement skills (funders, beneficiaries, board members).

    You're ready to move on when

    • Managed programmes with budgets of £100,000+ and demonstrable impact.
    • Experience reporting to diverse funding bodies (corporate, government, foundations).
    • Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with community stakeholders.
    • Comfortable with both strategic planning and hands-on programme delivery.
  3. 3

    CSR/Sustainability Analyst (Consultancy)

    4-6 years in a sustainability or CSR consultancy role

    Skills to master

    • Strong analytical skills, experience with materiality assessments and ESG reporting frameworks, client management, presentation skills, understanding of corporate sustainability strategies.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Contributed to multiple client projects focused on CSR strategy or impact measurement.
    • Experience translating complex data into clear, actionable recommendations.
    • Comfortable presenting findings to senior client stakeholders.
    • Good understanding of how corporate sustainability initiatives integrate with business goals.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to managing a wider community investment portfolio and team, or into a director-level role covering sustainability and social impact.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Senior Community Investment Coordinator is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Social Media Marketing Management, worked against Senior Community Investment Coordinator.

Social Media Marketing Management Level 4

Applied to your work in Senior Community Investment Coordinator

This unit aims to provide learners with an understanding of social media marketing management, including the importance of a well-defined strategy and the generation and monitoring of campaign metrics. Learners will explore the benefits of demographic targeting and A/B testing in social media marketing. This will enable them to effectively manage and optimise social media campaigns for success.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Senior Community Investment Coordinator
  • Impact Measurement & Management (IMM)
  • Theory of Change / Logic Models
  • Grantmaking & Due Diligence
  • Stakeholder Mapping & Engagement
  • Materiality Assessment Principles
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Senior Community Investment Coordinator is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Lead Community Investment Strategist (L4)

    3-5 years in the Senior Coordinator role

    This is a significant step up, moving from leading specific programmes to shaping the overarching strategy for our community investment function. You'll be defining new initiatives and influencing at a higher level.

    • Materiality Assessment Leadership Leading internal processes to identify and prioritise ESG issues that inform our community strategy.
    • Advanced Data Interpretation Interpreting complex data sets to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for strategic investment.
    • Policy & Advocacy Understanding and influencing relevant public policy discussions related to social impact and corporate giving.
    • Vendor & Partner Selection Strategy Defining criteria and leading the selection process for strategic partners and technology vendors.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, a lot of the 'coordinator' part of this role involves repetitive tasks, digging for information, and drafting communications. But what if you could offload a good chunk of that to smart AI tools? We're not talking about replacing your judgment or relationships, but giving you superpowers to get more done and focus on what truly matters: building impact.

Imagine spending less time sifting through grant applications or wrestling with data for reports, and more time actually connecting with partners or designing the next big programme. Our AI productivity hub is designed to do just that, giving you access to tools that streamline your workflow and amplify your impact in Sustainability_Corporate_Social.

Grant Application Pre-Screener

Use a trained AI model to perform the initial review of grant applications. It'll automatically check for eligibility criteria (like charity status, location, and alignment with our funding priorities) and flag the most promising ones for your human review. This means you're looking at fewer irrelevant applications and focusing your expertise where it counts.

Impact Narrative Synthesizer

Feed all that rich, qualitative data from partner reports, community surveys, and testimonials into a GenAI tool. It'll identify key themes, pull out powerful quotes, and even draft initial summaries for your annual impact reports. This saves you hours of manual reading and synthesis, letting you focus on refining the story and adding your strategic insights.

Partner Discovery Assistant

When you're looking to expand a programme or find new collaborators, AI-powered research tools can scan news, non-profit databases (like GuideStar), and academic research. It'll help you identify high-potential, innovative non-profit partners in new markets that truly align with our strategic goals, giving you a head start on due diligence.

Communication First-Drafter

Leverage AI to generate first drafts of common communications. Think volunteer recruitment emails, social media posts celebrating a partner's success, or internal newsletter updates on programme milestones. You'll still add your personal touch, but the heavy lifting of getting words on a page is done for you, freeing up your time for more strategic messaging.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Senior Community Investment Coordinator?

Common routes in include Mid-Level Community Investment Coordinator (Internal Promotion) (3-5 years as a Coordinator), Programme Manager (Large Non-Profit / Charity) (5-7 years in a non-profit programme management role) and CSR/Sustainability Analyst (Consultancy) (4-6 years in a sustainability or CSR consultancy role). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Senior Community Investment Coordinator progress to?

This role can lead on to Lead Community Investment Strategist (3-5 years in the Senior Coordinator role), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Senior Community Investment Coordinator?

Increasingly, AI-Assisted Impact Storytelling and Systems Thinking for Social Change. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 4

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in sustainability

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

The skills built in this role carry into broader ESG work, sustainability consulting, non-profit leadership, and corporate communications. Building partnerships, managing complex projects, and driving social impact are skills used across many sectors.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.