Charity grants manager jobs

Are you a brilliant communicator who loves writing copy and supporting donors? Join a passionate team working to end education inequality through the power of Classics.

We're looking for a Fundraising and Communications Officer to create and distribute newsletters and emails and be the first port of call for new and existing donors. You will enjoy collating case studies and reports, learning about our impact in schools and ensuring that donors and funders have a positive and meaningful relationship with Classics for All. You’ll play a vital role in enabling our programmes to reach schools and students across the UK. This is a varied and rewarding role at the heart of a small, friendly team making a big impact.

Diversity and inclusion

As a social mobility charity, being inclusive is a fundamental value of Classics for All. We welcome applications from all eligible people and are particularly keen to receive applications from those who are from communities that are less represented within the Classics community, such as those from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and those with disabilities.

It does not matter if Classics was offered at your own school, and you do not need to be a Classicist to join our team – there are no Latin tests!

Empowering Curators Programme Manager
Hours: 0.5 FTE, 17.5 hours per week
Contract: FTC until August 2027
Salary: £36,400 per annum, pro rata
Location: King’s Cross, London

Who are we?

Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for art. With over 142,000 members, we are leading the way in pioneering support for an inclusive and welcoming museum and gallery sector across the UK.

We work closely with a network of over 1000 museums and respond to their needs and aspirations. We're excited to see how they want to develop: to expand and diversify their collections and workforce, develop curatorial skills, make ambitious acquisitions, and create a welcoming, inclusive space for communities. With the support of over 140,000 members who buy a National Art Pass, patrons, and donors we can provide grants, encourage visiting and advocate for museums' essential role and value.

We have diversity, inclusion, and sustainability central to our thinking and the opportunity to be a force for good, galvanise support and help change things for the better inspires our team.

The role

We are seeking a Programme Manager to support the delivery of Empowering Curators, a multi-year programme designed to accelerate the careers of Global Majority curators and support organisational change across the UK museum sector.

Working with the Head of Programme Delivery and colleagues across Art Fund, you will coordinate day-to-day programme activity, support Fellows and host organisations, manage events and communications, and contribute to evaluation and reporting. You will build strong relationships with partners across the museum sector while ensuring the programme runs smoothly and delivers meaningful impact.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong project management skills, experience in arts or cultural programmes, and a commitment to equity, inclusion and sector development.

Key Employee Benefits

• Generous Annual leave – 25 days annual leave and bank holidays, with additional non-contractual office closure dates at Christmas.
• Free National Art Pass (NAP) – for yourself and another person of your choice.
• Free Entry to Exhibitions
• Life Assurance – cover for up to three times your basic salary.
• Season Ticket Loan
• Pensions – Eligible employees are enrolled into the scheme with the exception of those who have contracts of three months or less. Art Fund contributes 8% of the basic annual salary during the first six months of employment or until probation is successfully completed, whichever is the later. At that point the contribution is increased to 10%.

Closing deadline: 23.59pm on 6 April 2026

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to building our team and trustees from the broad range of backgrounds and experiences across the UK, valuing difference and diversity, and building a workplace based on shared values of equality and mutual respect.

We have ambitious plans for the future and will be holding ourselves to account and putting our principles into action, as we all work together to help bring about positive change and a fairer future for everyone. We therefore want to encourage applications from all races, ages, religions and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with any kind of disabilities and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our organisation.

Non-UK nationals will require current and valid permission to work in the UK.

Please note that any suspected use of AI in relation to answering sift questions will be marked down.

No agencies please.

Help tackle loneliness among older people in care homes

Thousands of older people living in care homes receive few or no visitors. Friends for Life Bedfordshire exists to change that.

Through our befriending and group activities, we bring companionship, connection and meaningful relationships to care home residents across Bedford and the surrounding area.

We are now looking for a Manager to lead the charity through a period of growth and transition – expanding our reach, strengthening our team, improving our delivery whilst building a sustainable future.

About Friends for Life Bedfordshire

We are a Bedford-based charity working to address the social isolation of older residents in Bedfordshire’s care homes.

Founded in 2007, we have grown from a small local initiative to a registered charity with c90 volunteers supporting more than 30 care homes across Bedford Borough. In the last year, over 1,100 care home residents received our services.

The Role

This is a leadership role responsible for the overall management, performance and development of the charity.

You will lead a small team which includes specialist leads responsible for fundraising, volunteer management, and marketing & partnerships.

Your role is to set direction for the team to deliver the charity’s strategy and business plan, aligning priorities and creating the conditions for the team to succeed.

You will also act as the public face of Friends for Life, working closely with the Board of Trustees. Whilst we are small charity and this is a hands-on leadership role, success will come from enabling others, not by doing everything yourself.

Key Responsibilities

Management of the Charity

• Lead the day-to-day running of the charity and the delivery of its business plan
• Work with Trustees to shape and implement plans for development, sustainability and impact
• As a member of the Board, contribute to the wider governance of the charity

Management of People

• Lead and develop a team of 5 part-time staff, including functional leads for fundraising, volunteer management, and marketing/partnerships
• Set clear priorities, objectives and accountability across the team
• Support and challenge team members to deliver against ambitious targets

· Rebuild and stabilise the team following a period of transition

Operational Management

• Ensure effective delivery of the befriending and activity programmes
• Drive growth in the number of residents supported by scaling volunteer recruitment and engagement
• Use digital tools and services to improve the quality and efficiency of service delivery
• Ensure services remain high-quality, safe and responsive to need, whilst complying with legislation and safeguarding requirements

Management of Fundraising

• Ensure effective delivery of fundraising strategy
• Support the development of new income streams including community fundraising, individual giving and partnerships
• Ensure income targets are met and funding relationships are effectively managed

Management of Partnerships & Profile

• Build and maintain relationships with care homes, other partners and stakeholders
• Raise the profile of the charity through external engagement, advocacy and partnerships

Financial Management & Governance

• Oversee budgets and ensure effective financial management
• Work with the Treasurer and Board on financial planning, risk and compliance
• Ensure safeguarding, governance and regulatory requirements are met

About You

We are looking for a strong people leader who can bring clarity, structure and momentum to a small but ambitious charity.

You will likely bring:

Experience

• Experience in a management role, ideally in a charity, community or care setting
• Experience leading and developing teams, including through change or growth
• Experience overseeing service delivery, process improvement and organisational performance
• Experience of fundraising, income generation or partnership development (at a strategic level)
• Financial and budget management experience

Skills & Attributes

• Strong people management skills—you know how to get the best out of both staff and volunteers
• Ability to set direction and hold others accountable for delivery
• Ability to work co-operatively with the Board of trustees, playing an active role in the governance of the charity, and ensuring alignment between strategy and operations
• Organised and outcome-focused, able to prioritise in a resource-constrained environment to maximise positive impacts for our beneficiaries
• Confident in the use of digital tools and technologies to improve performance
• Confident communicator, able to represent the charity externally and build strong relationships with partners and funders
• Resilient and comfortable in leading change and managing ambiguity
• Empathy and understanding of the challenges facing older people in care homes
• Commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion

Experience working with trustees, knowledge of charity governance or experience in services for older people would be an advantage.

What We Offer

• £40, 930 per annum (£22,921 pro rata for 21 hours a week)
• Employer Pension
• Flexible and Hybrid working
• A supportive and passionate team of staff, volunteers and trustees
• The chance to transform the lives of care home residents every single week

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and a short covering statement outlining how your experience aligns with the position.

Selection will be via an interview.

Please note that applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be able to evidence this prior to interview.

Finally, the role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

Closing date is Friday 1 May 2026.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Salary: £37,264 (£46,580 FTE)

Hours: 30 hours (4 days) per week

Location: Oxford

Job description

Join our team as an EDI Officer!

The EDI Officer role focuses on enhancing equity in health access and outcomes for all social groups within the local community, particularly in OUH palliative care services. The post holder will collaborate closely with palliative medicine colleagues to develop and lead projects aimed at improving EDI aspects across all Palliative Care departments.

This will be achieved by implementing the five-year EDI strategy plan, which supports hospice teams in integrating EDI considerations in all areas of care. Additionally, the role involves contributing to Trust-wide Health Inequalities initiatives through collaboration with the Trust’s EDI colleagues and Patient Experience Team and various internal and external stakeholders to meet EDI and health inequalities objectives.

What you'll do

· Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Oversee the implementation of the EDI Strategy for the Palliative Medicine Department to ensure services meet the needs of the diverse population in the catchment area.

· Service Planning and Development, Project Management: Take responsibility for the development and implementation of projects and service improvements with an EDI focus as agreed with line manager or Clinical Lead.

· Data Collection and Analysis: Review and analyse data on groups with protected characteristics and/or who may experience palliative care health inequalities within our catchment.

· Engagement: Identify and work to engage individuals and carers who are experiencing/are at risk of experiencing health inequalities in end of life and palliative care.

Why you'll love working with us

• Growth and Development: If you have the knowledge of design trends, skills for designing digital and printed materials and are eager to expand your skills, this role offers a fantastic development opportunity.
• Make a Difference: Your work will directly contribute to raising funds for Sobell House Hospice, helping us make a significant impact in the community.

Our core values

• Continuous Improvement: We have a ‘growth mentality’. We embrace feedback and positive change and are continually looking for improved ways of working.
• Integrity: We are honest, transparent and accountable for our actions and outcomes.
• Collaboration: We believe together is better. Working with colleagues, partners and our community to achieve more.
• Impact: We aim to make a positive difference to the lives of others through our work.
• Compassion: We treat ourselves and others with kindness, respect, empathy and care

What we offer

• Generous Holiday Entitlement: 36 days including 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata).
• Pension: 7% employer contribution to help you secure your future.
• Sick Pay: Up to 6 weeks in any rolling 12 months after completing probation.
• Additional Benefits: Access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Death in Service benefit, the Cycle to Work scheme and more
• Training and Development: We are keen to support individuals developing into roles and progressing through the organisation

If you’re ready to bring your passion, skills, and enthusiasm to our team, we’d love to hear from you! Apply now and be part of something truly special at Sobell House Hospice.

Job Title: Programme Funding Administrator 

Contract Type: 6 month fixed term (with the possibility of extending) 

Location: Hybrid WeWork Kings Cross office (minimum 3 days a week) / remote working (up to 2 days a week)

Salary: £30,500 (London Living Wage) 

Working Hours: Full time 40 (we are open to discussing the possibility of reduced hours, flexible start and finish times, or compressed hours) 

Role Purpose

The Programme Funding Assistant has four core functions:

1. Provide administrative support across a portfolio of income generation streams - Assist in identifying and cultivating strategic partnerships and fundraising relationships, support the development of funding applications, managing donor requirements, reporting to donors, and analysing data.
2. Coordinate TASC’s granting programme - Managing all tasks associated with the annual granting cycle including communication to grantees, including identifying new grantees, supporting the contracting process and supporting the development of the Annual Impact Report. 
3. Provide administrative and research support across TASC’s programme portfolio (Illicit Trade, Education and Responsible Business)
4. General administrative support including TASC’s CRM system

Position in the organisation

• Reports to the CEO but works across all programme pillars to support effective fundraising and granting processes. 

Key Relationships

• Internal relationships - TASC team, consultants, contractors
• External relationships - Donors, grantee organisations

Main Responsabilities 

Will include, but are not limited to:

1. Grant and Donor Administration (50%) 

• Coordination of a portfolio of 5 and 6-figure donors or grantors, with oversight and support from the CEO, securing repeat donations and increasing support where possible
• Administration of existing grants, ensuring that terms are adhered to and reporting processes are managed effectively
• Administration of donor communications
• Support the development of proposals in line with the objectives and guidelines of the prospective grantor outlining why funding is needed, how the project will positively impact beneficiaries, and how the funds will be allocated and managed throughout the project
• Prospecting and researching all donor types (including major donors, corporates, and trusts and foundations) that have aligned priorities
• Lead the donor engagement calendar, including drafting communications and touch points to key donors throughout the year 

2. Granting (20%) 

• Supporting the drafting and processing of all contracts at the annual granting phase
• Coordinating communications to grantee organisations
• Administering the grantee reporting process
• Managing the collation of partner reports and support the drafting the Annual Impact report for the programme

3.Programmes (Illicit Trade, Education, and Responsible Business) (20%) 

• Undertake research across programme workstreams
• Support in the organisation and coordination of events both in the UK and internationally, this could include venue booking, guestlist coordination and liaising with vendors
• Monitor news reports related to forced labour in business supply chains and other programme areas 

4. General administration and management of the CRM (10%) 

• Coordinate meetings and managing the team and CEO calendar
• Report internally on portfolio of relationships and prospects from the CRM, keeping the CRM and internal information management systems updated with records, contact, confidence levels and forecasted donations. 

This job description is not exhaustive. It merely acts as a guide, particularly as this is a new role, and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the charity at any time after discussion with the post holder.

About the Project

PKD Scotland: Outreach and Community Connections Project. 

It is estimated that around 5,000 people in Scotland could be living with Polycystic Kidney 
Disease. It is however often poorly understood and historically underfunded, meaning people 
can leave clinic after diagnosis with little support beyond medical appointments. Many tell us 
they don't know where to turn for emotional support or to meet others living with the same 
condition. We want to change that and with support from a National lottery Awards for All grant 
that is exactly what we are going to do. 

The eighteen-month project will see us reach into hospitals across Scotland to try and ensure 
that no one with PKD in Scotland has to manage their journey on their own. From diagnosis 
onwards we want all to be aware of the charity, the array of services that we offer and foster 
engagement. Two new volunteer led support groups will be established and a group of 
ambassadors recruited to support the ongoing connections we make to ensure that PKD 
remains in the spotlight. 

As our Scotland PKD Engagement Officer you will be central to the success of the project. 
Many people only reach us years after diagnosis, often when symptoms worsen, but we know 
that early connection can make a real difference. PKD is lifelong and people face new 
challenges at every stage. Having support around them helps them stay confident, informed
and connected.

About The Role

 
As PKD’s Scotland Engagement Officer, you will play a central role in delivering this ambitious 
outreach project. 

Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will raise awareness of the PKD Charity and its services, 
ensuring that people diagnosed with PKD are informed about available support from the earliest 
possible stage.

You will build and nurture relationships with NHS professionals and services across Scotland, 
helping embed PKD Charity information and resources into patient pathways. Alongside this, you 
will work closely with volunteers to establish two new PKD support groups and develop an 
ambassador programme to maintain long-term local engagement and visibility.

This is an exciting opportunity for a confident relationship-builder who enjoys working 
autonomously while contributing to a small and dedicated team. Your work will help ensure that 
people living with PKD across Scotland feel informed, connected and supported throughout every 
stage of their condition.

For more information and details on how to apply, please read the full Job Description.

Head of Fundraising (Part-Time, 3 days/week)

Hybrid – Vauxhall, London | £47,342 (pro rata)

1-year FTC | Start ASAP

Join the UK’s leading personal safety charity and play a pivotal role in protecting lives.

Suzy Lamplugh Trust is looking for a strategic and relationship-driven Head of Fundraising to lead our income generation across trusts, foundations and statutory funders. This role is perfect for someone who wants autonomy, impact, and the chance to shape sustainable growth for a mission-driven organisation.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and deliver our fundraising strategy
• Build a strong pipeline of trusts, foundations & statutory funders
• Craft compelling bids
• Lead excellent stewardship and funder relationships
• Work across teams to align opportunities and organisational needs

What We’re Looking For

• Proven fundraising success, including significant grants
• Strong writing and relationship-building skills
• Experience managing fundraising pipelines and reporting
• Highly organised, collaborative and mission-aligned

Why Join Us?

Your work directly supports victims of stalking, advances national safety initiatives, and influences policy that protects millions.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the essential criteria.

If you seek a fresh and rewarding challenge, look no further than Open Country! Seeking to help disabled people to access and enjoy the countryside, we embrace a wide range of fundraising methods, so this role could be adapted to suit either full-time or part-time work. We are also able to cater for your particular skill set, though core duties would likely include: 

• Researching and writing grant applications to charitable trusts, grant-making bodies and other funders.
• Developing and delivering new and imaginative community fundraising activities.
• Encouraging appropriate corporate sponsorship and fundraising.
• Developing and delivering Open Country fundraising events and third-party events.

This is a hands-on, dynamic role requiring creativity, insight and panache, coupled with great communication and relationship-building skills.

You will work collaboratively with our Finance and Fundraising Manager at our Head Office in Harrogate, though an element of home working can be considered.

Appointment to this post is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check. 

Health Professional Education and Engagement Manager

Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. We support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.

We currently have employees working across four nations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re in a privileged position to be able to deliver our ambitious new strategy, On a Mission. There are huge challenges facing bowel cancer patients across the UK and our community needs us now more than ever. We’re building a strong and united team to bring us closer to a world where nobody dies of bowel cancer.

Job Summary

A key focus of our strategy is to reach and engage with as many people as possible, affected by and at risk of bowel cancer, by embedding our information and support services within NHS diagnostic, treatment and care pathways. As Health Professional Education and Engagement Manager you will play a central role in helping us achieve this. With a focus on developing networks in primary care and developing existing relationships with CNS’s and secondary care health professionals, you will work across the UK to understand the needs of these stakeholders and identify ways in which we can support them. You will lead the development of our health professional education programme, combining live education events with online learning modules.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and at Bowel Cancer UK we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates may be subject to either a satisfactory basic, standard or enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) dependent upon the role.

Creative Land Trust secures permanent affordable workspace in London for artists and creatives. We connect property developers, government authorities and studio providers forging valuable new collaborations, facilitating placemaking and actively participating in the development of policy in both the property and arts sectors.

Founded by the Mayor of London with expertise from Outset Contemporary Art Fund, and additional funding from Arts Council England and Bloomberg Philanthropies, we use our extensive knowledge of how the property and arts sectors interact to provide a way for donors, developers and investors to contribute to arts and culture at a systemic, infrastructure level.

We measure our impact in terms of community interaction, social benefit, wellbeing and employment; engaging expert studio providers for day-to-day management.

We are actively seeking funding from new donors and long-term partnerships with property owners that will lead to more stable space for arts and culture, improving the opportunities for creative practises to thrive and for communities to become more connected. In return we contribute to place making and community cohesion.

We are a small team with big ambitions seeking an experienced and motivated finance director who will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer and other members of the team to ensure that the Creative Land Trust works efficiently and effectively, making the best use of all its assets. The post holder will manage and have responsibility for the oversight of financial systems, reporting and analysis, as well as acting as Company Secretary and leading the delivery of good governance. This is a senior role and the post holder will have influence at trustee and team levels.

In this exciting role you will be responsible for researching, cultivating and managing a portfolio of Trusts and Foundations at all levels, including those which have the potential to make grants up to and above 7 figures.

Sitting in the Philanthropy Team of four, the team works really well together, both jointly and individually, with a focus on proactivity and ample autonomy. They have been very successful over the past few years in hitting targets and now theyre excited to be recruiting for a fourth team member.

Their ethos is a relationship development approach to fundraising and youll find plenty of support for a values-based approach to income generation within the team.

The role is hybrid with two days a week in the London office.

The charity
A national hospice charity fighting to ensure support is available to all who are in need of it. Benefits include pension, life assurance, health scheme and 25 days holiday

The Role
Lead the development and delivery of the Philanthropy strategy for Trusts & Foundations Develop and manage a portfolio of Trusts and Foundations to develop a sustainable income base for the charity
Support the Philanthropy teams fundraising strategy through creative thinking, problem-solving, and the maintenance and use of CRM databases.
Use networks, relationships and knowledge to generate income from Trusts and high value sources by identifying connections and new funding opportunities.

The Candidate
Proven track record of raising significant (e.g. six figures plus) single and multi-year gifts from Trusts and Grant makers.
Experience of developing and writing compelling applications bids and cases for support
Experience of successfully researching and building short, medium and long term funder pipelines to meet financial targets.
Experience of effective and supportive line management

IMPORTANT NOTE
Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you havent been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful and your details will not be held further but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

Is this position right for you?
We’re seeking a Fundraising Officer to support the growth of all our programmes, services, and campaigns. Primarily working on a new area of trusts and foundations fundraising, including researching prospects. You will be responsible for making grant applications and updating funders, as well as providing overall support to the wider fundraising team at Humanists UK.

Are you an early-career fundraiser with some experience of working in the trusts and foundations sector, either for a charity or as a funder? Are you looking for your next big move and a new role that you can really get your teeth into? Do you want to grow your skillset while taking ownership of exciting projects? If so, this could be the role for you.

What you'll be doing

You'll be part of the Advancing Humanism Directorate. You'll work with our Head of Fundraising, Jess, as well as working closely with our Director of Advancing Humanism, Liam, and other members of the Communications and Marketing team.

The fundraising team is responsible for income generation including donors, campaigns, grants, and exploring new ways we can sustain and grow our fundraising. This includes planning and leading giving campaigns; donor and funder stewardship (working with the Chief Executive’s Office); developing and maintaining an income pipeline; and identifying new opportunities to diversify our income streams.

Key Tasks & Activities

Implementing and further developing Humanists UK’s grants, trusts, and foundations fundraising strategy, with key tasks including:

• Researching new funding prospects

• Maintaining and growing our funding pipeline.

• Supporting colleagues across the organisation to develop, bid for, and report on appropriate projects for funding

• Writing clear and compelling funding bids, proposals, and appeals, and produce timely, high-quality reports for funders

• Maintaining accurate records of applications, reporting schedules, project milestones, and grant income using the charity’s CRM system.

• Working with the finance team to make sure grants are administered efficiently and all income is accurately recorded

• Monitoring progress against targets, providing regular updates and income reports to the Head of Fundraising

• Supporting continuous improvement by maintaining effective systems for tracking and evaluating trust fundraising activity

• Keeping informed about developments and sector trends in fundraising

As a successful candidate

You will have strong organisational skills and be confident managing a varied workload, balancing application and reporting deadlines with funder stewardship and pipeline development needs.

You will also be a proactive and supportive team player and a self-starter. We are a small team who manage our own work, but value coming together to share ideas, support one another, and take creative risks.

Senior Research Officer

Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. We support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.

We currently have employees working across four nations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re in a privileged position to be able to deliver our ambitious new strategy, On a Mission. There are huge challenges facing bowel cancer patients across the UK and our community needs us now more than ever. We’re building a strong and united team to bring us closer to a world where nobody dies of bowel cancer.
 

Job Summary - Senior Research Officer

We are seeking a confident and organised Senior Research Officer to join our small but ambitious Research Team. This is a hands-on role with real scope to contribute to how we fund and manage research, and to make a genuine difference to a programme that's helping to save lives.
 

The Senior Research Officer will lead the delivery of our grant funding processes from end to end - managing application rounds, overseeing the active portfolio, coordinating our scientific committees, supporting our research events and leading our approach to patient and public involvement in research. Working in a small, specialist team means you'll also have real scope to contribute ideas, help improve how we do things, and play a meaningful part in the development of the research programme beyond the day-to-day.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 16 April.

If you have a track record in grants administration, bring experience, confidence and good judgement, and are genuinely committed to making research funding work well, we want to hear from you.

 

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and at Bowel Cancer UK we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates may be subject to either a satisfactory basic, standard or enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) dependent upon the role.

SMART CJS – Trust and Foundations Bid Writer

Role Overview

Are you committed to supporting people who are homeless or rough sleeping?

Are you proactive with a positive attitude?

Job Title: Trust and Foundations Bid Writer (with some responsibility for corporate fundraising)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Working from our office in central Bedford, with some provision for remote working.

About SMART CJS

Founded in 1997, we are a charity that provides safe spaces for people who are facing or experiencing homelessness, are rough sleeping or have fallen on tough times. As times have changed, our services have adapted and grown, but we’ve always kept the people we support at the centre of all that we do. We believe that everyone needs a little help sometimes and, with trust, respect and honesty, people can make incredible changes. Our vision is to transform communities so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential, participate in and contribute to all aspects of life. Our mission is to provide safe spaces to work with vulnerable people within our communities, empowering them to make positive changes and take control of their lives.

Why Join Us?

We believe in diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Benefits include:

• 27 days Annual Leave (rising to 30 after 3 years) + Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Generous Pension scheme (after successfully completing a probation period)
• Excellent Development and Growth Opportunities
• Access to a Charity Worker Discount scheme
• Access to the company health and wellbeing service including support with mental health, legal advice and more
• Access to an online GP service

We require all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This job description will be supplemented by annual objectives which will be developed in conjunction with the post holder.

The Role

SMART CJS is looking to recruit a Trusts and Foundations Bid Writer. The successful candidate will also have some responsibility for corporate fundraising with businesses based in Bedford and beyond; this responsibility will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

The main responsibility, though, will be to generate income by writing bids to charitable trusts and foundations, and to statutory funders.

The role will include researching and identifying charity trusts and similar bodies which are able to make an award to SMART. It will also include keeping abreast of developments in fundraising in the charity sector as a whole, especially in the field of grant awarding and, to a lesser extent, of corporate giving.

There will be a probationary period for the role. As it generally takes six months for a grant to be awarded (though some arrive more quickly), the probationary period will need to be for a minimum of seven months, though its precise duration can be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Training will be given; the scope of the training will depend on the candidate’s previous experience.

This is an exciting opportunity to join SMART’s friendly and dedicated team. You’ll need to be able to manage your time effectively; the role is primarily self-directed. We envisage that you’ll be working primarily from our offices in Prebend Street, Bedford, though you'll be able to work from home for some of the time as well. Given the nature of our work, personal resilience is important; some of the stories we use when applying for funding can be emotionally challenging.

Our fundraising comes from regular gifts, donations from the community (individuals and groups), and corporate bodies (businesses). The majority of our fundraising income comes from grants. There will be a realistic target for the amount you need to raise; this will reflect the performance for grant applications in the charity sector as a whole and it will not be unrealistic. Fundraising is not an exact science; the assessment of performance against the targets will be fair and reasonable. The final responsibility for SMART’s fundraising rests with the trustees; they appreciate and understand the complexity of the issues involved.

Main Purpose of the Role

You will work closely with the CEO, the Chair of Trustees, the Head of Business and the fundraising team. The post involves gathering information, writing the bids, tracking the progress of submissions, and reporting back to grant awarders on how their money has been spent, if they require this.

There will also be a responsibility for corporate fundraising. This will involve building relationships with businesses in and beyond the Bedford area. The responsibility for this will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising and Bid Writing

• Research and identify suitable grant and funding opportunities from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies.
• Write and submit high-quality funding applications and proposals in line with SMART’s strategic priorities.
• Work collaboratively with service leads and front line teams to gather accurate, up-to-date data and service information for applications.
• Tailor the applications to the funder’s criteria, using storytelling effectively.
• Manage a pipeline of applications and submissions, ensuring deadlines are met and income targets are tracked.
• Maintain and build relationships with key funders, providing timely reports and updates on grant-funded work.
• Work to realistic targets and be able to provide feedback on these.
• Organisational Development and Support
• Contribute to the strategic development of SMART’s income generation plans.
• Support development of strong internal bid and grant management systems.
• Monitor success rates and provide monthly reporting on funding performance to the Head of Business and to the Chair of Trustees.
• Represent SMART CJS at funding briefings, webinars, and networking opportunities where appropriate.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in SMART’s performance management and appraisal process.
• Attend the monthly meetings of the Fundraising Committee (a sub‑committee of the Board of Trustees).
• Comply with health and safety policies and procedures.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as required by the CEO, the Head of Business or the Chair of Trustees.

Person Specification

Whether you’re already an experienced bid-writer, or whether you think this is something that you could learn to do effectively, we’d like to hear from you. You need to have excellent skills in written English and be able to write in prose that’s clear and readily understandable to the general reader. The criteria for each grant awarder are different; you need to be able to match your bid to what they would like to fund (homelessness, mental health, relief of poverty, women’s issues and so on). You need, then, to tell SMART’s story in a way which appeals to each funder.

You need to have excellent inter-personal skills and be able to work as part of a team. While there is a strong element of self-direction in the role, you need to be able to work closely with senior management and also with the trustees; the trustees have the final responsibility for fundraising in the charity.

You will need, too, to have a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to have a genuine interest in homelessness and the work of the charity, and a commitment to improving our clients’ lives and wellbeing.