Event fundraising assistant jobs in Liverpool

This is a rare opportunity to join our dynamic and successful team as the Head of our Income Generation and Marketing teams. The key role for the Head of Income Generation is to maintain a sustainable level of fundraising and by increasing the income from paid placements through our relationships with Health Trusts and Councils in Merseyside and Cheshire in particular. The postholder will also play a key role in the branding transition to Little Lights Liverpool, managing and overseeing our marketing activities.

We are looking for someone with proven senior-level experience in income generation within the charity, health or care sector, and with a track record of growing income through commissioning or fundraising. You will need to be a strategic thinker with the confidence and compassion needed to build productive relationships and to manage our passionate and hard-working team.

Zoe's Place Baby Hospice was founded in Liverpool in 1995 as the first hospice in the UK specifically providing for the needs of babies and younger children. Our team of specialist nurses and healthcare assistants are supported by a wide range of other healthcare professionals to provide respite care, therapies and bereavement care to babies and children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families.

In late 2024 the people of Liverpool, the Northwest, and even further afield helped us to raise more than £7,000,000 to secure the future of our hospice, and the state-of-the-art new facility in West Derby is under construction.

As work begins on our new hospice facility, our dedicated team continues to deliver specialised care from our existing site, and our team of fundraising, marketing, finance, compliance and administration professionals work hard to keep the charity operating smoothly.

The postholder benefits from a competitive salary and benefits package, the opportunity to make a real difference to an incredible cause, and you will be joining the charity at a pivotal point in its development. 

Ronald McDonald House Charities UK is seeking a proactive and creative Mass Participation Events Manager to lead the delivery and growth of our mass participation portfolio. The role will lead on the strategy, performance and delivery of our challenge events programme, ensuring events achieve agreed income and participation targets and work closely with the Head of Mass Engagement to shape and test future Ronald McDonald House Charities UK owned mass participation events, supporting sustainable, diversified income growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Event Strategy & Planning

• Develop and deliver a clear strategy for challenge and mass participation events, aligned to fundraising targets and audience engagement objectives.
• Identify and assess new event opportunities, including third party and bespoke challenges, to diversify and grow income.
• To play a key role in developing new events, taking them to market and adopting a test and learn approach in collaboration with the Head of Mass Engagement & wider Engagement Directorate.

Event Delivery & Logistics

• Support the Senior Event Fundraiser to lead the end-to-end management of events, including budgeting, planning, supplier coordination, risk management, and on-the-day execution.
• Ensure all events are delivered to a high standard, providing an exceptional experience for supporters.

Supporter Engagement & Stewardship

• Build strong relationships with event participants, providing excellent supporter experience and tailored stewardship journeys.
• Support the development, delivery of and evaluation of effective supporter journeys across the events portfolio, focused on maximising net return and supporter retention.
• Create and develop engaging communications and materials to inspire fundraising and deepen supporters’ connections to the charity.

Marketing & Promotion

• Lead the delivery of an audience and insight led events marketing programme, working closely with the Brand, Communications and Digital team to maximise participation and net return.
• Keep abreast of income and data trends across the sector to help inform future activities and events fundraising programmes.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Agree and deliver against ambitious income and acquisition targets, maintaining costs within agreed budgets.
• Set, manage and report against budgets, milestones and KPIs across the events portfolio, demonstrating accountability for performance.
• Use data and insight to evaluate event performance, inform decision making and continuously improve participant experience.
• Produce regular performance reports and insights for internal stakeholders

Collaboration & Partnership

• Work closely with senior managers and colleagues across the department to maximise opportunities for collaboration and integrated delivery.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, including but not limited to - McDonald’s Relationship Team, House teams, fundraising partners, suppliers and third party event organisers.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• A proven track record of excellent management of an event portfolio to meet income and acquisition targets.
• Experience of delivering data and insight led marketing and stewardship programmes to drive acquisition and net income.
• Experience of managing multiple projects with complex budgets, multiple stakeholders and stretching KPIs.
• Line management and team development experience.
• Knowledge of health and safety, risk management in event delivery & fundraising compliance.

Desirable

• Experience of virtual fundraising and development of new events.
• Ability to plan, prioritise and balance a busy and varied workload.
• Familiarity with digital fundraising platforms and MS Dynamics.
• Experience supporting innovation or new product development, working with agencies to deliver new fundraising products.

Job Title:
Senior Grants Officer

Reporting To:
Grants Manager

Salary:
£31,125 – £39,826

Hours:
37.5 hours per week

Duration:
Permanent

Location:
Alder Hey Children’s Charity, Liverpool / Hybrid working

Job Purpose

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our grants team to support the charity in delivering approximately £5m of grant awards per year.

The Senior Grants Officer will play an active role in supporting Alder Hey Children’s Charity’s grant development and awarding process, liaising with Trust colleagues on grant applications and awards.

The post holder will work closely with fundraising teams to support donor asks and ongoing stewardship.

They will also support the Grants Manager in developing systems and processes for effective grant management, including maintaining up-to-date records on Salesforce.

Main Duties / Tasks

Grant Programme Delivery & Oversight

• Oversee application pipelines and grant status, ensuring efficient progression and escalating issues where required
• Monitor applications in development, ensuring alignment with Charity priorities and Theory of Change model
• Support small grants assessment meetings, including follow-up actions such as applicant liaison and issuing grant letters
• Respond to enquiries from grant holders, managing or escalating risks and underperformance
• Ensure fundraising teams are kept informed where external funds are attached to grants

Applicant & Stakeholder Support

• Act as a primary point of contact for grant applicants, advising on eligibility, criteria and application processes
• Build and maintain effective relationships with Trust staff, charity colleagues and external partners
• Represent the grants team in internal meetings where required

Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

• Support monitoring of KPIs, including turnaround times, ensuring performance targets are met
• Identify opportunities to improve grant processes, systems and documentation
• Share learning and best practice across the charity

Programme Development

• Contribute to the development of grant programmes aligned with Charity priorities
• Support creation and improvement of applicant guidance and programme materials
• Work collaboratively with Impact & Insights colleagues to support a one-team approach

Other Duties

• Act as an ambassador for Alder Hey Children’s Charity in line with organisational values
• Contribute positively to the wider team and support fundraising events where required
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by your line manager

Person Specification

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• Experience in the charity, voluntary, public or philanthropic sector, ideally in a grants or programme role
• Knowledge of assessing grant or funding applications, including reviewing proposals and budgets
• Experience of administration and management processes, including record keeping, due diligence and reporting
• Experience using databases or grant management systems
• Experience managing multiple applications or projects to deadlines
• Understanding of governance and good practice in grant awarding and reporting
• Understanding of the charity and funding landscape

Desirable:

• Experience in a grant-making organisation, foundation or trust
• Experience supporting panels, committees or trustees
• Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM systems

Skills and Attributes

Essential:

• Commitment to equity, diversity and collaborative working
• Strong analytical and numerical skills
• Clear and concise written communication skills
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• Self-motivated with a positive, flexible approach
• High attention to detail
• Good judgement and integrity
• Ability to work collaboratively and contribute to shared learning
• Ability to line manage and support a Grants Assistant
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office and database systems

Desirable:

• Advanced Excel skills
• Experience improving grant processes or systems
• Experience building relationships with applicants and grantees
• Interest in developing grant-making practice

Additional Requirements

Essential:

• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Strong interest in working for a children’s health charity
• Commitment to the values of Alder Hey Children’s Charity
• Willingness to support wider charity activities
• Willingness to occasionally work outside normal office hours

Our Values

At Alder Hey Children’s Charity, our values guide how we work. Being courageous, working together, showing passion and embracing creativity enables us to support the hospital in delivering the very best care for young patients and their families.

Courage
We try new things, take risks and innovate. We speak up, take accountability and act with responsibility.

Together
We work as one team, sharing knowledge and learning. We partner with patients, families, supporters and colleagues.

Passion
We are passionate about what we do and inspire others.

Magic
We are creative, fun and child-led, creating special moments and going the extra mile.

Additional Information

In April 2025, the charity adopted a four-day working week policy. Staff previously working 37.5 hours now work 30 hours across four days, maintaining full pay while supporting a better work-life balance.

This job description outlines the general nature of the role and is not exhaustive. It may be subject to change in line with organisational needs.

Alder Hey Children’s Charity will make reasonable adjustments where required and is committed to equal opportunities and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

The post holder will be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

Interview Date: Wednesday 6th May 2026