Fundraising prospect researcher jobs in liverpool

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As one of the largest federated charities in the UK, with arguably greater reach into the lives of families and educational settings than any other non-Government organisation, Parentkind is on a bold and urgent mission: to support, champion, and empower parents to be partners in their children’s education and wellbeing. To help deliver this, Parentkind's fundraising efforts helped grow Parentkind's income from £1.5m to £10m (including in-kind donations) between 2022 and 2024.

Although best known for our support of almost 24,000 Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), Parent Councils, and Schools, helping them build strong school communities whilst they raise over £130 million each year to enhance children’s education, our work stretches far beyond the school gates. Parentkind is building a powerful movement that recognises parental engagement not as a nicety, but a necessity.

In recent years, families have faced a series of compounding challenges: the cost-of-living crisis, rising child poverty, and deepening educational inequality. These pressures have left many parents struggling to meet basic needs—let alone feel confident engaging in their child’s learning journey.  Parentkind has responded to this moment with compassion, agility and purpose, through a series of transformative campaigns, resources, and partnerships. Our recent transformational journey has seen Parentkind’s network grow by more than 70% of schools, and the income Parentkind has delivered both for itself and for its members by more than 550%. 

Our No Cold Child initiative, launched with FatFace, stepped in to address a stark statistic: over 150,000 children in the UK do not own a winter coat due to poverty. Through our trusted relationships with schools, we distributed 10,000 warm, high-quality coats worth £600,000 to the children who needed them most. Shortlisted for two Business Charity Awards, the campaign has been praised not just for providing warmth, but for restoring dignity, inclusion, and school readiness to thousands of children.

Our collaboration with Asda on Cashpot for Schools is another example of unlocking support at scale. This innovative community-led funding model allows shoppers to nominate and fund their local schools simply through everyday spending. In just the last year, this campaign has generated £5.78 million for schools—supporting everything from basic classroom supplies to vital extracurricular programmes and pupil wellbeing initiatives. Also shortlisted for a Business Charity Award, it is already a model for community-driven philanthropy.

Meanwhile, our All Dressed Up campaign—developed with World Book Day and Rubies Masquerade—confronted the often-overlooked issue of financial exclusion on key celebration days. More than 100,000 free dressing up costumes worth £1.34 million were delivered to children from low-income families. By enabling participation in events like World Book Day, we helped spark imagination, joy, and belonging for children who might otherwise feel left out—boosting self-esteem and supporting a positive connection to learning.

Alongside these national campaigns, Parentkind supports families year-round through a growing suite of programmes designed to inform, prepare and empower parents. Our Be School Ready programme offers crucial guidance and confidence to parents preparing their children for the leap into primary education. With a mix of practical advice, developmental tips, and reassurance, through the distribution of 135,000 copies of Be School Ready and an online campaign, it supports families at one of the most formative moments in their child’s life.

We also deliver a wide-ranging series of live expert webinars and parent-friendly resources, covering topics such as managing anxiety, supporting special educational needs, navigating school transitions, and building home-school partnerships. These resources—developed in consultation with experts and rooted in lived parent experience—equip families to feel informed and empowered, no matter what challenges arise.

This month, we launched our Parent-Friendly Schools Accreditation Programme, designed to formally recognise schools that go above and beyond in fostering positive, inclusive relationships with parents. The accreditation celebrates schools that actively listen to parent voices, make engagement easy and accessible, and embed family partnership in their culture. It is a practical and inspiring tool to drive long-term change in the sector and offers a roadmap for schools wanting to strengthen their community.

Our work is grounded in evidence. Every year, we conduct the UK’s largest parental engagement study: the National Parent Survey. In 2024, over five thousand parents participated, providing invaluable insight into what families think about the education system. The findings are fed directly into government consultations and have already influenced national debates on school funding, attendance, mental health support, SEND provision, and curriculum reform. We believe passionately that parents must not be the missing voice in education policy—and we work tirelessly to ensure their views shape the decisions that affect their children’s lives.

Today, through Parentkind’s federated network of more than 130,000 parent and teacher volunteers, our work impacts the lives of millions of parents, carers, teachers and children throughout the UK through our membership, programmes, advocacy and campaigns. But we know we can—and must—do more.

We’re looking for someone with passion, purpose, and creativity—someone who understands that a warm coat, a World Book Day costume, or a parent’s voice at the table can all be catalysts for lifelong change.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing Fundraising Team and play a leading role in shaping a brand-new trust fundraising programme from the ground up. We’re looking for someone with experience in securing income from trusts and foundations—someone who’s a confident communicator, both in writing and in person, and who brings a curious and strategic mindset to prospect research.

You’ll help craft compelling cases for support and develop a portfolio of proposals and reports that showcase the impact of our work—amplifying the voices of parents and schools and demonstrating how Parentkind is driving positive change. Strong attention to detail is essential, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.

If you believe, like we do, that when parents matter, children succeed, we’d love to hear from you.

You’ll have:

• Proven experience in trust and statutory fundraising, securing five- and six-figure grants.
• Demonstrable success in developing compelling proposals and reports for funders.
• Strong relationship management skills with a track record of stewarding long-term partnerships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey impact effectively.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Knowledge of the education, family support, or community development sectors.

You’ll get:

• To join a fast-moving charity with an exciting future
• To build your own team, playing a key role in driving forward the charity’s strategy and shaping our fundraising activity
• Remote working full-time with a great online team culture
• 25 days holiday in addition to UK public holidays.

How to apply

A full candidate pack is attached on this listing. To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter outlining your motivations for applying for the role and how you meet the Person Specification.

Interviews will be held on a rolling basis via video conference.

Parentkind is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and we ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and equally.  We would be grateful if you would complete the equal opportunities monitoring questions when applying online to help us check that we are carrying out our policy of equal opportunities for all people.  The information will be kept confidential and will be separate from your application.  It will have no bearing on your application.

Parentkind is committed to meeting the needs of applicants with disabilities.  Please let us know if you require any adjustments to your application or interview process.

Title: Fundraising Manager

Reports to: Fundraising Director

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Based from one of our RTS offices with the expectation of at least 2 days a week in the office, with some flexibility to work from home, subject to business requirements and line manager approval. 

Hours: 5 days per week (37.5 Hours) Worked between Monday- Friday

Salary: £44,261 - £47,868 (5% employer pension contribution, Medicash and group life assurance, 27 days annual leave per annum for FTE plus bank holidays)

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Role Summary

We are looking for a motivated and dynamic individual who is passionate about collaboration and community-led change. If you believe in the power of strong, connected communities, this role is for you. You will need good organisational skills, energy and the ability to listen, build relationships, and inspire collaboration, which is essential in creating positive, lasting change.

As a Fundraising Manager, you will be responsible for managing a mixed portfolio of supporters with a view to growing this pool to deliver a mixture of revenue which can sustain and grow our ambitions and work. This will involve taking responsibility for nurturing and growing an existing philanthropic pool of funders whilst identifying, cultivating and mapping new high value opportunities, in excess of £75k. For your portfolio you will manage donor acquisition strategies, proposal writing and stewardship and supporter journey planning. 

The role involves securing funding from various sources, including trusts, corporations, and individuals, to support the charity’s mission. This includes developing and maintaining strong donor relationships, managing a portfolio of donors, and managing fundraising pipelines.

The ideal candidate will therefore be proactive, results-driven, and skilled in developing insight-led strategies, managing solicitations, along with the ability to create processes, gather insights, and propose budgets. You’ll be passionate about continuous improvement, have a proactive attitude and be comfortable in suggesting new and/or better ways of working. You’ll enjoy a challenging and fulfilling environment, working with a supportive and forward-thinking team.

Key Objectives:

• As a member of the Fundraising team, you will work across all parts of the fundraising process, from prospect research all the way through to the fundraising ask.

• You will work collaboratively within the Fundraising team and the wider organisation to develop compelling fundraising proposals for corporate donors, high net worth individuals, community appeals and trusts and foundations. 

• You will seek out and identify patterns of prospect and funder data and behaviours which inform our growth and generate ideas and solutions

• You will problem solve with others enabling planning and anticipation of challenges and opportunities

Fundraising Objectives:

• Develop a high value pipeline of prospects and funders which has a balanced approach across acquisition, retention and uplift to meet team targets and which provides the best supporter experience.

• Manage a personal portfolio through all stages of the fundraising cycle, within an overall fundraising team target, demonstrating an understanding of how to mitigate risk, maximise return on investment and give a focus to unrestricted income generation.

• Manage and cultivate prospect and funder relationships in their entirety, with responsibility for planning briefings, proposal writing, stakeholder engagement, reporting, stewardship, delivery, and evaluation.

• Research, prepare, and submit high-quality grant applications to charitable trusts, foundations, and other funding bodies utilising different funder approaches including bids, applications, proposals and EOIs, all delivering high-quality experiences and materials to secure funding. 

• Monitor and report on the progress of fundraising activities and grant applications, providing regular updates to the management team.

• Plan and write bespoke engagement plans (e.g. stewardship reports), including report-writing and impact analysis, and coordinating event and PR milestone activities.

• Work with internal & external stakeholders to develop new projects and ensure donor requirements and engagement opportunities are met.

Team and Operational Objectives:

• Help colleagues and supporters overcome any challenges and maximise their fundraising efforts.

• Manage your time and workload, and utilise our given processes, systems, and parameters to overcome barriers

• Support funder account management and compliance through planning, financial budgeting, and record keeping. 

• Ensure that systems and processes are effective, and that our database is updated and utilised as the central source of information for recording income, supporter interactions and reporting. 

• Ensure all supporters are appropriately thanked and help develop specific supporter journeys.

• Identify potential funding opportunities and contribute to philanthropic discovery exercises across new territories and themes

• Build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders from corporate partners through to community groups.

Please note the key responsibilities of this role are described above. They may be subject to reasonable changes from time to time in line with business needs. 

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Person Specification

Experience (essential)

• Experience in a charity fundraising role.

• A successful track record of building strong internal and external relationships and generating income from a broad range of funders

• Experience in fundraising preferably from Trust and Foundations; both family, corporate and individual, and partnership bid development.

• Experience in all aspects of donor cultivation (research, writing, follow-up, and stewardship), required

• Experience closing gifts at the six-figure level, including complex gifts using a variety of giving vehicles

• Pipeline development and management thereof, to ensure multi year planning and team financial target contributions are reflected.

• Proven track record in achieving financial and non-financial targets and in forecasting/ setting KPI’s

• Experience in identifying and acquiring new business opportunities and creatively retaining long term funder relationships

• Knowledge of prospect research techniques

• Maintaining a library of templated materials

Experience (desirable)

• Knowledge of place-based fundraising

• Experience working with under-represented communities 

• Enthusiastic “all hands-on deck” style team player; able to operate and collaborate across multiple teams and thrive in a fast-paced culture

• Advancing or building digital capabilities to support work activities

• Managing relationship milestones in collaboration with colleagues to include performance tracking, solicitations and reporting 

Skills (essential)

• Commitment to the aims and ethos of Right to Succeed and a genuine desire to bring about positive change for children and young people. 

• Knowledge or experience in a broad range of high value income generation practices and legislation

• Highly proactive and organised, with strong project management skills including multitasking and attention to detail

• An ability to identify, research and qualify potential donors and explore networks.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages to different audiences and craft compelling grant proposals

• Ability to nurture, develop and promote effective relationships and communicate with colleagues, community members and funders

• Strong cross team planning and organisation skills ensuring lead time processes for tight deadlines, consultation and proofing 

• Experience in utilising a range of printed and electronic resources and in working with databases to build a strong pipeline of funding and diverse portfolio of supporters

• Confident networker and relationship builder with excellent interpersonal, presentation, and negotiation skills

• Understanding of financial planning and business plans, ability to analyse accounts and data to inform funder activities, decision making and forecasting.

• Demonstrable IT skills and the ability to learn detailed processes quickly and accurately.

Qualifications & knowledge (desirable)

• Awareness of local areas, key challenges and understanding of current contexts 

• In-depth knowledge of education improvement and community development

• Demonstrated experience with Google Suite, fundraising CRM, project management tools

• CIOF or equivalent sector membership or qualification

• Sector Peer Network Participation and knowledge building 

• Fundraising compliance knowledge – inc Data Protection and Due Diligence

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Timetable 
Applications invited by 12:00pm Monday 19th May 2025
First Stage Interviews: Ongoing as applications received
This will be a two-stage interview process with a task to be prepared for stage 2.

Please note we will be interviewing candidates as applications are received and may close the vacancy earlier if a suitable candidate is identified. Candidates are advised to apply as early as possible.
These dates may be subject to change. 

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day. The Macular Society is the only charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world class research, and the best advice and support.

To support people affected by macular disease now, the Macular Society provides a range of support, information and services. Our research programme is focused on finding new treatments and a cure to Beat Macular Disease forever.

This exciting role is responsible for delivering income from a range of donors and prospects, with a focus on trusts and foundations, lottery and statutory sources, as well as HNWI. We are looking for an ambitious and strategic fundraiser with a proven track record of raising significant funds from charitable trusts and foundations, lottery and statutory sources as well as HNWI, who, alongside our existing team, will help to grow and develop this area of fundraising for the Macular Society. The post holder will have a proven eye for detail, an analytical nature, first class relationship management skills and a flair for writing successful applications.

In return, we provide a great working culture – we do something worthwhile and are proud to work together to Beat Macular Disease – as recognised by our inclusion in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023 list. 

We offer flexible working options, 26 days annual leave, rising to 27 after one years’ service, the ability to buy or sell annual leave, supportive family policies, and 6% pension contribution.

We are passionate about treating people fairly and as equals, doing so is instinctive to us. To Beat Macular Disease for all we know we have work to do. That’s why we are keen to hear from people of all backgrounds who have the skills and experience we are looking for. We particularly encourage applications from people from under-represented groups, to help ensure what we do and how we do it is inclusive – for everyone.

• Location: Remote

Salary: £38,000-£42,000
Contract Type: Permanent
 
About Police Care UK
 
Police Care UK traces its roots back to 1926 following the merger of the charities Police Dependants’ Trust and the National Police Fund. Our mission is to reduce the impact of harm on police and their families across the UK.
 
The Charity is currently undergoing a period of growth and development and has transformed from a traditional benevolent organisation to a leader in the blue light sector. This exciting phase is allowing us to expand both our services and our reach. With our office based in Woking, Surrey, we operate throughout the UK to deliver groundbreaking research, innovation, and evidence-based action that supports the police community in coping with the impact of policing. Our work has included targeted projects within police forces aimed at improving wellbeing as well as providing emotional and financial support to serving and veteran officers, staff, and their families.
 
Who We’re Looking For:
 
We are seeking a proactive and highly self-motivated Fundraising Manager to join our team at Police Care UK and make a critical contribution towards our combined annual fundraising target of approximately £1 million.
 
With knowledge of the funding landscape for first responders, police, mental health, or wellbeing causes, you will take direct responsibility for income from Trusts & Foundations, Major Donors, and legacy fundraising, alongside oversight of our challenge and community events.
 
With strong research and writing skills, you’ll identify new funding opportunities and produce compelling, high-quality applications. You’ll also bring excellent relationship-building abilities, managing key donor relationships with care and ensuring grant compliance to maximise impact and income.
 
If you have a strong track record in securing significant income from trusts, foundations, grant-making bodies and major donors, and a commitment to improving mental health outcomes for those who serve, we’d love to hear from you.
 
Main Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver a trusts and foundations fundraising strategy to meet agreed income targets.
• Research and identify new funding opportunities from trusts, foundations, and statutory sources.
• Write compelling, tailored funding proposals, applications, and reports.
• Work closely with finance and clinical teams to monitor and report on grant expenditure.
• Organise meetings, presentations, and site visits to engage and inspire funders.
• Provide timely updates, reports, and impact statements to funders.
• Build and maintain strong, personalised relationships with major donors through regular communication and engagement.
• Plan and deliver an effective legacy marketing strategy.
• Champion Police Care UK and the support it provides to our police, their families and the wider police service.

 
Experience:
 

• Proven experience in securing significant income from trusts, foundations, or grant-making bodies.
• Experience of raising substantial fundraising income and achieving performance targets.
• Building and nurturing relationships with grant-making bodies.
• Setting and achieving ambitious income targets from major donors.
• Experience or understanding of effective legacy marketing and administration processes.
• Working with the marketing team to showcase donor impact through storytelling and recognition opportunities.
• Working effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience of setting, managing and delivering against budgets, reporting on KPIs, variances and re-forecasting.
• Managing multiple deadlines and working under pressure.

 
Knowledge:

• Knowledge of the funding landscape for first responders, police, wellbeing and mental health causes.
• Understanding of financial budgeting and grant compliance.
• The regulatory environment for charities, Gift Aid, Fundraising Code of Conduct.
• Proficiency in fundraising databases and Microsoft Office.

Skills:

• Exceptional communication skills.
• Strong research skills to identify new funding opportunities.
• Preparing compelling, tailored proposals to inspire significant philanthropic gifts.
• Analyse donor trends and provide insights to enhance major donor fundraising strategies.
• Maintain a pipeline of prospects and manage a calendar of funding applications and deadlines.
• Strong relationship-building skills with funders and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to craft persuasive funding applications.

 
Additional:

• Pro-active and highly self-motivated.
• The ability to change and adapt to changing needs and circumstances.
• Ability to work collaboratively and to support a skill sharing agenda.
• An empathy with the police service and the welfare needs of police officers and their families.

Hours of work: The basic hours of work are 35 hours, Monday – Friday
Location: Remote
 
How to Apply: If you’re ready to join a forward-thinking charity that values innovation, empathy, and collaboration, we’d love to hear from you. You will need to submit your CV and a detailed cover letter explaining why you’re the right fit for this role. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as you are able.
 
Limitations
 
This job description is neither exclusive nor exhaustive. The duties and responsibilities may vary from time to time in the light of changing circumstances in consultation with the jobholder.
The jobholder will be required to work within the rules and regulations of the Charity and accept the authority of the Chief Executive, who has the discretion to delegate authority to the jobholder and to withdraw it.
 
Equal Opportunities Policy
 
The Charity is committed to eliminating any discrimination and promoting diversity and equality of opportunity in all it does. The Charity is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, and we will not unlawfully discriminate against job applicants, employees of the Charity, volunteers, workers, or contract workers on the grounds of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins) religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
 
REF-221397

IPSEA is the leading charity in the field of special educational needs and disability (SEND) law in England, and we provide free and independent legal advice and support to families of children and young people with SEND. We also provide training on the SEND legal framework, and we influence policy at both a local and national level.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Trusts and Philanthropy Officer to join our small, ambitious fundraising team. IPSEA has a proven track record of successfully securing grants, and this is a new role designed to help strengthen and grow IPSEA’s income from charitable Trusts and Foundations. You will be responsible for researching new funding opportunities, preparing and submitting tailored applications and reports, and managing relationships with existing funders through thoughtful and timely stewardship. You will also support the early development of strategies in major gifts and wider philanthropy. 

This role is an opportunity to play a key role in our future fundraising strategy and help secure long-term financial sustainability for our services. 

You will work remotely, with occasional travel required for essential meetings approximately 4-5 times per year. 

If you share our commitment to protecting, promoting and upholding the rights of children and young people with SEND and would like to use your fundraising skills at IPSEA, we would love to hear from you. 

To apply

• Download our ‘Trusts and Philanthropy Officer Recruitment Pack’
• Visit our website to download an application form
• Submit your completed application form via our website

Please note that we do not accept CVs as applications.

Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 12 May 2025 
First-round interviews: 21 or 22 May in central Birmingham