Grants and impact manager jobs

Trusts and Foundations Manager
Permanent | Full time
Ideally 1 or 2 days a week in either in Coventry or Middlesbrough
circa £38,000 - £45.000 per annum

Are you an experienced trusts & foundations fundraiser looking to join a much loved charity which supports babies and young children who have life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.

Aquilas is delighted to be supporting Zoe’s Place in the appointment of a new Trusts and Foundations Manager, a key role at an exciting time of growth for the charity.

About the charity

Zoe’s Place is the only baby specific hospice charity in the UK, providing specialist palliative, respite and end of life care for children aged 0 to 5 with life limiting and life-threatening conditions. They offer a safe, nurturing and joyful environment where families can feel completely supported. With their dedicated nurses delivering 24-hour care, they work together to make every moment of childhood count.

About the role:

Supporting the delivery of Zoe’s Place overall income generation strategy, by researching, record keeping, applying and reporting to a portfolio of trusts and foundations to deliver long term sustainable income growth for the Trust. Overall accountability for capital projects across the Trust

Key Responsibilities:

Account manage the trust and foundations fundraising function   

• Contribute to the maintenance of a comprehensive database for both hospice sites of all relevant grant making trusts and keep up to date with changes in the sector.
• Develop and write applications and bids to a wide range of funders as required.
• Work collaboratively with the Head of Fundraising and fundraising colleagues to ensure all funding opportunities are maximised
• Manage and develop relationships with new and existing funding partners.
• Work collaboratively with Director of Clinical Services, clinical teams and finance to prepare bids and reports.
• Ensure funding partners receive timely and appropriate information about the progress and outcomes of projects including written reports and evaluation in accordance with requirement.
• Responsible for delivery of income targets.
• Ensure excellent relationships are maintained with current, past and prospective funders so the Zoes Place Trust name is associated with honesty and high standards of service delivery.
• Organise visits and tours for trustees of charitable foundations if requested to both Middlesbrough and Coventry sites.

 Administration and pipeline

• Use our fundraising CRM and in line with GDPR to ensure accurate and timely record keeping allowing for good stewardship.
• Carry out detailed research on prospective foundations, identify and maintain a calendar for submitting applications.
• Working with an income pipeline / tracker to ensure accurate and timely financial forecasting, identifying risk to income and mitigating accordingly.
• Ensure activities comply with current law, guidance and best practice of the Fundraising Regulator

Person Specication:

• strong track record in Trusts and Foundations fundraising
• Experience of working in the charity Sector
• Excellent and persuasive writing skills and a sharp eye for details
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills

To Apply:

To receive a candidate pack or arrange a confidential conversation, please contact:

Kieran McGorrian, Head of Not for Profit Appointments, Aquilas (contact details in candidate pack)

Applications close 5pm Monday 20th April

Aquilas are wholly committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and we warmly welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates.  We are truly invested in our candidates and being supportive and informative throughout the application journey

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.

Job Title: Business Development Manager (Fundraising & Earned Income)

Responsible to: Chief Executive

Location: Hybrid (with some in-person work as required)

Fulltime Salary: £42k pro rata (£25,200 for 3 days a week), dependent on experience 

Contract: Part-time (3 days a week), Permanent (subject to funding)

Role Purpose

The Business Development Manager will lead income generation for Sounddelivery Media, securing funding through grants, partnerships, and earned income from services offered to the SDM network and external clients. The role is critical to SDM’s sustainability and long-term growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver SDM’s business development and income generation strategy.

• Develop earned-income opportunities, including consultancy, training, production, and services for the SDM network and beyond.

• Build and manage relationships with funders, commissioners, partners, and clients.

• Lead on writing high-quality funding applications, proposals, and pitches.

• Work with senior staff to develop budgets, pricing, and cost recovery models.

• Track income pipelines and report on progress and performance.

• Support organisational sustainability planning and strategic growth.

• Develop and implement effective strategies to utilise digital platforms in income generation and stakeholder immersive experiences. Including the effective use of online shopping and social media platforms.

• Work with the CEO to develop and deliver Sounddelivery Media’s ambitious income generation strategy, securing both our annual operating budget.

• Accountable for all fundraising and voluntary income generation, expanding further into major Corporate Partnerships, Philanthropy, Trusts & Foundations, Statutory Bodies, Grant makers, Major Gifts, Government Contracts, Supporter Engagement etc

• Prepare operational budgets for all income generation activities.

• Set clear, ambitious, measurable targets for income generating activity, making effective use of benchmarking and industry standards.

Person Specification

Experience (Essential):

• Proven experience in fundraising, business development, or income generation within the charity or social enterprise sector.

• Strong track record of securing grant funding and/or earned income.

• Excellent proposal and bid-writing skills.

• Strong financial literacy and experience developing budgets.

• Confident relationship builder with excellent communication skills.

Experience (Desirable):

• Experience of developing services for networks or membership organisations.

• Knowledge of the media, creative, or cultural sectors.

• Experience working with Corporate Partnerships, Philanthropy, Trusts & Foundations, Statutory Bodies, Grant makers, Major Gifts, Government Contracts, Supporter Engagement etc

• Proven experience delivering significant growth and working to sustain the income of organisations turnover up to £1 million.

• Experience of financial literacy, analysis and forecasting skills.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to work on own initiative with minimum supervision

• Ability to carry out tasks in a meticulous and methodical manner and pay close attention to detail

Flexibility & Commitment

• An open and flexible attitude, willing to work as part of a team

• Honesty and integrity to maintain confidential information and data and handle money

Make a real difference in your community! 

As TCF Programme Officer, you’ll be at the heart of two exciting funding programmes: the Thurrock Community Fund, supporting local voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise projects, and the new ‘#I Will Fund’ from the National Lottery, empowering youth-led social action. 

You’ll coordinate applications, grants, and reporting, ensuring both funds run smoothly and fairly—giving you the chance to see your work directly benefit local people and projects that matter.

#Community Fund Programme Officer. #Programme Officer. #Community 

We have an exciting opportunity to join the National Lottery Awards For All England team.  This is a permanent vacancy based within our Newcastle or Birmingham offices.  You will be hybrid working between the office, home and community settings.

​Awards For All provides funding for grassroots and community projects. Funding Managers are responsible for coordinating the whole lifecycle of our grant- making, placing communities at the heart of what we do.

As a Funding Manager you will have a team of Funding Officers to support and manage, ensuring high levels of performance. You will have excellent people management skills and be able to coach and motivate staff, creating a constructive, inclusive and positive culture.

You will have strong attention to detail as you will be responsible for the allocation of work, workload management, risk management, decision-making and quality assurance activities.

You will deliver excellent customer service and use feedback to improve what we do, whilst also drawing on your own learning and experience, ensuring our funding responds to the needs of those we serve.

Together with our other Funding Managers on the programme, you will report into the Head of Funding and work flexibly and collaboratively with peers across the organisation at various levels.

Interview Details:

Interview Date: Wednesday 6th May 2026 

Format: Virtual

Location: Hybrid working from home and either Newcastle or Birmingham office

If you would like an informal conversation about the role specifically, please contact the recruitment team.

Any questions about the recruitment process, please email the recruitment team.

​How to Apply

Upload your CV in Word format and write a supporting statement of up to 1000 words. We'll use the following criteria to score your application – so you should show how you meet them in your supporting statement.

Essential criteria

• Experience of driving a high-performance inclusive culture through an ability to coach, involve and empower people, with a particular emphasis on learning and development.
• Direct experience of line and performance management. Ability to set clear objectives and expectations, manage underperformance promptly and fairly and recognize good performance meaningfully and consistently.
• Ability to build and maintain excellent relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to lead through change, remaining flexible, adaptable and proactive. Ability to engage with ongoing transition and support the team to do the same.
• Demonstrates empathy, self-awareness and resilience, handling difficult conversations with sensitivity and managing own emotions and positive behaviour.
• Plans and prioritises work effectively, allocates resources responsibly and manages capacity ensuring the team works efficiently.
• Demonstrates a strong sense of personal and professional responsibility, fostering an environment of trust, respect and credibility.

​Desirable criteria

• Demonstrates a deep understanding of the challenges and barriers the VCSE sector face.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

Location: National Support Centre, London SE1

Contract: Full time, permanent

Salary: £40k

Closing Date: 1st May 2026

Marine Society have an exciting new role! Help us deliver and expand our core bursary and welfare services and support the needs of seafarers. You will manage our highly renowned Slater scholarship fund and other training bursaries, together with the Coming Ashore mentoring programme and careers advice and guidance resources.

You’ll be expected to have a good understanding of seafaring training and certification requirements and have experience of working in the not-for-profit sector. A background working in the maritime sector is helpful but not essential.

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure and also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development. Working with our employees, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a strong vision and five-year Future Ready strategy to meet the growing demand for what we provide, both for young people, seafarers and maritime professionals – and the thousands who aspire to be the sea cadets and marine professionals of the future. It is also about equipping them to achieve their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing world, while growing our charity to benefit even more people – including those from under-represented or marginalised groups.

We are currently looking for a Bursary and Welfare Manager to join our team.

About the role

This new role is to manage the bursary and welfare services of Marine Society. This requires an in depth understanding of seafarer’s needs and the training and certification they require to progress in their careers, both at sea and ashore. The manager will also oversee wider aspects of careers information and guidance and assisting with fundraising activity

Responsibilities

· Assess and process all bursary applications, including Slater Scholarships, Worcester, Hanway and Green Skills bursaries against clearly defined eligibility criteria

· Authorise the award of financial bursaries and approve beneficiary claims and expenses

· Maximise the use bursary funding and ensure successful outcomes for beneficiaries

· Identify new bursary funding opportunities and devise bids in collaboration with the fundraising team

· Manage the bursary and Coming Ashore programme restricted funds. Monitor and report on expenditure and activity

· Manage the operation of the Coming Ashore mentoring programme and ensure its sustainability

· Produce statistical reports and analysis pertaining to bursaries and welfare services for internal and external stakeholders.

· Put in place and maintain online and physical resources that provide seafarers with information, advice and guidance and supports maritime career development.

· To lead the annual Matrix accreditation process

· Work with the Digital Marketing Coordinator to ensure the effective marketing of bursary and welfare provision through a range of media and ensure the website remains up to date and relevant to seafarer needs.

· Represent Marine Society on external committees and forums that relate to welfare, including Merchant Navy Welfare Board and Nautilus Slater Management Committee

Requirements

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualifications/experience
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the training needs of UK and international seafarers including their welfare and certification routes within the maritime sector both at sea and ashore
• Experience of working as team leader or manager in the not-for-profit sector
• Experience of preparing and presenting reports to management team and funders as required
• Ability to use social media and press effectively to inform and promote seafarer welfare and professional development.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave per annum increasing with length of service
• Hybrid working for many roles
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling
• Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire. 

All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre-employment checks including a criminal record check.

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.

Description 

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Head of Fundraising to lead and further develop our fundraising activity at a pivotal time for the Cathedral. This is a strategic and hands on role, working closely with the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Management Team to secure the resources needed to sustain and grow the Cathedral’s mission, ministry and buildings. 

You will take the lead on generating fundraising income, primarily through trusts and foundations, while also developing appeals, legacy giving, regular giving and new fundraising income streams. You will build on the strong foundations already in place, bringing creativity, rigour and collaboration to everything you do. 

The role 

As Head of Fundraising, you will: 

• Lead relationships with trusts and foundations, identifying opportunities, writing compelling applications and managing reporting and compliance 

• Drive major fundraising bids to support the Cathedral’s Estates Masterplan and strategic priorities 

• Develop and deliver fundraising appeals and pilot new initiatives to diversify income 

• Grow legacy and regular giving, building a sustainable pipeline of long-term supporters 

• Lead supporter care, engagement and fundraising events 

• Oversee fundraising communications and profile raising activity 

• Work collaboratively across the Cathedral to develop fundable projects and shared ownership of fundraising 

• Manage the fundraising budget and report progress to the Senior Management Team and Finance Committee 

• Act as Line Manager for the Development Officer 

This role combines strategic thinking with practical delivery and will suit someone who enjoys working in a small, committed team where no two days are the same. 

What we're looking for 

• Proven experience in fundraising, particularly trusts and foundations 

• A strong track record of writing successful funding applications generating over £250,000pa 

• Excellent relationship building and communication skills 

• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and external partners 

• Empathy with the values, mission and worshipping life of a Christian cathedral 

• A calm, organised and proactive approach, with strong attention to detail 

• A clear commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and best practice 

Experience in cathedral, church, heritage or charity settings is welcome but not essential — we are keen to hear from candidates with transferable skills from other sectors. 

Why join us? 

You will be part of a warm, committed community, working in a unique historic setting and helping ensure Portsmouth Cathedral continues to thrive for generations to come. 

 
Benefits 

• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days per annum (FTE) plus public holidays and 2 'given' days over Christmas. Pro rata for this part-time role. 

• Employer pension contributions of 7% plus 1% employee contribution. 

• Commitment to professional development and training 

• Cash health plan 

Portsmouth Cathedral is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a member of Inclusive Church.   

Interviews in person Tuesday 5 May 2026

Lead the future of youth opportunity in Bristol.
Drive income, build partnerships, and change young lives every day.

Young Bristol is looking for an ambitious and passionate Head of Fundraising & Communications to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our charity and the thousands of young people we support.

This is more than a fundraising role. It’s a unique opportunity to take ownership of income generation at one of Bristol’s leading youth charities, working at a time of exciting growth as we approach our 100-year anniversary. You’ll lead our fundraising strategy, grow a diverse income portfolio, and build meaningful partnerships that directly enable young people to thrive.

Working closely with our Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team and Trustees, you will drive sustainable income across trusts, corporates, major donors and events, while also leading communications that bring our impact to life. From powerful storytelling to strategic relationship-building, your work will ensure more young people have access to safe spaces, trusted adults, inspiring activities, and life-changing opportunities.

We’re looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach — a confident communicator, relationship builder and leader who is motivated by purpose and driven to make a difference.

In return, you’ll join a values-driven, supportive team who truly believe in every young person and are committed to helping them discover what they are capable of.

If you’re ready to lead, inspire and create lasting impact across Bristol’s communities, we’d love to hear from you.

Closing date for applications is 17:00 on Wednesday 22nd April

Interviews will take place on the Wednesday 29th April, in person at our main offices. BS14 Youth Centre, Stockwood Lane, Bristol. BS14 8SJ

Are you passionate about supporting and improving the lives of marginalised young people and their families? Think of yourself as super-organised? Want a role where no day will look the same? Then read on as this could be the job for you!

Ignite Life is a small, grassroots charity based in Bristol that aims to support young people and families overcome adversity by providing holistic care tailored to individual needs.

Ignite Life believes that every young person, regardless of their background, deserves equal access to support services to thrive.

We work with our community, with other organisations and with schools to reach those deemed 'hard to reach' and help close the gap disadvantaged young people face when accessing support. Ignite focuses on relieving the needs of disadvantaged and/or marginalised young people through supporting with wellbeing and mental health, educational support, food poverty, family support, access to sport and other life changing opportunities.

Ignite Life offers a range of services including mentoring, talking therapy, 1:1 Counselling for young people and families, food support, cooking workshops and community events

About the role

As the Operations Manager, accountable to the Board of Trustees, you will be responsible for the day to day running of all activities in relation to the operation of Ignite Life. You will ensure the provision of high-quality services and compliance with contractual and organisational standards, as well as working in partnership with the Fundraising Manager to ensure income generation for the charity.

This is a full-time, permanent position based at our office in Staple Hill, Bristol BS15. Whilst the post is mainly office based; there is some flexibility for hybrid working.

If you're committed to making a positive difference to the lives of people in our local community and want to bring your excellent organisational skills to a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

As the Operations Manager you will:

● Have operational leadership of the charity, ensuring day to day systems and practices are in good order and operating efficiently and effectively

● Support the Board of Trustees to set annual goals for Ignite Life

● Being the Designated Safeguard Lead for all of Ignite Life’s services.

● In partnership with the Fundraising Manager, ensure a consistent fundraising strategy for the charity is in place, including developing new partnerships and funding streams.

● Taking overall responsibility for the charity’s Health and Safety, and GDPR.

● Have oversight of charity’s financial position, including budgeting and updating managed accounts.

● Provide leadership for the core team of staff and volunteers (around 39 – 5 contracted counsellors and 1 clinical supervisor, 1 full-time employed staff member, 13 volunteers, 14-20 contracted youth mentors).

● Undertake regular and effective reporting to the Trustees.

● Manage annual reporting with the Charity Commission.

About You:
We're looking for someone who is extremely organised, can confidently manage a busy workload while building strong relationships with staff, volunteers and other agencies. You'll bring proven operational experience, alongside a real desire to work in an environment that focuses on supporting and improving the lives of marginalised young people and their families.

You’ll be able to demonstrate the following:

• An ability to build relationships with various stakeholders
• An understanding of mentoring and counselling practice and procedures.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and practice.
• Excellent and various organisational skills in multiple areas.
• Ability to analyse data and produce clear, evidence-based reports.
• Experience working directly with children and young people.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please send in your cv and a cover letter demonstrating how you meet the criteria.

Stella Maris UK is seeking an experienced and strategic Head of International Programmes to drive delivery of our international strategy and strengthen our global network.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for building strong relationships with international partners, identifying programme opportunities, and securing sustainable funding from corporates, trusts and foundations. The role will oversee the development and delivery of high-impact projects, ensure effective grant management and reporting, and support capacity building across the global Stella Maris network.

The role requires regular international travel to build partnerships, support programme delivery, and represent Stella Maris at meetings, conferences and network events.

We are looking for a confident leader with a strong track record in international development, grant fundraising, and stakeholder management, alongside the ability to translate strategy into delivery.

Role overview 

This newly created senior role strengthens The Young Foundation’s strategic business development function and supports income growth across the full range of our programmes and partnerships. The post will provide expertise in fundraising and procurement processes including approaches to philanthropic funders and investor circles as well as formal tendering, dealing with a range of funding modalities from research grants to commercial consultancy and trusts and foundations. 

Key responsibilities 

Business development and income growth

• Lead high‑value income generation processes, including building consortia, securing philanthropic funding, and delivering high quality formal tenders, coordinating inputs from across our delivery teams.

• Oversee the preparation of costed proposals and pitches for a diverse range of funders, including research councils, local authorities, commercial consultancy, and philanthropic trusts. 

• Support the continued growth and impact of The Young Foundation’s external-facing activity, aligning business development with communications and policy work. 

• Manage a robust pipeline, tracking opportunities and ensuring strategic alignment with organisational priorities.

• Develop budgets, pricing models, and partnership structures for commissioned work.

• Identify new funding and commissioning opportunities through horizon scanning, network engagement, and proactive outreach.

• Collaborate with senior colleagues to refine and grow thematic and programme areas.

• Support and advise colleagues across the organisation on approaches to business development including opportunity identification, competitive analysis, structuring meetings, building consortia and financial models. 

Partnerships, networks and relationship management

• In collaboration with programme delivery leads, build and steward relationships with funders, commissioners, consortium partners and strategic collaborators.

• Lead account management for key partners to support long‑term growth and mutual value creation.

BD leadership, systems and strategy

• Create, improve and maintain appropriate BD systems, processes and tools, including pipelines, trackers and lessons‑learned approaches.

• Contribute to organisational strategy and planning and, in particular, to fundraising strategy and external affairs.

• Create and monitor BD metrics, reporting on feedback and recommending appropriate courses of action.

• Manage a repository of BD data and information, including track record, capacity statements, boilerplate bid sections, etc.

• Champion The Young Foundation’s values, ensuring inclusive, ethical and community‑centred practice. 

Person specification  

Prior experience – essential  

• Substantial experience of leading/managing business development and income generation for a think tank or similar research/innovation led organisation. 

• Track record of securing income across a range of relevant funders through both competitive tenders and proactive approaches.

• Strong commercial acumen.

• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills.

• Understanding of UK government and non-government sectoral funding landscapes.

• Strong network in the UK community and/or social innovation sector.

• Commitment to equity and social justice.

• Demonstrated collaborative approach to team-working – able to work effectively with colleagues with a range of specialisms and to operate effectively in a remote-first organisation. 

Prior experience - desirable 

• Experience with the introduction of CRM software.

• Familiarity with creating and reporting on BD metrics at Senior Leadership Team and/or Board level.

• Experience of/interest in exploring the impact of AI in business development and fundraising. 

• Familiarity and/or previous experience with The Young Foundation’s thematic areas (eg, community engagement, just transition, social innovation, young people, etc.). 

How to apply

Please apply directly via CharityJob, ensuring you complete the application form.

As part of your application, please include a cover letter addressing the following questions:

• Where do you see the greatest business development opportunities for The Young Foundation over the next 24 months? 

• In an increasingly competitive market, how would you seek to position The Young Foundation for opportunities, in light of the charity’s mission, purpose, vision and expertise? 

• What is your approach to building and strengthening positive relationships to drive income growth? 

The closing date for applications is 12pm on 20 April 2026 

The selection process will involve an interview and a presentation task.

Interviews are expected to take place w/c 4 May 2026 

Who we are and why we are needed

The Fore is creating a society that solves its own problems. Each year we provide funding and skills to the best grassroots charities and social enterprises in the UK and we are growing. 

Across the UK, talented people within communities are building practical solutions to our most complex challenges – from poverty and mental health to education, exclusion and sustainability. However, the vast majority of these solutions do not achieve their potential to drive wider change across society because of failures in how the funding system works. 

The Fore is the UK’s only venture philanthropy fund that has cracked the code in how to identify and distribute funding to turbocharge grassroots innovation and catalyse change. Since 2017, The Fore has been backing the best small charities and social enterprises with astonishing results. So far over 50% of local organisations supported eight years ago have gone on to influence policy, shape national conversations and change lives at scale.

Currently The Fore is funding around 50 of the best charities per year and supporting hundreds of others with skills. However, as an organisation we need to do more. We are looking to scale our impact through two routes. Firstly, by increasing our work backing the best charities and convening and educating donors, and secondly by leading change in the broader funding system.

The role

In the next phase of The Fore’s development, it is a priority for the CEO to be able to concentrate on building the external profile and influence of The Fore’s work. Therefore, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will play a central role in leadership as the organisation develops. The role translates strategy into delivery, providing oversight across grant making, partnerships, people, and governance, and ensuring the organisation can deliver on its ambitions while managing risk and capacity. We’re a small, agile charity so you’ll work across both high-level direction and day-to-day organisational delivery. In the next eighteen months, the COO will have responsibility for designing and delivering on a number of key strategic priorities, such as:

• ensuring the continued excellence of the grant and skills support we provide to the charities and social enterprises we back
• building out and refining existing activities and processes to ensure exceptional relationship management for our growing number of corporate and private philanthropic partners
• working with the CEO to develop the Partnerships Team to set it up for scaling and to meet the needs of new partnership models
• incorporating the use of AI into our systems and processes to streamline operations wherever possible while safeguarding the personalised experience we pride ourselves on offering all our partners.

Key responsibilities

Grant making and programme delivery

• Provides strategic oversight of the grant-making model, ensuring alignment with The Fore’s overall mission and priorities
• Acts as a senior advisor and escalation point for the Programme Team on complex decisions and delivery challenges
• Ensures that operational delivery reflects agreed strategy, including any shifts in focus, criteria, or approach

Partnerships and income

• Provides strategic oversight of funder relationships and income streams, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and capacity
• Supports colleagues to shape high-quality proposals, renewals, and reporting
• Ensures the organisation delivers on all funding commitments, maintaining credibility and trust with funders
• Ensures that The Fore’s external messaging and positioning are clear, compelling and aligned with partner priorities
• Acts as a senior escalation point for complex funder relationships or delivery challenges
• Supports the ongoing development of The Fore’s Pro Bono (skilled volunteering) offer, ensuring it delivers meaningful value to charities while remaining a compelling and well-structured proposition for corporate partners
• Leads the commercialisation and rollout of the Fore Index (a tool that allows organisations to put a £ value on their impact), securing partners and funding to support its expansion beyond The Fore’s portfolio

Impact, data and systems

• Holds responsibility for the organisation’s impact framework, ensuring it is credible, proportionate, and aligned with strategic priorities
• Ensures data and insight are used effectively to inform decision-making, reporting, and external positioning
• Ensures that insight and impact are translated into clear, compelling external communications to support The Fore’s positioning and influence

People and internal operations

• Holds responsibility for the effective functioning and integration of programme delivery and partnerships activity, ensuring teams are well supported and operating efficiently
• Leads and manages core operational staff, including the Head of Programmes and Impact, Partnerships and Programme Managers, and Partnerships and Programme Officers
• Manages performance, wellbeing, and retention, fostering a high-performing and sustainable team culture
• Works closely with the CEO and trustees to support the development and delivery of strategic initiatives, ensuring these are operationally viable and effectively implemented
• Holds oversight responsibility for The Fore’s physical office space and equipment, managing lease and facilities contracts
• Oversees IT and systems, managing contracts for IT support, Salesforce, and other platforms

Governance, compliance, risk and finance

• Oversees the organisation’s financial management, risk management, and operational governance, ensuring robust and proportionate processes are in place
• Working with the external finance team, provides oversight of budgeting and financial performance, ensuring alignment between income, grant commitments, and operational capacity
• Contributes to the development of board and committee papers, leading on operational, financial, and risk-related content to ensure clear reporting
• Ensures appropriate compliance and governance frameworks are in place across grants, partnerships, and operations (including charity insurance, policies, health and safety, safeguarding, GDPR and cyber security)

Experience and attributes

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a senior operations or programme oversight role
• Track record of translating strategy into operational plans and delivery
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
• Track record of developing and sustaining excellent relationships with stakeholders
• Exceptional people management skills
• Strong prioritisation skills and highly organised
• Demonstrable self-starter with excellent follow-through
• Enjoys working in a fast-paced environment with the ability to move between board-level thinking and day-to-day execution
• Takes pride in fostering a friendly, inclusive and productive working environment, with a positive and approachable style

Key details​

• Annual leave: 25 days leave, rising by 1 day for each year of service up to a total of 30 days, plus bank holidays and an additional 4 days during our Christmas closure.
• Location: Our office is based at Vox Studios in Vauxhall, London. We have a hybrid working pattern (three days in the office and two days at home).
• Reports to: CEO

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.