Grants and impact manager jobs

Join The 180 Project at a pivotal moment of growth and transformation. As we scale our impact, expand our social enterprise, we are seeking a Head of Corporate Services to help shape our future.

This is a unique opportunity to combine strategic leadership with hands-on management. Working closely with the Chief Executive, you will strengthen our financial sustainability, build robust systems, and unlock new opportunities through partnerships and income generation. You will play a central role in ensuring the organisation is operationally strong, compliant, and ready to grow, enabling us to reach more people who need us most.

If you are a values-driven leader who thrives on both shaping strategy and making things happen day-to-day, this is a chance to be part of something meaningful and make a lasting impact.

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 

Oxford Hospitals Charity is seeking an enthusiastic, collaborative and organised candidate to join Oxford Hospitals Charity and make a real difference to patients and staff of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

This part-time maternity cover role is up to 30 hours per week, worked across our operating hours Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. 

An excellent communicator, you will enjoy working proactively ‘out and about’ across the hospitals meeting clinical staff and supporting them in identifying potential funding needs, working with them in applying for funding and evaluating the impact of the projects the charity funds. Your energy and enthusiasm, along with your excellent planning and communication skills will enable you to coordinate a wide range of applications and projects as part of the Programme Team.

You will work closely with the wider charity team to develop and enhance new systems and processes to ensure all aspects of the programme are captured.  Whilst experience in a Charity or NHS environment is desirable, we are open to candidates from other backgrounds with transferrable skills and an excellent record of relationship management.

Join our small but impactful team and play a pivotal role in our mission to enhance the hospital environment, procure vital equipment that significantly improves patient care, and contribute to groundbreaking research, staff development, and training.

Based at Head Office, in Saunderton near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, with flexible hybrid working

35 hours per week – Full-time/part-time could be considered

About Us

National charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, trains dogs to transform the lives of deaf people and provides hearing loss services – because nobody with hearing loss should feel alone.

About The Role

Overview:

• Working as part of the Trusts and Foundations department, you will help to deliver the objectives and income targets through your work with Trusts and Foundations.
• Reporting to the Head of Trusts and Foundations, you will work as part of a high-achieving, small but busy department.
• You will be able to develop relationships with colleagues in the wider teams, senior staff, Hearing Dogs trustees, external trusts and foundation managers and administrators.
• To be able to make bids and write applications to maximise financial support from charitable trusts and foundations, philanthropists and major donors.
• A good knowledge of Trusts and Foundation fundraising and experience of delivering excellent stewardship with external stakeholders.
• The Trusts and Foundations team has a target of £1.3m in 2026-27, growing to £2.1m by 2029-30.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Support the Head of Trusts and Foundations to achieve annual targets, including meeting a personal income target each year.
2. Create and deliver high-quality applications for grant funding for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Hearing Link Services, creating a synergy of combined applications to maximise income for both areas of our work.
3. Investigate new projects that may be funded by applying for new restricted grants.
4. Develop relationships with colleagues in fundraising, dog operation team, senior staff, Hearing Dogs Trustees, external Trusts and Foundation managers and administrators.
5. Research the market and develop market knowledge. Establish new partnerships with Trusts, using all relevant and appropriate research techniques to understand their grant-giving criteria.
6. Write and produce compelling trust applications and update reports; to ensure all trusts funding applications are relevant, timely and produced to the highest standard.
7. Record all information on CRM, maintain records and keep records up to date, ensuring future actions are also recorded.
8. Excellent knowledge of database processes and ability to support the team with statistical information.
9. Create reports for income and ensure all templates are up to date.
10. Provide comprehensive funding information to Head of Trusts and Foundations and Director of Income Generation, and regular reporting and recommendations on future funding opportunities.
11. Account manage Trust and Foundation relationships, ensuring the trust receives updates and reports on time.
12. Work collaboratively with colleagues in the Corporate Partnerships and Philanthropy departments to identify opportunities to secure new donors, for example where a major donor may have their own family foundation or where Trusts can attend major donor events.
13. Work closely with the Prospect Research Manager to build a personal pipeline of new Trusts and Foundations.
14. Work closely with the Case for Support and Impact Manager to develop tailored cases and proposals and high-quality reporting with a focus on outcomes and impact. 

About You

The following attributes are considered essential for the job:

• Minimum 3 years' experience 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
• Experience of large-scale bid writing for specific projects over multiple years

The following attributes are considered desirable for the job:

• Formal training or a qualification in fundraising

Please note: This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 due to its duties involving the protection of children and/or adults at risk. Applicants are therefore required to disclose all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, warnings, and reprimands, as well as any relevant non-conviction information. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with the Police Act 1997 (Part V).

Please apply by providing your CV and Cover Letter by 3rd April 2026.

About the role 

At the Motability Foundation, we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. 

We’re building a Transport Solutions Team that can work flexibly across all the tools in our delivery kit – from grants and innovation pilots to research, partnerships, and commercial interventions. This includes a growing portfolio of projects tackling key challenges like inclusive EV charging, complex community transport funding opportunities, and large-scale research such as the National Centre for Accessible Transport. 

We are now recruiting four Transport Solutions Managers to help design and deliver high-impact work across this portfolio. These are pivotal roles that combine subject expertise, delivery capability, and leadership and are designed to work flexibly across our matrix structure. 

Some roles will focus more on funding: exploring new funding mechanisms and managing end-to-end development and delivery of funding opportunities and a team of grant managers. Others will focus more on direct delivery: leading projects, partnerships or research commissions. But all Transport Solutions Managers will be encouraged to develop and contribute across both areas. 

We’re looking for people who bring either or both of these skillsets to the role and who are keen to grow their expertise across the range of tools we use. Whether your background is in grant-making, innovation, systems thinking, or programme delivery, we want to hear from you. 

This is an opportunity to join a collaborative, purpose-led team driving change in the transport system for disabled people and to work on some of the most interesting and impactful projects in the sector. 

What you’ll be doing 

• Lead the design and delivery of impactful projects or funding opportunities, working closely with Programme Directors and colleagues across the Transport Solutions Team. 

• Manage end-to-end delivery of specific initiatives – this could include grants, pilots, commissioned projects, partnerships or other tools – ensuring they are well scoped and aligned to our strategic priorities. 

• Use insight, evidence, and stakeholder engagement to shape the approach to new work, including scoping documents, funding criteria, business cases, and delivery plans. 

• Work flexibly across our matrix team, contributing to projects or funding rounds outside your own portfolio as needed, and supporting colleagues with specialist input or delivery resource. 

• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including charities, researchers, delivery partners and commercial organisations. 

• Manage delivery, budgets, due diligence, risks and outcomes for projects or funding opportunities, ensuring appropriate governance and reporting is in place. 

• Collaborate across teams including Impact & Evaluation, Finance, and Communications to ensure high-quality delivery, learning and visibility of our work. 

• Bring and apply knowledge in key areas such as accessible transport, disability, inclusive innovation, grant-making or systems change. 

• Support the development and continuous improvement of our delivery models, funding mechanisms and ways of working. 

Your experience 

Must haves:  

• Experience managing projects or funding opportunities from inception through to delivery, including planning, delivery, and monitoring, ideally across teams and with external partners or suppliers. 

• Ability to scope and deliver initiatives or funding opportunities using evidence, insight, and engagement with disabled people and other key stakeholders. 

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple, complex workstreams to deadlines in a fast-paced and evolving environment. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across diverse stakeholder groups. 

• Strong data and analysis skills, including the ability to synthesise qualitative and quantitative insight to inform decision-making and strategy. 

• High IT literacy, including confident use of Microsoft Office (especially Excel and PowerPoint). 

• A collaborative and flexible working style, with experience contributing to cross-team initiatives or matrix working. 

Nice to haves: 

• Understanding of disability and transport issues, such as the social model of disability, transport barriers, key legislation etc. 

• Experience delivering or managing grant programmes, innovation pilots, research projects, or cross-sector partnerships. 

• Familiarity with innovation or funding mechanisms such as challenge prizes, agile funding rounds, co-design, systems mapping, or commissioning frameworks. 

• Experience of working in or alongside government, industry, or the not-for-profit sector. 

• Experience supporting or line managing others in a team or project context. 

Centre 404 is looking for an experienced and ambitious Fundraising & Engagement Manager to lead and grow our fundraising and engagement activity—helping us provide vital support to people with learning disabilities and their families. 

You will oversee the development and delivery of innovative fundraising initiatives, donor stewardship, and engagement campaigns, ensuring sustainable growth and increased visibility for the organisation.  As an expert in your field, you will work collaboratively across teams and with external partners, to champion Centre 404’s mission within local communities and beyond.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of Centre 404’s fundraising strategy and drive innovative approaches across individual giving, corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, and community fundraising.  You will play a key role in shaping our income generation, increasing our visibility, and maximising our impact.

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead Fundraising Strategy - develop and deliver a dynamic fundraising strategy across multiple income streams. Identify new opportunities and drive year‑on‑year income growth.
• Engage & Inspire Supporters - build strong relationships with donors, corporate partners, and local communities.  Create compelling fundraising campaigns, events, and cases for support. Nurture long‑term supporter loyalty, including legacy and in‑memory giving.
• Secure Grants & Manage Bids - research and secure funding from trusts and foundations.  Monitor reporting requirements and maintain excellent funder relationships.
• Grow Community & Corporate Partnerships - network widely to raise Centre 404’s profile.  Secure financial support, gifts in kind and employee engagement.  Support individuals and teams to succeed in their own fundraising efforts.
• Strengthen Communications & Impact - work with the Communications Team to create engaging digital content and newsletters.  Champion consistent, mission‑driven messaging across all platforms.
• Lead with Purpose - Embed a fundraising culture across the organisation.  Implement a CRM system to manager data effectively. Contribute to organisational strategy as a member of the management team.

About You

• Substantial experience in fundraising from at least one of the following: trusts and foundations, corporates or individual giving.
• Substantial understanding of charity sector regulations, compliance requirements, and ethical fundraising standards.
• Knowledge of donor stewardship and supporter engagement strategies.
• A track record of achieving and exceeding fundraising targets.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to craft persuasive proposals and campaigns.
• Excellent project management, data monitoring, and CRM experience.
• A proactive, innovative mindset and a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Centre 404 is a warm, values‑driven organisation with a rich history of supporting people with learning disabilities for over 70 years. We are collaborative, ambitious, and committed to creating life‑changing impact for families across North London. We will provide a detailed induction and on-going training and support. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and we are looking to recruit people who share these values. All offers of employment are subject to a relevant DBS check, proof of eligibility to work in the UK and satisfactory references covering a five year period.

We are dedicated to providing a meaningful and rewarding work environment, as well as offering a range of perks and benefits for our staff to enjoy.

Centre 404 is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Charity ref number 299889

Settled is a dynamic charity that supports the rights of EU and Ukrainians citizens who have made the UK their home, through providing expert, multi-lingual services. We seek an experienced communications professional with technical and writing skills, who understands how great communications can boost the profile and sustainability of a charity and help it meet the needs of its beneficiaries. Organising events is also part of the role. If you would like to join our supportive and impactful team, please  include a cover letter which explains how you fulfil the person specification, along with your CV.

At Rethink Mental Illness and Mental Health UK, we’re transforming what support looks like for people severely affected by mental illness. To help us reach even more people, we’re looking for a Prospect Research Manager to shape and lead our prospect research function—providing the intelligence, insight and strategic direction that will fuel our fundraising growth.

If you’re a curious, analytical thinker with a passion for uncovering opportunities and turning insight into impact, this could be your next step.

Online interviews for these roles will be held on 14th, 15th and 16th April.

About the role

As our Prospect Research Manager, you’ll be the driving force behind our high-value prospecting strategy across Philanthropy, Trusts & Grants, and Corporate Partnerships.

You will:

• Lead a proactive research strategy that identifies, qualifies and prioritises high‑value prospects
• Deliver high‑quality profiles, briefings, due diligence and portfolio insights
• Build connection maps to uncover warm pathways into potential partners
• Champion best practice in data, insight, and CRM usage (HIVE & Salesforce)
• Stay ahead of trends in philanthropy, corporate giving and grant-making
• Guide and develop our Prospect Researcher—fostering a culture of curiosity, integrity and collaboration
• Work closely with senior fundraisers to shape portfolios, pipelines and long-term strategy

In short: you’ll make sure our fundraisers have the intelligence they need to build strong, meaningful relationships that change lives.

Who you’ll work with

You’ll collaborate across our high‑performing Fundraising team, including:

• Trusts & Grants Managers
• Philanthropy Manager
• Corporate Partnerships
• Senior leadership across External Affairs

This is a role where your insight will influence decisions at every level.

About you

You’ll thrive in this role if you bring:

Essential skills & experience

• Significant experience in prospect research for fundraising
• Strong knowledge of Philanthropy, Trusts & Grants, and Corporate fundraising
• Ability to lead complex research projects with strategic focus
• Outstanding analytical and communication skills
• CRM confidence (Salesforce experience a big plus)
• Experience with due diligence, connection mapping and portfolio management
• A collaborative, proactive approach to working with teams and stakeholders
• Sound understanding of GDPR, ethics, and the Fundraising Code of Practice
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion—and our mission

Desirable, but not essential

• Knowledge of the mental health or wider health/social care sector
• Experience with wealth screening tools or AI in prospect research

Why join us?

Working across both Rethink Mental Illness and Mental Health UK means you’ll be part of a team that generates nearly £6 million annually to support life-changing services, campaigns, and programmes.

Your insight and leadership will directly contribute to better outcomes for people living with mental illness—and that’s something you can feel proud of every day.

Ready to make a difference?

If you’re excited by the thought of leading insight-driven fundraising research—and want to help us create a world where everyone affected by mental illness gets the support they deserve—we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and help us drive meaningful, lasting change.

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

Come and help us make a difference to the lives of children and young people in Birmingham!

Beyond the Horizon is a Birmingham-based children’s charity supporting young people after bereavement, family breakdown, and domestic abuse. We’re looking for an experienced Finance Manager to join our small, dedicated team.

The Finance Manager is responsible for the effective financial management of Beyond the Horizon Charity. The role requires close attention to detail, strong analytical ability and a proactive approach to maintaining accurate, timely, and compliant financial information.

As a small but dynamic organisation with multiple income streams, including grants, donations, commissioned work and fundraising, the postholder must have previous experience of managing and reporting across varied funding sources.

This role supports both operational efficiency and strategic decision‑making by providing the CEO and Trustees with robust financial information, clear analysis, and well‑founded advice.

Please note this is a hybrid role and some office working will be required (Birmingham)

Are you an outstanding leader, fundraiser and a natural networker? Do you want to help local communities to take practical action to make a difference to UK seas and shores? 

Sea-Changers is looking for a motivated leader to make a step change at a key point in the organisation’s journey. Sea-Changers’ vision is a future where the UK’s seas and shores are clean and healthy and marine species and habitats are protected. Our grants seek to support communities of Sea-Changers – people who care about the seas and want to take practical action to make a difference. Through our grants we enable diverse, grassroots and community-led marine conservation across the UK.

Doubling our income to over £300,000 in 2025 has catalysed Sea-Changers to move from a volunteer-led charity to a sustainable organisation with a dedicated staff team. To enable this, we are seeking to appoint our first Executive Director. This new role will work alongside the Co-Founders and our Board of Trustees and lead the transition from a volunteer-led operation to a staff-led organisation.

As a driven individual, you will build on our success — strengthen partnerships, expand our impact, and help more communities to protect the ocean. Supported by a strong group of volunteers and an impressive Board, the Executive Director will be comfortable working at both a strategic and operation level, and ‘hands on’. By the end of 2027 it is our expectation you will take full responsibility for the strategic leadership and overall operational delivery of Sea-Changers.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for the right individual. It is a chance to build on our success to date, to forge new partnerships with our funders, to motivate and inspire our inspiring volunteer team and to engage with our wide community of applicants. Through Sea-Changers, the Executive Director has the rare chance to deliver a lasting legacy for UK marine conservation.

Strategic leadership, increasing organisational income and managing a motivated team of volunteers are essential aspects to the role. A passion for the marine environment is key, as is a working understanding of UK marine policy. We want someone who passionately advocates for Sea-Changers, who can communicate confidently and credibly at all levels. You will champion our oceans and galvanise others. 

Our focus is on creating libraries of tomorrow with children and young people today.

We want all children and young people to feel at home at the library, to be understood, empowered and inspired. Our collaborative network is made up of member, partners and supporters. We believe in the need for safe spaces and real-life connections to support the demands of modern life. Together, we’re creating change, and you can be a part of it.

This is a pivotal moment of growth and development for Libraries Rising as a young charity. We’re seeking a passionate, skilled manager to join our team. We’re looking for someone to bring the energy and expertise to help us develop and grow over the next 12 months.

We’re looking for:

An experienced project manager who enjoys a flexible and iterative approach.

A proactive leader who is energised by variety, and able to work effectively across diverse topics and themes.

A values led bid writer who has experience of co-creating successful grant funding bids.

A creative thinker who enjoys a productive and responsive environment.

An enthusiastic collaborator who will build strong relationships with our team, members and partners.

We’re looking for someone who lives our values - progressive, collaborative, kind, aspirational and inclusive.

What’s important to us needs to be important to you too. We want to focus on impact, to work openly, to collaborate with and learn from others, to take the time to care for ourselves and each other, and to have fun together. We want to build an environmentally sustainable charity, and we want to be celebrated as an inclusion changemaker in the sector.

About the work

We are an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation. Our members are leaders in children and young people’s public libraries and schools library services (SLS). 

The Development and Delivery Manager (Projects) is a new role for the charity. You will work with a small and growing team, who are passionate about our mission and vision. You will also work with our members (leaders of children’s public library and School Library Service leaders) and sector partners.

We are in the final stages of creating our strategy for the future. You’ll be supporting us with organisational and sector development across all pillars, with a particular focus on our Thriving Charity goals.

Job purpose

To lead and deliver a range priority projects and funding bids for the charity.

The purpose of the role includes:

• To scope and deliver a range of projects to support both organisational and sector developments.
• To convene members and young people to participate in events and workshops, ensuring projects and developments are co-created with stakeholders.
• To compile reviews, reports and options appraisals to aid effective decision making.
• To lead the development and submission of grant and trust funding opportunities.
• To support the shaping, and delivery, of a funding plan to enable delivery of our new charity strategy.
• To ensure creative and flexible use of resources.

What you’ll bring to the role

• Strong project management skills, with experience delivering complex, multi-stakeholder work.
• Track record of delivering to achieve strategic goals and outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise, plan and manage risk.
• Ability to negotiate and influence.
• Experience of identifying funding opportunities and successfully bidding for grant funding.
• Able to work on own initiative and collaborate within a team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent listening skills with the ability to take diverse opinions into account.
• Digitally literate and technologically curious, with experience of Microsoft Office and project software.
• Experience managing and monitoring budgets.
• Experience of facilitating events and workshops.
• Committed to engaging and co-creating with children, young people and families.
• Understanding of the role of libraries within communities.
• Experience of managing partnerships, subcontractors or commissioned work.
• Awareness of GDPR implications and requirements.

Personal qualities

• Empathetic, able to understand a variety of viewpoints that are different to their own.
• Calm under pressure and able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality.
• Confident in building relationships and constructively challenging where needed.
• Thrives when working collaboratively and taking responsibility for delivery.
• Trusts others and inspires trust.
• Ambitious for our charity, the library sector and for children and young people.
• Strategic thinker who can also absorb and analyse detailed information.
• Entrepreneurial, with the ability to spot opportunities and develop them.
• Asks for feedback and is able to accept and act on it to improve their own performance.
• Understanding of inclusion and its importance within a diverse society.
• Commitment to own continued professional development.

Our application process is open to everyone and anyone with the experience we’re looking for. We have a diverse board of trustees, but we know our staff team is not as diverse as we need for the future, as we grow. We particularly welcome applications from people from racialised communities, men, trans or non-binary individuals, and those with hidden or visible disabilities.

Employee benefits include:

25 days annual leave (pro rata) plus Bank Holidays

5% employer pension contribution

Employee Assist Programme – including 24/7 counselling, health support and legal helpline.

A range of discounts on retail, entertainment, travel and wellbeing.

If you have any questions about the role, or want to chat Tabitha, Chief Executive before applying, please get in touch.

All applicants must have an existing Right to Work in the UK. Please also note that appointment will be made subject to collection of two references and a satisfactory DBS check or evidence of a current DBS certificate.

About this role:

We are seeking a motivated and experienced professional to lead our fundraising and partnership development activities, supporting the diversification and growth of income across both established and emerging streams. While the role will place significant emphasis on corporate fundraising, it will also involve the strategic development of grants and trusts. You will develop strong relationships with funders, identify new opportunities, and support our members to build their own grassroots fundraising capabilities.

Working closely with both colleagues and members, you'll help shape our funding strategy, develop high quality proposals, and ensure we have the systems and insight needed for sustainable growth. Your contributions will enable us to expand our work to engage and empower communities across Britain. 

In addition, you will help shape the guidance we provide to members of the community rail movement, strengthening their grassroots fundraising capabilities and approaches.

Main responsibilities

• Manage and grow corporate relationships for the benefit of Community Rail Network and its members, nurturing effective, lasting relationships that help community rail to deliver on its aims around community development, sustainable travel, and inclusion.
• Conduct prospect research to identify new corporate supporters and relevant grant opportunities, taking a proactive approach to cultivating new leads, building networks and flagging upcoming opportunities well in advance to ensure sufficient preparation time.
• Engage, listen and pitch to funders, understanding shared priorities, articulating the value of partnering with us, and securing continued or increased support. 
• Work cross-team to create strong proposals, using member and partner insights to identify funding needs and opportunities, and develop compelling cases for support and budgets.
• Develop joint grant applications by collaborating with colleagues, members and external partners to create bids aligned with our strategic aims and which recognise our current strengths, resources and prioritie
• Support strategic funding development, working closely with the senior leadership team to shape our approach and deliver against funding objectives and ensure it is understood by colleagues.
• Champion a positive fundraising culture and ethos, providing expertise and contributing member support, training, and events across the community rail movement.
• Contribute to wider organisational activity, including using major events and campaigns, such as the Community Rail Awards, to advance fundraising efforts.
• Develop and maintain effective fundraising systems, including funder reporting, review processes, and tracking KPIs to monitor progress and impact.

Skills, competencies and experience

1. Proven skills and experience in third sector fundraising, including corporate fundraising, grant management and funder reporting, with a broad understanding of the full fundraising mix and ability to spot new opportunities.
2. A demonstrable proactive approach to relationship building, with experience engaging and stewarding funders to create long-term mutually beneficial partnerships.
3. Strong proposal/grant application and report writing skills, able to tailor communication for different audiences and stakeholders to maximise clarity, relevance and impact.
4. Excellent verbal and written communication, with the ability to gather insight and inspire engagement both internally and externally.
5. Strong organisational and time management skills, able to balance multiple and competing  priorities and meet deadlines effectively. 
6. Experience of, or demonstrable understanding of, membership organisations, including the ability to balance member needs with our organisational objectives.
7. Appreciation of and commitment to community development, empowerment and sustainability, and the value of community engagement in relation to transport.
8. Solid understanding of KPIs, targets, budgeting, and risk management, with the ability to plan, track and evaluate performance effectively.
9. A proactive, positive and self-motivated mindset, able to work independently, collaborate well, and inspire confidence in others.
10. IT literate, with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, TEAMs, the internet and social media.

Other information

This post is home-based, but with travel (including occasional overnight stays) for team meetings, events, member engagement, and external meetings. This is a permanent position and includes a probationary period of three months from the date of appointment. Successful applicants will need to provide proof that they have the right to work in the UK and provide two references.

Benefits: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising up to 30 days, plus Bank Holidays, in line with long service); pension with employer contribution of 3%; flexi-time working (core hours 10am-3pm); access to Employee Assistance Programme. 

We are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer.

Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.

Volunteer Centre Hackney is a thriving charity (annual income circa £1.1m, with 29 paid staff) providing volunteering infrastructure to the voluntary sector across the City of London and the London borough of Hackney. We support over 1500 residents a year to realise their skills and passions through volunteering and social action, and to share these for the benefit of others. We also provide volunteering resource, and advice and guidance on best practice in volunteer management, to hundreds of charities and community organisations.

Through our specialist programmes, our impact on the lives of residents is huge. We match volunteers to housebound residents to help them engage with communities and leave their homes; we provide long term personalised support to people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities to help them volunteer and find paid jobs; we support patients to deliver hundreds of their own activities and peer support groups at GP practices across City and Hackney; and in partnership with Public Health, we support over 250 Community Health Champions to share vital health messaging with their own diverse communities.  

This is a hands-on and strategic role for an experienced fundraiser who thrives in a small to medium sized charity environment. You will have autonomy to develop a whole new fundraising strategy, utilising diverse fundraising methods, and building and developing new project ideas and partnerships. You will lead on income generation primarily through sourcing and applying to multiple trusts and foundations, but diversified by building new corporate partnerships, community campaigns and individual giving. You will build authentic relationships with funders and supporters, and together with VCH colleagues, will identify new programme models as ways to generate income. You will contribute to the development and production of compelling stories, evidence and marketing and build and maintain the infrastructure needed to track and achieve progress against annual income targets.

Post holders need to have excellent communication skills, to represent the charity in writing and in person. You must be enthusiastic, self-motivating and confident to work primarily alone, but also able to engage and collaborate with staff from across the organisation to share information and impact evidence to support your role. If you are successful in securing funding there will be the potential to recruit additional support, and for you to become the Head of Fundraising of a small team.