Grants programmes officer jobs

About the Shrine

For centuries, the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk has welcomed pilgrims, visitors and communities seeking reflection, connection and renewal.

It remains one of the UK’s most significant centres of pilgrimage. Each year, we receive around 10,000 residential pilgrims and over 100,000 visitors. Our work also includes education programmes, school visits and resources to support the teaching of Christianity in schools and parishes. We are committed to being a place of welcome for all, with particular care for those who come seeking hope, support and a sense of belonging.

Fundraising at the Shrine

The Shrine is supported by donations, membership, legacies and grants, and receives no statutory funding. 
We are now establishing a more structured and professional approach to fundraising and this role will play an important part in supporting the delivery of that activity and helping to build a sustainable income base for the future.

Why this role now?

As the Shrine develops a more proactive approach to fundraising, we are looking for someone who can help ensure that activity is well-organised, consistent and effective.
This is an opportunity to join at an early stage and help build the systems, processes and supporter relationships that will underpin long-term growth.

Job description and terms and conditions

Job Description:  Fundraising Officer

Line Manager:Director of Engagement and Education

Salary:£40,000-£45,000 per annum (pro rata if part time)

Normal place of work:The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, Norfolk, with some flexibility for hybrid working (1-2 days per week remote)

Hours:40 hours per week (may include weekends and Bank Holidays as required)                         

Holiday Terms:25 days plus 8 Bank Holidays (those worked can be taken off in lieu)

Terms: An initial 6 months. The appointment to be confirmed, if satisfactory, after that period. Notice period - 8 weeks

Pension: The company operates a contributory pension scheme, the post holder contributing one third of the premium up to a maximum of five percent of salary.

Meals: During the Pilgrimage Season (1 February to 8 December) meals will be free of charge from the pilgrim refectory menu on the days the post holder is on shift.                   

Equal Opportunities: We are committed to achieving equal opportunities in the way we deliver services to the community and in our employment arrangements. We expect all employees to understand and promote this policy in their work.

Health and Safety: All employees have a responsibility for their own health and safety and that of others when carrying out their duties and must help us to apply our general statement of health and safety policy.

Safeguarding: WCTA Ltd is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A satisfactory DBS check will need to be returned prior to commencement of employment.

Purpose of the role

To support the delivery of fundraising activity, ensuring that campaigns, communications and supporter relationships are well managed and professionally delivered.

The role combines project coordination, communications and relationship support, and would suit someone who is organised, proactive and comfortable managing multiple workstreams.

Key responsibilities

Supporter and Membership Engagement

Support the day-to-day running of the Shrine’s membership programme. Maintain accurate records and ensure timely communications

Help build stronger relationships with supporters

Campaign and Project Delivery

Support the delivery of fundraising campaigns and appeals Coordinate communications across print and digital channels Track responses and help monitor performance

Trusts and Grants

Research potential funders

Draft applications to smaller trusts (typically up to £5,000) Manage deadlines and reporting requirements

Communications and Content

Support the creation of newsletters and supporter updates. Assist with writing and editing fundraising communications

Donor Research and Support

Carry out research to identify potential supporters Prepare briefing materials for meetings and events

Events and Stewardship

Support the organisation of fundraising events Help manage invitations, guest lists and follow-up Ensure donors are thanked and kept informed

Systems and Administration

Maintain accurate supporter data

Support the development and use of fundraising systems

Compliance

Ensure activity complies with fundraising regulations and data protection requirements

Person Specification

We are open to candidates from a range of backgrounds. You may have worked in fundraising, events, communications, administration or another relevant field.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Clear and confident written communication
• Good interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach
• Confidence in working with data and systems

Personal Qualities

• Proactive and willing to take initiative
• Professional and reliable
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team
• An interest in the Shrine’s work and purpose

Closing Date: Friday 24th July 2026

Green Alliance is an environmental thinktank, charity and advocate committed to achieving a greener, fairer future for the UK. We believe that ambitious political leadership is essential for meaningful environmental change at the speed and scale necessary.

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our operations team, someone with a strong financial background with excellent attention to detail, a flexible attitude, an ability to work effectively under their own initiative and as part of a small team, together with excellent organisation and administrative skills.

Effective financial control is central to our strategy and operating model. The finance officer plays an essential role in maintaining control over our finances and operations. You will process and monitor financial transactions, liaise with our payroll bureau regarding staff payroll and pensions and support the Head of finance. You will be experienced in using Dynamics 365 Business Central as an accounting system.

This is a part-time role for two days a week (0.4FTE), with flexibility about when the hours are worked. It's a hybrid role, working from home and from our office. You will report to our Head of finance. You will also work with all staff on financial matters including personal and credit card expenses, central and project income and expenditure, and processing of payroll by liaising with our external bureau.

About This Vacancy

We are looking for an organised and detail-oriented Project Officer to join our International Programmes Team on a permanent basis, working within our Asia region.

Overview

The Project Officer will be part of a regional team that works with new and existing partners to design, deliver and learn from projects in line with the organisation’s mission. The team supports the full project cycle: partner engagement, application review, due diligence, project design, contracting, implementation support, monitoring, evaluation and project closure, maintaining accurate records throughout, in close collaboration with the Quality Team (Director and Quality Assurance and Impact (MEAL) Specialists).

The Project Officer will work collaboratively across the regional team, providing flexible support and surge capacity during peak periods and responding to emerging priorities as required. Under the supervision of Programme Managers and the Regional Director, they will also take day-to-day responsibility for a portfolio of assigned partners and specific projects, ensuring timely progression from concept to completion and that documentation, compliance, quality assurance and learning requirements are met. This includes working with the Quality Team to integrate appropriate MEAL approaches, support data quality and ensure learning is captured and shared.
 

Key Responsibilities

·Project Identification and Evaluation

oIdentify and assess project concepts and proposals with assigned partners, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy, feasibility, risk, safeguarding considerations and expected impact.

oContribute to emergency or rapid-response programming when required, including providing surge support to colleagues and helping to coordinate time-critical actions.

oSupport partner mapping and relationship management activities, helping to identify potential partners and project opportunities.

oUndertake contextual and partner due diligence research to inform project design, risk management and decision-making.

oPrepare high-quality proposals for internal review and project governance processes, including summaries of recommendations, risks and mitigation actions with the support of the Quality Team and in line with standards set by them.

·Grant Administration

oSupport Programme Managers and the Regional Director through the full project cycle, from initial scoping and proposal development through contracting, implementation support, monitoring, evaluation and closure.

oManage any individually assigned projects through the full project cycle, from initial scoping and proposal development through contracting, implementation support, monitoring, evaluation and closure.

oEnsure projects comply with organisational policies and procedures (including safeguarding and due diligence), and any relevant donor, statutory and partner requirements.

oEnsure the fulfilment of any actions mandated by the Programmes Subcommittee.

oTrack delivery against agreed plans, budgets and results frameworks; flag variances, support problem-solving with partners and colleagues, and recommend adjustments where needed.

oWork with the Quality Team (Director and Quality Assurance and Impact (MEAL) Specialists) to agree proportionate MEAL plans for assigned projects (e.g., indicators, data sources, reporting schedules), and to strengthen quality assurance throughout implementation.

·Stakeholder Engagement

oAct as a key point of contact for assigned partners, working closely with Programme Managers and the wider regional team to coordinate support and decision-making.

oMaintain regular communication with partners to provide guidance throughout proposal development and implementation, including on reporting requirements, procurement expectations and agreed outputs/outcomes.

oCoordinate with the Quality Team (Director and Quality Assurance and Impact (MEAL) Specialists) to support partner capacity strengthening on quality assurance and MEAL requirements, and to address quality or evidence gaps identified during implementation.

oDevelop familiarity with other organisations working in the Region and look for opportunities to collaborate with and learn from them.

·Budget Administration

oSupport sound financial management across the Regional Team and for assigned projects, including budget review, payment scheduling, verification of supporting documentation and reconciliation of expenditure against budgets.

oFor approved projects, ensure that all finance processes are completed to facilitate payments.

oPrepare clear updates and financial summaries for Programme Managers, the Regional Director and other internal stakeholders, maintaining an appropriate audit trail.

·Reporting and Documentation

oMaintain complete and accurate project documentation for assigned projects, including due diligence records, agreements, correspondence, partner reports and closure documents.

oMaintain project and partner information in relevant systems and trackers, producing reports and analysis as required.

oMonitor progress and results, review partner narrative and financial reports, support evaluations where appropriate, and ensure project learning is captured and shared within the team.

oWork with the Quality Team (Director and Quality Assurance and Impact (MEAL) Specialists) to review project evidence, ensure data quality standards are met, and support evaluations, reviews and learning products as required.

oCoordinate meetings and follow-up actions (including agendas, minutes and action logs) to ensure decisions are recorded and progressed.

Other duties

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties. From time to time, the postholder may be asked or required to carry out additional tasks, or duties, over and above their usual day to day activities. Employees are expected to work collaboratively across the regional team, including providing flexible support and surge cover as needed.

Person Requirement

Essential

·Experience in project administration or coordination, ideally in the charity, NGO or public sector.

·Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of partners and stakeholders across different cultures and contexts.

·Proficiency in MS Office suite and comfort using online systems for project tracking and document management.

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to plan and manage multiple projects and deadlines.

·Strong attention to detail.

·Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly as part of a diverse, dispersed team.

·Ability to multitask and meet multiple deadlines under pressure.

·Familiarity with CRM or grant management systems (e.g. Salesforce)

Desirable

·Experience supporting monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL/MEAL) processes and/or producing donor-style reports, including working with quality assurance or MEAL specialists.-

·Additional languages relevant to the region

Person specification

·A strong commitment to the values and mission of Barnabas Aid, with an understanding of Christian principles and ethics in project management.

·High level of integrity, ethical conduct and professionalism

·Personal resilience and adaptability.

·Discretion and sensitivity with understanding of issues of confidentiality.

·A flexible approach to work, with a cooperative and collaborative attitude, ensuring excellent standards of service are always maintained.

From time to time, additional training, including safeguarding training, may be required.

The offer of employment will subject to the appropriate pre-employment checks such as references, qualifications, DBS criminal records, and eligibility to work in the UK.

How to Apply

Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter demonstrating how your skills and experience make you a good fit for this role and for the mission of Barnabas Aid.

About Us

Merstham Community Facility Trust (MCFT) is a community charity based at the heart of Merstham.

We provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive space where residents can connect, access support, learn new skills, and feel part of their community. Our vision is for Merstham to be a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Our work is rooted in strong local relationships and shaped by the voices of the community. We are a small, committed team driven by our values of inclusion, empowerment, and community connection.

About the Role

This is a varied and rewarding role combining community development, project delivery, and fundraising.

As Community Development & Funding Officer, you will design and deliver community projects that respond to local needs, while securing funding to sustain and grow our work. You’ll work closely with colleagues, volunteers, and residents to co-create inclusive programmes that make a tangible difference.

You’ll play a key role in:

• Developing new initiatives based on community insight
• Leading projects from idea through to delivery and evaluation
• Building partnerships across the local area
• Securing funding and demonstrating impact

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys both hands-on community work and strategic development, and who thrives in a small, collaborative team.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience in community development, project coordination, fundraising, or a similar role
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple projects
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Experience using community insight or feedback to shape services or projects
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a small team
• Good IT skills, including data management and basic budgeting
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends to support community activities
• Commitment to inclusion, empowerment, and community-led approaches

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience working with volunteers
• Experience writing funding bids or managing grants
• Knowledge of local community services or challenges
• Experience monitoring and evaluating projects and reporting on impact
• Experience managing budgets or reporting to funders
• Ability to travel locally (e.g. driving licence or equivalent access)

Why Join MCFT?

• Make a visible, meaningful difference in a local community
• Help shape and deliver community-led projects from the ground up
• Work in a supportive, collaborative team environment
• Enjoy flexible working options to support work–life balance
• Gain experience across both project delivery and funding development
• Be part of an organisation that values people, place, and inclusion

BLCF is a leading local grantmaker, striving to be a catalyst for positive change in the community. The Foundation distributes millions of pounds locally each year and is establishing a national reputation for an innovative, community-focused and strategic approach.

BLCF is currently recruiting for an experienced Head of Grants to lead our expanding grants team and join our Senior Leadership Team to steer the future direction of the Foundation.

Applicants will need to have significant previous and relevant experience in a grants management role, and possess excellent leadership, team and programme management skills. Excellent communication and IT skills are also essential.

To apply, please submit a concise covering letter (no more than two pages) outlining your suitability for the role against the job description and a completed application form

Closing date for applications is 12noon on Monday 13th July 2026.

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation aims to deliver a successful grant-making programme that encourages strong applications from voluntary groups and charities, critically assesses them and makes recommendations to donors to distribute funds. As Grants Officer you will play a pivotal role in the programme team – assisting with marketing, planning, delivering and reporting on our grant-making programme to ensure targets are met.

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation is the charity for Cambridgeshire, working towards a better quality of life for people across the county. We identify the most critical needs of local communities, raise funds and award grants to non-profit organisations that make a big impact in addressing those needs. Working at Cambridgeshire Community Foundation is an opportunity to make a lasting difference in Cambridgeshire and be part of shaping a better future for the local community.

We are seeking an organised and detail-oriented Philanthropy Grants Officer to support the development and management of the College’s extensive Research, Grants and Fellowships portfolio. 

Reporting to the Head of Development, you will play a central role in administering and developing funding opportunities that support surgical, dental and educational research and professional development. Working closely with colleagues across the College, Committee members, funders, researchers and external partners, you will oversee the full lifecycle of RCSEd’s grants programme, from application and assessment processes through to award management, reporting and stewardship. 

This is a varied role offering the opportunity to work across research funding, governance, financial monitoring and stakeholder engagement, while helping to promote the impact of College-funded projects and opportunities. The role also contributes to the development of new funding initiatives and partnerships that enhance the support available to College Fellows and Members. 

The role is based in Edinburgh with flexibility for hybrid working. Occasional travel and out-of-hours working may be required. 

Experience/Qualifications/Key Skills 

You will be educated to degree level or possess equivalent professional experience and have experience supporting grants, funding or award programmes, including administration, financial monitoring and stakeholder engagement. 

You will have excellent organisational skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. Strong analytical and numerical skills are essential, together with the ability to work confidently with financial information and spreadsheets. 

You will be an effective communicator, capable of building positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and providing clear advice and guidance on funding opportunities and processes. 

Experience within higher education, charity, medical research or related environments would be advantageous. 

This role may particularly appeal to individuals with experience in grants, funding, awards, fellowships or programme administration who are looking to develop their career within a mission-driven organisation supporting research, education and professional development. 

About The Role

Join our dynamic, collaborative and supportive team as a Trust and Grants Officer. We are looking for someone with enthusiasm and adaptability.

If you are passionate about supporting children and young people, with a focus on preventing mental health issues this role is perfect for you!

Together we can change children’s lives. At Place2Be, we believe every child should have easy access to mental health support whenever they need it. We create a safe place in schools where children and young people can open up without pressure or stigma, allowing our highly skilled and diverse counsellors to reach children, young people and their families who need us.

For a career with purpose, this is your place.

Recruitment Process:

As part of your application you will need to answer some shortlisting questions. Please answer these as fully as you can, we recommend using the STAR model. Situation, Task, Action Result.

Closing date for applications: Midnight on 01 July 2026

1st Interview date: 06 July 2026 in person

2nd Interview date: 13 July 2026 in person

Our Benefits

When you work at Place2Be whether that's in a school, supporting families, providing clinical supervision, or in IT, Finance, or Fundraising every role can make the difference to a young person. To achieve this, we ask that you bring your best self to your role and our commitment to you, is to welcome you into our community, and help you progress. Because we know that you being at your best, means the best outcomes for the children we support.

Here’s just a few things we have on offer:

• Annual Leave that increases with service
• Comprehensive learning and development to enable you to progress your career
• 5% contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance of four times your annual salary
• A comprehensive employee assistance programme
• Mobile Phone Discounts (EE network)
• Wellbeing days to allow you some ‘you’ time
• Christmas holidays closure period in addition to your annual leave

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented within our organisation.

We are proud to be a disability confident employer and will ask you during your application If you wish to be considered for a guaranteed interview under the disability confident scheme. Under the scheme we commit to offering an interview to disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria as outlined in the job role.

We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may want to use it to help you format your CV, create responses to application questions or even help you prepare responses. AI can be a powerful enabler and we are open to you using it to apply for roles with us, but we ask you to ensure anything you submit truly represents your capabilities and viewpoint. We value honesty, integrity and creativity and want to understand what you will uniquely bring to our team. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Are you a skilled fundraiser with a talent for crafting compelling bids and building strong relationships with funders? Nottingham Women’s Centre is looking for a Trusts and Grants Officer to help secure vital income and support life-changing services for women.

We are a vibrant, feminist organisation dedicated to helping women overcome barriers, amplify their voices and build better futures. Through services including counselling, advice, wellbeing activities and campaigning, we create opportunities for women to thrive. 

The Trusts and Grants Officer will lead on trusts and grants fundraising, researching and developing opportunities with charitable trusts, foundations and statutory funders. You’ll write high-quality applications and reports, manage a pipeline of funding bids, and build strong, lasting relationships with funders to secure significant income. 

You’ll work closely with colleagues across the organisation to gather data, develop budgets and evidence impact, helping to create compelling cases for support that reflect the difference our services make. You’ll also play a key role in monitoring income, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring excellent stewardship and reporting. 

We’re looking for someone with proven experience securing grants, strong research and organisational skills, and excellent written communication skills. You’ll be confident managing multiple deadlines, using data to inform your work, and building positive, professional relationships. A commitment to feminist values and equality is essential.

You’ll join a supportive, values-led organisation where your work will have a direct and meaningful impact. We offer flexible and hybrid working, generous leave, and a strong focus on wellbeing and collaboration. 

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in sustaining and growing services that support women across Nottingham.

Please review the full Trusts and Grants Officer job description below for further details.

About This Vacancy

Barnabas Aid is recruiting an exceptional leader to serve as Regional Director for Asia. This is a senior leadership role within the International Programmes Team, sitting on both the Programmes Leadership Team and the Strategic Leadership Team, and offering an outstanding opportunity to shape how BAI serves persecuted and suffering Christians across one of the world’s most complex and spiritually significant regions.

The Asia region spans South Asia, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia — some of the most sensitive and complex contexts in which Barnabas Aid works. Many of the communities we serve face active persecution, operate in restricted environments, and depend on the careful, sensitive stewardship of their relationships with BAI and our partners.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a strategically minded, relationally gifted Christian leader to shape how BAI serves the persecuted Church across one of the world's most complex and spiritually significant regions.

The Role

The Regional Programme Director — Asia will provide strategic leadership for the development and delivery of Barnabas Aid's grant making and project management across the Asia Region. You will lead and develop a team of Programme Managers, build and sustain a strong partner network, and oversee a portfolio of high-quality, biblically grounded projects that deliver measurable impact for persecuted and suffering Christians.

As a member of both the Programmes Leadership Team and the Strategic Leadership Team, you will contribute to BAI's global Programmes strategy and to organisational strategy, culture, and effective cross-departmental working.

Key Responsibilities

Regional strategy and portfolio leadership

• In collaboration with the International Chief Programmes Officer, lead the development, review, and implementation of the global Programmes strategy within the assigned Region, translating strategic priorities into a clear regional plan and pipeline.
• Maintain a balanced regional portfolio aligned with organisational priorities, donor intent, and restricted fund requirements.
• Identify emerging needs, risks, and opportunities in the Region and recommend strategic responses, including new initiatives and partnerships.
• Ensure that the Region is balancing its portfolio of Programmes according to the Country Classification framework.

Grant making and programme cycle management

• Oversee the end-to-end grant making process for Programmes in the region, ensuring proposals are assessed, costed, and approved in line with delegated authority, Gate processes, and Programmes Subcommittee requirements.
• Take lead responsibility for one sub-region and/or a portfolio of countries, leading on partner engagement and the whole project management cycle.
• Ensure robust needs assessments, project design, logical frameworks (where applicable), budgets, partner due diligence, risk assessments, and monitoring plans are in place before grants are committed.
• Oversee project implementation across the regional portfolio, including milestone tracking, reporting, learning, and close-out, ensuring records are maintained accurately and on time.
• Proactively identify project delivery issues and work with team members and partners to resolve them promptly.
• Maintain proficiency in the use of all systems and processes used to manage the workflow of the team.
• Work closely with the Programme Quality Team to ensure best practice standards, continuous improvement, and consistent application of policies, processes, and templates.

Leadership and people management

• Support the staff in the regional team by providing clear leadership, coaching, and line management, including goal setting, supervision, performance management, and development.
• Ensure capacity planning across the Region so that project management workloads are realistic and risks are appropriately managed.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and succession planning for the regional team, contributing to wider Programmes Team workforce planning as required.
• Deputise for the international Chief Programmes Officer when requested to do so during their absence
• Ensure Regional team members plan overseas trips appropriately and adequately, always factoring in security and safeguarding risks.

Partner engagement and external representation

• Ensure the regional team builds and sustains a strong partner network, with relationships that are effective, mutually accountable, and aligned with Barnabas Aid's mission and values.
• Develop and implement a plan for regular partner engagement and capacity building (including visits where appropriate and safe) to strengthen project delivery, monitoring, and safeguarding.
• Represent Barnabas Aid professionally with partners and other stakeholders, managing sensitive information and security considerations appropriately.
• Engage proactively with peer organisations and networks to bring insight on sector best practice into BAI's work.

Cross-organisational collaboration and governance

• Work closely with Outreach and Support departments to provide timely, high-quality project information and updates that enable supporter communications, fundraising, and reporting.
• Contribute to organisational planning and decision-making through active membership of the Programmes Leadership Team and the Strategic Leadership Team (as applicable).
• Prepare quality papers, dashboards, and narrative updates for internal decision-making meetings and governance forums as required.

Compliance, risk, and safeguarding

• Ensure compliance with Barnabas Aid policies and external requirements relevant to grant making and project delivery, including data protection and information security.
• Maintain effective regional risk management, including project, partner, fraud, security, and reputational risks, escalating issues promptly and recommending mitigations.
• Champion safeguarding and ensure safeguarding considerations are integrated into partner due diligence, project design, implementation, and reporting.

Other duties

• Carry out any other reasonable duties as the organisation requires.

The Programme Officer role sits at the heart of Tudor's grant-making ambition: to build ecosystems for change, work through abundance rather than scarcity, and create the conditions in which communities can exercise genuine self-determination. This isn't just about distributing funds - it's about laying the foundations of a new system, one relationship at a time. 

This is not a traditional grant-making role. Tudor's approach is relational, emergent and systems-led, and this role reflects that. If you're energised by complexity, comfortable sitting with uncertainty, and genuinely interested in how power and change interact - we'd love to hear from you. 

This is a role for someone who enjoys bringing people, ideas and activity together. You will support programme delivery, partner relationships, events, learning and coordination across a wide range of work, helping ensure things move forward thoughtfully, reliably and with care. There is also real space for curiosity, reflection and growth - contributing insights, noticing patterns and helping Tudor learn from what we are hearing, seeing and experiencing.

0.5 FTE – 18.75 hours per week (flexible working)
Salary: £30,000-£32,000 FTE depending on experience
Location: Hybrid working with one regular day or half-day per week in Abingdon/Oxfordshire, alongside home working and occasional external meetings

About Quest for Learning

Quest for Learning is an education charity working to close the gap for primary school children in Oxfordshire who are falling behind due to disadvantage.

We work closely with schools to deliver targeted, evidence-led literacy and numeracy programmes that help children build the skills, confidence and foundations they need to thrive. Many of the children we support are growing up in poverty, facing barriers linked to low family literacy, unmet additional needs, unstable home circumstances, or limited access to wider opportunities.

Our programmes are delivered by experienced professional tutors and are built around structured interventions, strong school partnerships and measurable outcomes. On average, pupils supported through our small-group tutoring make around 13 months of progress in just 10 hours of support.

Quest for Learning is entering an important new stage of development. Following a period of organisational growth and strategic transition, we are investing in building a more sustainable and ambitious fundraising function that can deepen our impact and reach more children across Oxfordshire.

This is an opportunity to play a central role in shaping that journey.

Why join us?

This is a rare opportunity to join a small but ambitious charity at a genuinely exciting stage of development.

You’ll have:

• Real ownership and autonomy within your role
• The opportunity to help shape and build a growing fundraising function
• Close working relationships with the CEO and leadership team
• Flexibility and hybrid working arrangements
• The chance to make a direct and measurable difference to children facing disadvantage
• Opportunities for progression as the organisation grows

We are intentionally investing in fundraising and organisational growth, and this role offers the opportunity to help shape a developing fundraising function within an ambitious, evidence-led charity with strong foundations and significant future potential.

We are a collaborative, supportive and purpose-driven team that values initiative, professionalism, creativity and compassion.

Role purpose

We are seeking a proactive, highly organised and motivated fundraiser to lead and grow our trusts and grants fundraising activity.

This role will focus primarily on identifying funding opportunities, developing compelling applications, managing funder relationships and building a strong pipeline of income to support Quest for Learning’s future growth.

The successful candidate will play a key role in helping us develop a more strategic and sustainable fundraising approach. We are looking for someone who can combine strong written communication and attention to detail with initiative, pace and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

This role would suit someone with existing trusts fundraising experience, or someone with highly transferable skills who can learn quickly and thrive in a fast-moving environment.

You will work closely with the CEO, programme staff and trustees, with access to strong impact data, established programmes and a compelling case for support.

Alongside this role, Quest for Learning is also exploring the development of an additional partnerships-focused fundraising role. We are open-minded about how responsibilities are ultimately structured and welcome applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds, experiences and strengths.

Key responsibilities

Trusts and foundations fundraising

• Research and identify prospective trusts, foundations and grant opportunities
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of funding prospects
• Develop and submit high-quality, tailored funding applications
• Manage multiple applications and deadlines simultaneously
• Produce timely and well-written monitoring reports and evaluations
• Work closely with programme staff to gather impact data, case studies and delivery information
• Maintain accurate records of applications, deadlines and funder communications within Beacon CRM
• Monitor fundraising performance and contribute to pipeline tracking and forecasting
• Support the development of longer-term funding strategies and priorities

Relationship management and stewardship

• Build positive and professional relationships with funders and supporters
• Arrange and attend occasional meetings with funders and partners where appropriate
• Ensure strong stewardship and communication throughout the funding lifecycle
• Support the CEO in managing strategic funding relationships

Organisational Contribution

• Contribute to the ongoing development of Quest for Learning’s fundraising function and systems
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation
• Represent Quest for Learning professionally and passionately to external audiences
• Contribute ideas and insight to support organisational growth and sustainability

Person specification

We recognise that strong fundraisers do not always come from traditional charity fundraising backgrounds. If you have transferable skills and experience in areas such as bid writing, partnerships, relationship management, education, sales, communications, account management or business development - and are excited by our mission - we would strongly encourage you to apply.

Essential

• Excellent written communication skills with strong attention to detail
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities
• Strong research and analytical skills
• Ability to work independently and proactively
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Confidence using databases, spreadsheets and digital systems
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively
• Commitment to the mission and values of Quest for Learning
• Experience of writing successful funding applications, bids, proposals or other persuasive written content

Desirable

• Experience in trusts and foundations fundraising within the charity sector
• Experience using Beacon CRM or similar fundraising databases
• Understanding of monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting
• Experience within education, children’s services or related sectors
• Knowledge of the Oxfordshire funding landscape
• Experience working within a small charity or growing organisation

What success looks like in this role

Successful performance in this role is likely to include:

• Building and maintaining a strong and active funding pipeline
• Producing a consistent volume of high-quality applications and reports
• Securing significant grant income for the charity
• Developing strong funder relationships and stewardship practices
• Contributing to the growth and professionalisation of Quest for Learning’s fundraising function
• Helping position Quest for Learning for sustainable long-term growth

As Quest for Learning grows, we expect this role to develop too, with opportunities to shape strategy and take on increasing responsibility over time.

Who thrives at Quest for Learning?

People who tend to thrive at Quest for Learning are:

• proactive and solutions-focused
• motivated by meaningful impact
• comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with others
• excited by helping build and improve systems and processes
• adaptable, thoughtful and motivated to grow professionally alongside the organisation

Working arrangements

• 0.5 FTE with flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid role combining home working with one regular day or half-day per week in Abingdon/Oxfordshire
• Occasional travel across Oxfordshire for meetings and events
• Flexible working patterns can be discussed

Benefits

• Flexible and hybrid working
• Pension contribution
• TOIL policy
• Supportive and collaborative working culture
• Professional development opportunities
• Opportunity to help shape a growing fundraising function within an ambitious charity

Application process

To apply, please submit:

• A CV
• A short statement explaining your interest in the role and how your experience meets the person specification

We encourage applications from candidates with both traditional and non-traditional fundraising backgrounds.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Chris Higgins, CEO

Closing date: midday, Tuesday 30 June
Interviews: week commencing 6 or 13 July 

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in growing a major donor programme that directly supports life-changing eye care services in the Holy Land. You will work closely with the Executive Director, UK (EDUK) and senior leadership, including the CEO and Trustees, to contribute to the long-term sustainability of a respected and impactful international charity.

As part of a small, ambitious and collaborative UK team, you will play a major role in shaping and developing the major donor programme, building meaningful relationships with supporters and seeing the tangible impact of your work on patients and communities.

The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group (SJEHG) is a UK-registered charity delivering expert eye care to the people of the Holy Land, regardless of ethnicity, religion or ability to pay. It operates through two locally-registered charities to provide services in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

Cardiomyopathy UK is the specialist national charity for people affected by cardiomyopathy, a group of conditions that affect the heart muscle. It can have a devastating impact on the lives of people of all ages and is usually inherited. Our vision is that everyone affected by cardiomyopathy should live a long and fulfilling life.

We are midway through our five-year strategic plan, at a genuinely exciting moment, both for the charity and for cardiomyopathy more broadly. The treatment landscape has been transformed in recent years: approved dedicated therapies are now available, more are in the pipeline, and the first genetic treatments are on the horizon. This is bringing new energy and investment from clinicians, pharmaceutical companies and the research community, creating real opportunities for a charity with the credibility, evidence base and relationships to make the most of them. Our evidence base is stronger than ever: we have completed the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership, surveyed over 1,300 people affected by cardiomyopathy, and published our State of the Nation report. Against a rapidly shifting NHS and policy landscape, we are now reviewing our priorities and sharpening our focus on where we can have the greatest impact.

For the right person, this is an opportunity with real strategic scope. We want to build on our strong policy positions and evidence base and translate them into proactive campaigning and influencing, moving from good policy thinking to concerted public affairs activity, strategic stakeholder engagement, and campaigns that achieve real change. We have a draft theory of change to refine and policy recommendations to turn into action. Our Change Makers volunteer advocacy network is central to this, but needs dedicated leadership to fulfil its potential; rebuilding it is one of the most important early priorities for the post-holder.

Our research programme reflects this momentum. The James Lind Alliance process established the top ten research priorities for cardiomyopathy, giving us a clear, credible basis for directing research attention and resource. We have launched our Catalyst Grants scheme, the charity's first foray into directly funding research, with a second round under way, and want to build on it. That means resourcing the scheme sustainably, deepening engagement with the research community through a growing researcher network, and establishing an annual researchers' event to bring the community together and identify collaboration opportunities. The Director will lead this next phase, working with the Research Manager and our clinical and academic partners to define and deliver our ambitions.

Raising awareness of cardiomyopathy, its signs, symptoms and genetic risk, is equally central to our mission. Too many people are still diagnosed late because neither they nor their GP knew what to look for. We want our communications work to drive this agenda purposefully, drawing on our own evidence about diagnostic delay and unmet need.

We are also looking for someone who can work alongside our fundraising team to sustain and grow this work. Securing dedicated funding for our research grants programme and advocacy work is a real priority, and the changing landscape, with greater pharmaceutical interest in cardiomyopathy than ever, creates new opportunities alongside more traditional trust and grant funding. Experience of developing compelling cases for support, and/or navigating partnerships with commercial organisations in a way that protects the charity's independence, would be a significant asset.

The Director of Research and External Affairs leads the charity's research, policy and advocacy, and communications and marketing functions, with a team of four staff. The post-holder sets the strategic direction of the directorate, drives high-quality delivery,  upholds the charity's values, and represents the charity externally across research, policy, clinical and funder networks. The Director is a member of the charity's Leadership Team, working closely with the CEO to steer the charity forward.