Trust and Foundations Manager

TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS MANAGER

Job Description and Person Specification

WHO WE ARE 

The 999 Club is a charity that supports people facing homelessness in Southeast London. For over 30 years we’ve been in the heart of Deptford providing warm welcomes and wraparound services ensuring those who need us are given the best chance of leaving homelessness behind for good. 

Our Gateway Drop-In Centre offers nutritious meals, laundry and medical facilities, showers, IT access, phone charging, a safe space to rest and a dedicated Women’s Sanctuary. 

When members feel ready, our team of expert staff are on hand to support them into suitable accommodation where possible, secure income via paid work or benefits, and provide immigration signposting for those who need it. Once housed, our Move+ programme continues to work with them to ensure they settle into new accommodation with the knowledge, skills, community and hope required to thrive in their new life. 

We also run The Bridge, a free six-week evening mental health course open to anyone in the community experiencing mental distress. The programme provides a practical toolkit to support long-term mental wellbeing. 

In May 2026 we launched our new 5-year strategy. It is an ambitious plan for the future of the 999 Club, building on our strong local roots while developing our services, strengthening our impact and creating more sustainable ways to support people out of homelessness.

This role comes at an important time. We are facing unprecedented demand for our services and a competitive fundraising environment, while also developing ambitious plans for the future of the organisation, including the long-term redevelopment of our Gateway building.

JOB OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES

Job Title: Trusts and Foundations Manager 

Salary: £42,000

Benefits:

·        27 days annual leave plus public holidays. For each year of service, you will receive one additional day of annual leave up to a maximum of 30 days.

·        3% employer pension contributions on qualifying earnings

·        Employee Assistance Programme

·        Cycle To Work Scheme.

·        Bright Exchange.

Location: The 999 Club, 21 Deptford Broadway, London, SE8 4PA. It is anticipated that the role would be on-site 3 days per week, with the option to work from home 2 days per week.

Job Purpose:

This role will play a vital part in turning our ambitious plans into reality.

Working closely with the Head of Fundraising and Communications and colleagues across the organisation, you will lead on developing a realistic and achievable trusts and foundations fundraising strategy, creating compelling funding proposals and reports, building strong funder relationships and cultivating new opportunities.

You will help secure the resources we need to work alongside our members, strengthen our services and create lasting change. The role will also play an important part in securing funding for the long-term redevelopment of our Gateway building – an ambitious project that will help shape the future of the 999 Club.

Job Scope: Responsibility for an annual target of £365,000 raised from trusts and foundations. The role will also be responsible for maintaining and building relationships with around 20 existing funders.

Hours: Full-time- 37.5 hours per week, 5 days per week, with an unpaid 30-minute break per day. Core hours between 10am and 4pm, Monday-Friday.

Reporting to: Head of Fundraising and Communications

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES 

·        Work with the Head of Fundraising and Communications to develop and lead a 999 Club’s trusts and foundations fundraising strategy, contributing to our wider ambition to build sustainable and diversified income.

·        Research and identify prospective trusts and foundations, developing and managing a strong pipeline of opportunities that can generate significant new income. Work collaboratively with colleagues across the 999 Club to develop strong funding proposals, gathering the information needed to communicate our work and impact effectively, including case studies, impact data, budgets and statistics. Prepare compelling funding applications and supporting materials for existing and planned projects, including our long-term capital redevelopment plans.).

·        Build and develop strong, positive relationships with trusts and foundations, ensuring funders receive thoughtful stewardship throughout their relationship with the 999 Club.

·        Acknowledge donations, prepare engaging and informative reports, meet reporting deadlines and develop other appropriate communications to strengthen relationships and increase the likelihood of long-term support.

·         Work closely with colleagues to ensure that Members’ voices and experiences are represented sensitively, ethically and appropriately in communications with funders.

·        Arrange and facilitate site visits for potential and existing funders, working with colleagues to provide an engaging and informative experience that brings our work to life.

·        Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of relationships managed, applications, reporting requirements and funding received.

·        Work with the Head of Fundraising and Communications and the Finance team to ensure income is accurately recorded and allocated, and that accurate expenditure information is provided to funders.

·         Monitor and review trusts and foundations fundraising performance against agreed plans, targets and financial forecasts, identifying opportunities and risks and taking action where needed.

·        Prepare clear information and progress updates on trusts and foundations fundraising activity for the Head of Fundraising and Communications, senior management team and trustees.

·        Ensure all fundraising activity follows good fundraising practice, charity law, GDPR and relevant 999 Club policies and procedures.

·        Undertake other duties as reasonably requested by your Line Manager.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

1.        Experience of working within the charity sector, particularly in homelessness or similar cause area, with a strong commitment to Social Justice and an enthusiasm for 999 Club’s mission.

2.        A proven track record in trust fundraising, including a strong understanding of the UK trusts and foundations landscape and trends, experience of identifying and developing funding opportunities, building relationships with funders and securing significant income against targets.

3.        Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and build credibility with a wide range of people.

4.        Experience of working collaboratively with internal colleagues to develop project ideas and gather the information needed for successful bids and reports.

5.        A commitment to working respectfully and ethically with Members, ensuring their voices and experiences are appropriately centred in communications with funders.

6.        A willingness to challenge and be challenged, listen to different perspectives and embrace new ideas and ways of working.

7.        Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to understand complex information, including financial information, and present it clearly and persuasively to different audiences both in writing and in person. This could be demonstrated through examples of successfully engaging funders in pre-application contact, delivering powerful presentations to potential supporters, and writing compelling funding bids and reports.

8.        Strong research, organisational and analytical skills, with the ability to identify and assess funding opportunities, develop and manage a pipeline of applications, keep on top of deadlines and reporting requirements, steward funder relationships and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Desirable

1.        High confidence with IT systems and a willingness to learn new platforms.

2.        Experience of running a successful capital fundraising campaign and securing funding for large scale redevelopment projects.  

Expectations for all 999 Club staff

1.        Adhere to 999 Club’s policies and procedures at all times.

2.        Demonstrate and uphold the values of 999 Club in all interactions, and take a people-centred, compassionate, and non-judgemental approach.

3.         Foster a positive, trauma-informed culture by modelling pro-social behaviour, challenging discrimination, and promoting respect among colleagues and Members.

4.        Actively participate in briefings and team meetings, contributing ideas and that support colleagues and the wider organisation.

5.        Take initiative to address tasks or issues as they arise, including providing cover for colleagues and handling additional duties where needed.