Community fundraising development manager jobs

Greenpeace is a movement of people who are passionate about defending the natural world from destruction. Their vision is a world where everyone has equal access to clean air, water, and energy; where the nature we love is protected, precious habitats are restored and communities are united by ambitious climate action.

Greenpeace UK’s mission is to halve emissions and restore biodiversity by the end of this decade in a fair and equitable way. Their three-year plan outlines how Greenpeace UK (GPUK) is going to play a vital role in getting there.

The Key Relationships programme sits at the heart of Greenpeace UK’s fundraising, securing the philanthropic investment that powers its campaigning work. The team raises around £15–16 million annually from major donors, trusts and foundations, and legacies, contributing significantly to the organisation’s wider fundraising income of approximately £37 million.

We are now seeking a Deputy Head of Major Gifts to play a pivotal role within this high-performing and evolving team. This is a newly created position, designed to increase capacity and support ambitious income growth, with significant scope for the successful candidate to shape and define the role.

Blending trusts and foundations with high-net-worth individual fundraising, this role will focus on building and stewarding a mixed portfolio of donors while strengthening Greenpeace UK’s climate philanthropy. It is a highly donor-facing position, suited to someone who thrives on relationship building and is motivated by the opportunity to drive meaningful income in support of urgent environmental change.

This is an exciting moment to join Greenpeace UK. Following a period of organisational change, this is a newly created role which will enable Greenpeace UK to meet ambitious growth in income and unlock opportunities to grow funding for climate campaigns in particular.

As Deputy Head of Major Gifts, you will:

• Manage a portfolio of major donors, trusts, and foundations giving £100,000+, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding long-term partnerships
• Personally secure six- and seven-figure gifts in support of Greenpeace UK’s strategic priorities
• Play a key role in strengthening Greenpeace UK’s climate philanthropy
• Develop and deliver compelling funding propositions aligned with Greenpeace’s strategic priorities
• Build and deepen relationships with key funders and prospects, increasing external engagement and visibility
• Contribute to prospecting strategy, identifying and progressing new opportunities across both T&F and HNWI audience
• Work collaboratively across fundraising, campaigns and communications to deliver integrated, high-impact fundraising approaches
• Act as a senior member of the team, contributing to planning, strategy and a strong, collaborative team culture

This role would suit a relationship-led fundraiser ready to step into a broader, more strategic position, or an experienced manager looking to deepen their impact across major gifts. You will thrive in a role with significant autonomy, confident operating in a fast-evolving environment and shaping both your own portfolio and the wider programme.

Essential skills and experience:

• A strong track record in high-value fundraising, across trusts & foundations (including family foundations) AND major donors
• The ability to work across a blended T&F and HNWI model, regardless of your core specialism
• Personally securing six-figure gifts from T&Fs and major donors
• Experience managing a portfolio of donors and funders within a complex, values-driven, or global organisation
• Proven success engaging senior stakeholders, including Board members, and philanthropic networks
• A proactive, self-starting approach, with the ability to shape a new role and drive activity forward
• Effective collaborator, able to work seamlessly across fundraising, campaigns, and international teams
• A commitment to Greenpeace’s mission, values and independence

Desirable:

• Experience of securing 7-figure gifts from trusts & foundations and/or major donors
• Experience in capital campaign fundraising and cross-market collaboration
• Experience of climate or environmental philanthropy

Diversity and Inclusion

Greenpeace UK recognise the value in having a diverse workforce, as well as the importance of creating equal opportunities for all. Applications are welcomed and encouraged from people of all backgrounds.

Applications are particularly encouraged from people of colour, disabled people, and people who identify as working class now or in the past.

Candidates will be selected based on how well they meet the criteria for the role and all applicants will be treated fairly throughout the recruitment process. 

If you have any specific requirements which would enable you to participate in the recruitment process more fully, in particular if these relate to a disability or access issue, please see page 11 of the applicant pack for contact details. If you require the job pack in a different format, please get in touch and we will happily provide you with one.

Anti-racism and inclusion commitments

Greenpeace UK wants its team to reflect the diversity of the communities it works alongside. It is committed to fairness, inclusion, and challenging discrimination and oppression in all its forms.

The environmental sector still has further to go when it comes to representation. Greenpeace UK has published ambitious race representation targets and, through its Anti Racism Plan, is working proactively to achieve stronger representation of people of colour, particularly within leadership positions.

As part of this commitment, a Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) is being piloted. Greenpeace UK aims to offer an interview to everyone who opts into the scheme and meets the essential criteria. Guaranteed interview applications will be processed by QuarterFive and shared only with the Greenpeace UK recruiting manager and HR team.

If you identify as a person of colour and meet the essential criteria for the role, you can choose to opt in to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme via the link on page 2 of the applicant pack.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Research shows that women and people of colour may hesitate to apply unless they meet every area of the person specification. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet all the criteria, you are encouraged to apply.

Employee benefits

Benefits include: 

• 25 days annual leave for full-time staff, with additional leave accrued according to length of service up to a maximum of 32 days
• Once a month, all Greenpeace staff take an organisational ‘breather’ day where the office closes with no expectations of output on these days
• Office closure normally occurs between Christmas and new year and staff are not required to use annual leave to cover this period
• Employer pension contribution of 8.5% of basic salary, provided employees contribute at least 3%
• Interest free season ticket loan, or a tax efficient bicycle loan
• Life assurance scheme (4 x annual salary)
• Employee Assistance Programme that includes access to free confidential advice with a qualified counsellor

We are very excited to announce that we have been awarded a grant by The National Lottery Community Fund to help us support our most valued micro and small voluntary and community groups in Oxfordshire.

As the Programme Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving forward this partnership initiative, working collaboratively with our delivery partners, with local stakeholders, community and voluntary sector groups, and our funder The National Lottery Community Fund to ensure that impact measurement and activity reporting is kept on track. You will work with two new SaM Community Development Workers, and with our partner organisation staff to develop a new outreach programme of infrastructure support shaped with and for the micro and small organisations across the county. You will develop a tailored action plan of outputs and outcomes with our Partnership Advisory Group and dovetail this with a pathway to gather data, stories and feedback on learning, impact and change. This monitoring and evaluation will be reported back to the Advisory Group and the National Lottery on a regular basis.

As the SaM Programme Manager you will manage a county‑wide partnership, contributing not only to delivery but also to shared learning, reflection and continuous improvement. You will balance representing your host organisation with acting in the best interests of the partnership and the communities it serves.

Reporting to: Head of Major Giving   

Location of Work: Home based. The post holder will be expected to travel to meet donors, travel to away days and team meetings in London. The role may involve some irregular travel throughout England and Scotland. Expenses will be paid in line with our Travel and Expenses policy. Candidate will need to live commutable distance to London.   

Contract Type: Ideally full-time, 35 hours per week, although 28 hours/compressed hours may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work    

Contract Length: Permanent    

Salary: £43,500 

BACKGROUND    

Magic Breakfast’s mission is to end child morning hunger in the UK now and for good. The latest research suggests that 2.7 million children are at risk of hunger, meaning one in five children don’t have enough to eat. When a child is too hungry to learn, they struggle to concentrate, absorb information, and manage their emotions, causing them to fall behind in their studies. 

Magic Breakfast provides a nutritious breakfast to over 350,000 children and young people every school day. We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target children most in need without barrier or stigma.

We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target the children most in need without barrier or stigma. We are now at an exciting point in our journey as we launch Nourishing Futures, our long-term strategy, which capitalises on market changes and government commitments to scale our work, while redefining breakfast spaces not just as places to eat, but as places to thrive. 

In response to a challenging funding landscape, and to seize on the opportunities ahead, we have recently brought together our Philanthropy and Trusts teams into a unified Major Giving function, enabling us to build deep, values-driven relationships with high-value supporters.  

The Major Giving Lead – Individual Donors will play a pivotal role in this new function, leading all relationships with high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) and ensuring exceptional donor care and engagement. Reporting to the Head of Major Giving, this role is a senior, strategic position crucial to driving the organisation’s fundraising growth and deliver against our mission. 

JOB PURPOSE   

The Major Giving Lead – Individual Donors is a senior, strategic role within Magic Breakfast’s unified Major Giving function, acting as the organisation’s expert on philanthropy. This role will lead and manage relationships with high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), ensuring exceptional donor care, long-term engagement, and the growth of transformational gifts.  

Working closely with the Head of Major Giving, the Major Giving Lead will help develop and embed a cohesive Major Giving strategy, fostering strong synergies across the Major Giving team. In partnership with the other Major Giving Lead (Trust & Foundations) this role will create unified stewardship programmes, prospect development strategies, and engagement opportunities, ensuring a seamless and compelling experience for donors across all major giving streams. It will also work closely with the Business Development Manager (Scotland) to ensure effective ways of working across devolved nations and to unlock opportunities for HNWI in Scotland.  

This is a high-impact, leadership-focused role for a proactive, strategic, and relationship-driven individual, capable of influencing key stakeholders, shaping organisational approaches to major giving, and driving the growth of Magic Breakfast’s mission to end child morning hunger across the UK.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:    

Leadership and team collaboration  

• Act as the senior lead and subject matter expert for HNWI relationships across the organisation.  

• Work closely with the Head of Major Giving and Major Giving Lead – Trust & Foundations to develop and embed a cohesive Major Giving strategy, fostering strong synergies between Major Individual Donors and Trusts, with a clear link to synergies in other teams.   

• Support the Head of Major Giving and Trust & other Major Giving Lead in mentoring and guiding other members of the Major Giving Team.  

• Provide leadership, insights and expertise across the wider organisation to support the delivery of our new organisational goals, including through contributions to the sub-goal working groups and other enabling strategies.   

• Collaborate within the fundraising, and across other, departments to deliver cross-organisational initiatives, events and campaigns, championing opportunities to unlock HNWI giving.    

• Scan the external environment for trends, insights, ideas and best practice that could benefit the Major Giving team and Magic Breakfast’s work, making recommendations for improvements and leading on opportunities as they arise.  

• Work in close partnership with the Business Development Manager (Scotland) to ensure joined-up approaches to HNWI opportunities in Scotland, sharing expertise, aligning stewardship, and enabling effective cross-team working.  

• Flex to provide support across the Major Giving team where necessary, responding and supporting shared team-wide objectives and any trust and foundations work if required. 

Income generation, donor stewardship and prospect development   

• With support from the Head of Major Giving, deliver the 25/26 individual giving income target of c£800k by personally managing a portfolio of new and existing major donors and family foundations, with a focus on securing, renewing and uplifting gifts above £50k+ .   

• In partnership with other teams and departments, develop, test and roll out new data-driven approaches to target and reach new HNWI and other major giving audiences.  

• Work with our Prospect Researcher Manager to identify and execute opportunities to grow our prospect pool, including from across other teams, and to facilitate personal introductions and meetings with yourself or other Magic Breakfast employees/ volunteers – providing relevant briefings where appropriate.  

• Support and collaborate with the Business Development Manager (Scotland) where shared funder relationships or new opportunities arise.  

• Develop and implement tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies for new and existing HNWIs, leveraging and building relationships within and across Magic Breakfast networks’ to support our fundraising objectives.  

• Support, and where required lead, on the delivery of cross-organisational projects including any major giving campaigns, collaborating closely with colleagues across the organisation, including Brand & Marketing, and other relevant teams, to project manage effectively and ensure activity is informed by insights and organisational expertise, and delivers against its KPIs with a strong return on investment.  

• Maintain a strong knowledge of the organisation strategy, business plan and opportunities for innovation and ‘value-add’, to identify and build accurate and inspiring giving propositions, wish lists and a persuasive case for support  

• Ensure exceptional relationship management and donor reporting, with high-quality donor care and stewardship techniques that speak to the motivations and interests of our donors, exploring ways to build our donor community – such as through giving circles.  

• Work with colleagues across the Major Giving and other income generation teams to design and deliver a calendar of bespoke engagement opportunities, events and experiences for donors and prospects, ensuring high-quality execution and timely reviews.  

• Champion innovation in donor journeys, engagement campaigns, and communications to maximize supporter impact and retention, ensuring everyone is aligned behind clear, measurable goals and delivers with purpose and consistency.

• Work with the Head of Individual Giving and Engagement to establish a clear mid-level giving programme and to ensure opportunities and leads are recognised and developed where possible and that there is a high-level of stewardship.

Financial Processes, Reporting, and Due Diligence  

• Support the Head of Major Giving to conduct effective annual planning and budgeting, setting, measuring and reporting against agreed KPIs and utilising data and insights to inform decisions and future planning.   

• Support the Head of Major Giving to prepare phased budgets and reforecasts, identifying and recognising opportunities and risks to income in line with activity plans and progress.  

• Ensure all HNWI income and activity is reconciled and recorded on Magic Breakfast database systems (Salesforce) with relevant supporting documents, including gift aid and gift instruments in place.  

• Work with finance and performance and relevant business leads to manage programme budgets and restrictions.  

• As requested, provide regular reports and updates to the Head of Major Giving, Director of Fundraising & Development and other stakeholders as required.    

General   

• Maintain strong communication and alignment with the Business Development Manager (Scotland), ensuring funder and donor activity is coordinated and opportunities are maximised across nations.  

• Ensure all donor due diligence is completed and compliant with ethical fundraising standards, GDPR and organisational policy.  

• Contribute to team meetings, sharing best practice and supporting team members where necessary  

• Help to maintain a positive working environment; keeping the vision of Magic Breakfast at the heart of everything we do  

• Uphold a culture that keeps children and young people at the heart and encourages openness, collaboration, bravery, compassion and a solutions-focussed approach  

• Work collaboratively across the organisation more widely to build good working relations across the organisation and provide ad-hoc support to other teams and members of staff  

• Adhere to all Magic Breakfast policies and procedures  

• Ensure that all activity is compliant with current legislation, GDPR and child safeguarding requirements (training provided)  

• Participate in occasional work-related events at external venues and perform support related activities, as required. Be willing to undertake occasional work outside of regular office hours and UK travel  

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role  

PERSON SPECIFICATION   

Knowledge and Experience    

• Experience generating income and developing a sustainable pipeline of revenue from high-net-worth individuals.  

• Experience of working with high level volunteers and/or committees to deliver major fundraising targets.   

• Excellent and proven knowledge of major gift fundraising methodology including prospect research, managing databases for major account portfolio management, proposal preparation and the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major donors.   

• Proven track record of successfully identifying, securing and cultivating six and seven figure commitments from HNWI.  

• Experience of building, leading and contributing to effective teams and relationships to achieve a high level of performance.  

• Understanding of Magic Breakfast’s cause and the challenges faced by families and children with respect to morning hunger.  

• A good understanding of the fundraising and philanthropy landscape in which Magic Breakfast operates and the relevant fundraising and data legislation and best practice.  

• Experience of effectively and authentically incorporating the voices and views of people with lived experience in fundraising activities.  

Skills and Abilities    

• Skilled and confident in soliciting major gifts, with a natural ability to ‘make the ask’.  

• High emotional intelligence and creativity to develop compelling campaigns, cases for support, and donor relationships.  

• Strong analytical and constructive thinking, with the ability to problem-solve, adapt, and develop innovative solutions to complex challenges.  

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with confidence presenting to a variety of audiences.  

• Ability to build and maintain strong, positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external.  

• Excellent time management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.  

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality outputs.  

• A collaborative team player with the ability to work both independently and across teams, proactively engaging colleagues.  

• Skilled in identifying, escalating, and managing risk effectively.  

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced level) and other Microsoft Office products; ease with IT packages such as Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.  

• Experience using fundraising databases (ideally Salesforce) as well as other systems, such as asana, to support performance management and reporting.   

• Ability to keep accurate and up-to-date records, adapting processes where needed to meet organisational requirements.  

• Understanding of Health and Safety and other regulations as they apply to events.  

WHAT WE OFFER

At Magic Breakfast we value our employees and work hard to develop offer a supportive, respectful culture which enables everyone to thrive. For more information, please visit our recruitment pack via our webiste. 

APPLICATION PROCCESS

Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team, HR @ magicbreakfast. com

Shortlisting - w/c 6th April

Interview 1 - w/c 20th and 22nd April

Interview 2 - 27th April

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

About Advantage Mentoring

We are specialists in partnering The NHS with the charitable arms of professional football clubs: known as Club Community Organisations (CCO).

We harness the power of professional football club’s community organisations to deliver mental health mentoring programmes which provide solutions to key community challenges. 

Our vision is to create a transformative network where anchor institutions and CCOs collaborate seamlessly to deliver sustainable, impactful mental health and well-being support to local communities.

We aim to fill the gaps in existing healthcare and wellbeing services by harnessing the unique position that CCOs have in local communities and providing effective programmes that meet people at their point and place of need.

Our goals are to continue tackling and reducing health inequalities, increase equal access to mental health support and provide better experiences and outcomes for our participants.

About the role and its purpose

· You will be responsible for Advantage’s income and business development activity

· You will lead a broad range of income generating activities and manage relationships with stakeholders

· You will be responsible for growing income from a variety of sources, income streams and relationships

· You will have a clear priority focus on converting pilot and seed-funded contracts to longer-term sustainable contracts and developing donations and project funding

Key tasks & responsibilities

Income generation

· Use your skills, creativity and experience to develop our income generation strategy

· Develop ideas for creative sponsorship and funding opportunities, putting together and submitting proposal and tender documents; identifying suitable partners; presenting proposals and closing deals

· Converting pilot and seed-funded contracts to longer-term sustainable contracts e.g. current Postcode Lottery agreement in the North-East converting to a long-term contract with North-East and North Cumbria ICB (more information to this can be given at interview stage)

· Support drawing up and negotiating contracts and ensuring delivery

· Work with stakeholders and our internal team to scope and develop exciting new opportunities

· Develop and steward fundraising and donor relationships in order to increase income

· Deliver on agreed income targets

Partnerships and Networks

· Build and maintain a network of strategic key external contacts that can support Advantage Mentoring’s work. Stakeholders will be from private, public and third sector groups. Take an active role in representing Advantage Mentoring to appropriate Trusts and Foundations

· Develop a work plan for private sector and philanthropic engagement to achieve a joined up and coherent approach to engaging with commercial organisations across multiple outcomes (financial, brand awareness, influencing policy and support-in-kind)

Communication, marketing and external relations

· Work with Communications colleagues to create materials that will attract new strategic partners, for example highly targeted work aimed at specific sectors being clear about the value of partnering with Advantage Mentoring

· Represent Advantage Mentoring with external audiences (in the media, at events, in meetings with senior stakeholders)

Strategic Leadership

· Develop and implement Advantage’s income generation strategy and policies, as a part of the Leadership Team

· Ensure that partner organisations understand and commit to our values

Management

· Oversee the business development pipeline and ensure that enough proposals are being submitted to make the achievement of income targets probable

· Provide income generation information to the Managing Director and participate in Executive Team meetings and Board meetings

· Report to the Board on income generation as required.

· Maintain a thorough understanding of financial targets and progress

· Work alongside the Head of Operations & Projects to make sure projects are properly initiated and well managed to ensure all contractual obligations are achieved

· Work closely with the PR/Comms Manager to support the awareness of the organisation’s work on a national and local level

Reporting

· Utilise the project bids pipeline spreadsheet and capacity spreadsheet to inform planning and resourcing

· Maintain an effective database of Grants, Trust and Foundation contacts

· Monitor digital income streams to ensure they are effective and opportunities are secured

· Work in collaboration with the communications team to build brand awareness, and promote income generation and impact developing content for key messaging, PR, and branding materials to support effective marketing of the organisation

· Design and develop key income generation materials to enhance our external visibility including extending our profile via submissions for awards and recognition programmes

· Plan and support events for awareness raising and dissemination of our work

· Ensure systems and processes for managing data comply with the organisation’s data protection obligations, charity law and GDPR

· Develop robust systems for the effective stewardship and reporting to supporters of our work

Essential Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Personal Qualities

Experience

· Substantial experience of income generation and development activity, including

• Handling key clients

• Preparing, costing, pitching and closing proposals

• Completing tender documents for submission

• Ensuring delivery of initiatives on time and within budget to the satisfaction of all parties

· Experience of working with corporate partners, establishing and delivering impactful, strategic partnerships with the commercial sector 

· Experience in developing and stewarding fundraising and donor relationships

· Experience of building and sustaining relationships and partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders

· Understanding of impact measurement frameworks

Knowledge & Skills

· Skilled in working with a wide range of organisations and stakeholders

· Excellent communication and influencing skills

· Good knowledge of the public, private and third sector

· Excellent organisational and planning skills

· Ability to set and meet deadlines

· Excellent written communications skills, including ability to write persuasive and engaging content

· IT skills (able to use Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and databases)

· Ability to work in a pressured environment and work to deadlines. 

Personal Qualities

· Gets things done, delivers to highest of standards and takes responsibility

· Entrepreneurial, innovative, personable, collaborative and good at working both in a team and under your own initiative 

· Able to represent Advantage Mentoring, reflecting its values and priorities

· Able to encourage contributions and involvement from a broad and diverse range of staff by being visible and accessible

· Flexible and dynamic, with an ability to adapt and respond quickly to a fast-changing environment

· Ability to negotiate and influence others in a positive manner and confidence to deal with different priorities and differing views.

· Ability to manage expectations.

· Diplomacy and ability to deal with difficult situations.

· Strong delivery focus, with the ability to drive progress forward and a concern for results and achieving goals.

· Confident communicator

· Ability to quickly build credibility internally and externally

· Ability to work in partnership and with flexibility

· Excellent attention to detail

· Proactive, thinks ahead, generates innovative ideas

Other

· Ability to undertake travel around England if/as needed with possible overnight stays

Values & Behaviours

Collaborative

Advantage collaborates with anchor institutions and CCOs to deliver preventative, engaging, and accessible healthcare to those in the community who need it. Our programmes are co-designed and tailored to local needs whilst building sustainable local and national networks.

Inclusive

Advantage aims to give people the opportunity to access our programmes regardless of their race, gender, or socioeconomic class. We believe in creating equal opportunities and breaking down barriers to ensure everyone can benefit from our services.

Supportive

Our mental health programmes increase equal access to care, delivering better experiences and outcomes through evidence-based practices and continuous improvement. Advantage widens access to services closer to home, reduces unnecessary delays, and unburdens other anchor institutions by building capacity to support people.

Impactful

We specialise in creating sustainable partnerships between CCOs and anchor institutions harnessing each entity’s strengths to form a unified support network. Our tailored project and performance management packages ensure ongoing quality assurance, improvement, and responsive adaptations to meet the evolving needs of our partners and their communities.

Advantage Mentoring CIC positively encourages applications from suitable qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

We have an exciting new role at Bags of Taste!

We’re looking for an  enthusiastic and passionate experienced Corporate and Community Fundraiser to play a key role in the growth of our corporate and community income and develop new partners. This brand new role will develop fundraising opportunities with businesses and  community groups, helping to broaden our supporter base and strengthen long-term relationships. 

This is an fantastic opportunity for a motivated and proactive individual who is keen to make a tangible difference. This is the first time we’ve recruited a corporate and community fundraiser and there is significant opportunity to raise funds as our organisation grows. The issues of health and well-being across the population and food insecurity are urgent and our work directly addresses these critical issues. 

You’ll be a key part of the growth of Bags of Taste’s fundraising activity and will be able to make this your own role. We’re initially recruiting this role as a one year contract however we expect this to become a permanent role as funding allows and we’ll review this with the post holder after six months.

Key responsibilities

Corporate Fundraising

● Develop and implement a plan to raise funds from companies (this could be nationwide or within local project areas) with the Head of Fundraising and Comms

● Research corporate fundraising opportunities and develop a pipeline of prospects

● Approach new businesses to financially support Bags of Taste through presentations, applications, pitches and proposals

● Devise partnership opportunities where required eg volunteering days/fundraising ideas

● Work across the organisation to develop leads via staff, Directors and volunteers

● Account manage all corporate supporters in order to develop strong long-term relationships

● Attend networking events to develop new leads.

Community Fundraising

● Develop and implement a plan to raise funds from community groups. This could include events, peer to peer fundraising or volunteer led activity

● Provide guidance, resources, and encouragement to community fundraisersto help maximise their fundraising efforts.

● Attend networking events where needed.

Relationship Development and Stewardship

● Build and develop relationships with all corporate and community partners

● Develop fundraising tools and guidance for all supporters

● Ensure excellent stewardship for all partners in order to build strong, long term relationships. This includes good recognition and communication (reporting and updating).

Administration

● Prepare budgets where needed, track income and forecasts

● Maintain accurate records acrosscorporate and community fundraising

● Ensure compliance with all fundraising regulations, GDPR and organisational policies.

General

● Support and supervise volunteers as and when required

● Attend and support networking events or other events or fundraising activity as required to represent Bags of Taste, including occasional working outside of normal office hours, including some evenings or weekends.

● Undertake other duties appropriate to the role to support the aims of Bags of Taste.

Person specification

Essential

● A minimum of  2 years of experience managing all aspects of corporate fundraising within a charity (including experience of securing new business, account management and stewardship)

● Experience of community fundraising

● A successful track record of securing corporate and community income

● Exceptional interpersonal and presentation skills

● Excellent written skills - you’ll need to be able to write compelling presentations, proposals, applications and reports

● Ability to build a rapport with a wide range of stakeholders

● Strong negotiation skills

● Ability to network, build, and nurture relationships with a wide variety of people

● Excellent organisation and project management skills and ability to work to tight deadlines

● Proactive, self motivated and tenacious 

● Self starter with the ability to set your own workload

● Strong attention to detail 

● Strong IT skills including all Word packages

● Strong knowledge of all social media channels including relationship building on Linked in 

● Good understanding of the relevant fundraising codes of practice and GDPR/data protection

● Passion for the work of Bags of Taste 

● Flexible and able to attend networking events/events occasionally out of work hours as part of the role.

Desirable

● A relevant professional qualification eg Institute of Fundraising Certificate or Diploma in Fundraising or sales or marketing

● Good understanding of CANVA and WordPress

● Good understanding and knowledge of food insecurity and health issues

Why join Bags of Taste?

● You’ll be part of a small, ambitious organisation with a big vision and a strong sense of purpose. The issues around health inequalities and poor diets and the need for solutions are critical.

● This is a hugely flexible role in a supportive organisation.

About Bags of Taste

The work of Bags of Taste and the issues that we tackle are highly topical and relevant so there is a lot of opportunity and scope to raise funds from companies and the community. Our vision that everyone should be able to access and cook good food has never been more important. 

We address dietary related health inequalities and food insecurity - both these issues have been exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis and public health challenges. There is recognition now that food banks are not a sustainable solution and Bags of Taste works across a number of high need communities enabling people to be happier, healthier and more resilient.

The Talent Set are delighted to partner with The Fountain Centre to find them an incredible Fundraising Consultant, who is able to help them devise a strategy for continued growth. A unique charity within a hospital setting, The Fountain Centre's core mission is to deliver state-of-the-art integrative cancer supportive care to improve the lives of anyone affected by cancer in the Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire areas, by supporting and enriching their emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.

Role Overview
The successful candidate will work closely with the leadership team to shape and execute a targeted fundraising strategy, aiming to unlock new income streams and strengthen donor relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducting a fundraising audit to inform the creation of a 3-year fundraising strategy
• Assessing current fundraising performance and identifying opportunities for improvement across a wide range of channels, including:
  • Trusts and Foundations
  • Corporate partnerships and sponsorship
  • Broader community and events fundraising
  • Individual giving and regular donations
  • Creation of an active Patron network
  • Major donor development
  • Legacy giving
  • Digital/Social Media fundraising and campaigns
• Implementation of a test and learn plan to determine areas of fundraising focus with viable income streams that can be scaled up and generate sustainable income in the long-term
• Collaborate with the Fountain Centre team and external Data Consultant on the migration and implementation of a new supporter database
  • Analysis of donor management practices
  • Strengthening pipeline management and donor stewardship
  • Introducing structured planning and reporting processes
  • Supporting and mentoring existing staff or volunteers involved in fundraising
  • Help establish a sustainable fundraising framework that can be maintained after the interim role/roles conclude.
• Investigating and implementing what are short term/immediate Fundraising activities to generate income

Person Specification

• To have significant fundraising experience across a range of disciplines, specifically devising multi-channel fundraising strategies, implementation together with multi-year budget setting.
• Demonstrable experience in fundraising innovation with a test and learn mindset
• Demonstrated success in consistently securing funding from trusts, corporates and major donors and building donor pipeline
• The ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels.
• To be knowledgeable and experienced in using supporter CRM, e.g. RE, Salesforce or Beacon
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with trustees and staff.
• Proven track record of building internal fundraising capability for the future.

 
What’s on Offer
Day Rate: £350-£450 per day, Outside IR35, for 3 days a week

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Who We Are

The Revitalise Trust exists to serve, resource and revitalise the Church in its mission to reach the unchurched, make disciples and transform society by growing vibrant, Jesus-centred, Spirit-filled churches in every community. To date, the Trust has helped plant 200 churches across the UK and beyond and train up and support hundreds of church leaders. As a charity, the Trust is entirely dependent on the generosity of donors to support its work.
This is a key role within the Revitalise Trust, that works collaboratively with others in the team and across the organisation to help raise the necessary funds to support the work of the Trust, supporting and managing a portfolio of existing donors and sourcing and securing new ones, working particularly closely with the Head of UK Fundraising.

The Role

Some of the responsibilities include:

Donor Engagement & Income Generation

• Research and identify new UK funding opportunities and develop tailored engagement strategies.
• Produce high-quality, persuasive proposals and applications to secure new income.
• Manage, steward and grow income streams from new and existing donors, including individuals, trusts and foundations.
• Deliver timely, insightful and impactful donor monitoring reports in line with supporter requirements.

Fundraising Systems & Processes

• Ensure donor records are accurate and up to date across systems such as Raiser’s Edge and SharePoint.
• Support the development of efficient, scalable fundraising processes that align with the wider Trust strategy and KPIs.
• Take responsibility for the smooth running of the Focus giving process.
• Contribute to strategic improvements across our systems, tools and templates, identifying gaps and recommending solutions.

Collaboration & Cross‑Team Working

• Work closely with the Revitalise Trust Fundraising Team, HTB Finance, HTB Giving and cross-entity colleagues to coordinate donor information and opportunities.
• Engage with the Impact Team and Systems Provider/IT to support data integrity and reporting.
• Attend relevant fundraising, giving and GDPR meetings to ensure alignment across the group.

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven fundraising or income‑generation experience, with strong financial awareness and confidence in meeting personal targets and contributing to wider team KPIs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write clear, persuasive briefs and build effective relationships with donors and internal stakeholders at all levels.
• Highly organised, proactive and detail‑focused, able to prioritise multiple deadlines, manage several projects simultaneously, and offer practical, solutions‑driven thinking.
• Experienced in improving organisational processes to increase efficiency, and confident working collaboratively with multi‑level stakeholders to deliver strategic aims.
• Strong technical competence, including experience with donor management systems (e.g. Raiser’s Edge or equivalent), CRM databases, MS Office and related applications.

Every day people with chest, heart and stroke conditions are leaving hospital scared and alone. You can be part of our mission to make sure that there is no life half lived in Scotland.

By joining Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) as an Individual Giving Fundraiser you can be the difference between people just surviving and really living.

You will be part of Scotland’s leading health charity providing support to people with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid to live life to the full again. Our Community Healthcare Support Service provides access to a range of supported self-management and community recovery services to support people across Scotland to manage their health as well as possible and adjust to life after a diagnosis of a chest or heart condition or after a stroke. 

With support from the Donor Development Manager, the Individual Giving Fundraiser will play a key role in growing and sustaining CHSS’s individual donor income by playing a lead role in donor acquisition campaigns, stewardship, and reactivation activity. You will have a strong focus on face-to-face recruitment and compelling multi-channel appeals. As an essential part of the Donor Development team you will be working collaboratively across Income Generation, Communications, Supporter Care, and Data as well as a range of external agencies and suppliers. In all areas, you will ensure compliance with fundraising regulations, GDPR, and marketing standards.

It is an exciting and varied role. We’ll want you to be creative - with support of Communications colleagues you’ll be involved in the crafting of fundraising appeals and campaigns. We’ll expect you to be technically proficient using a fundraising CRM (ideally RE:NXT), highly organised and collaborative. We’ll want you to be able to work with Data colleagues and use insight and analysis to inform decisions.

This role will help CHSS develop targeted campaigns, strengthen supporter loyalty, and ensure high-quality supporter journeys that enhance long-term income stability.

If you are working in a similar role looking for a change or are someone with relevant practical experience in Individual Giving looking for the opportunity to take on some more responsibility, we’d love to hear from you!

CHSS also supports flexible recruitment through Working Families and we are “Happy to Talk Flexible Working”.

In line with our commitment to safeguarding, this role is subject to a Basic Disclosure check. CHSS is committed to equality of opportunity and to providing a service which is free from unfair and unlawful discrimination. We therefore aim to ensure that no applicant, volunteer or member of staff is unfairly treated on the grounds of offending background.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications by CV and covering letter only

Do you want to build a world where everyone feels part of a community?

Do you believe in the power of volunteering at the heart of community empowerment?

If you answered yes to all of the above, this could be the role for you!

We are looking for a community and volunteering manager who believes in the power of people coming together to support one another.

What we do 

Time & Talents is a lively, busy community centre in the heart of Rotherhithe, London SE16.  Set in a leafy heritage building, and ‘T&T2’, our second venue in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, we offer something for everyone. With a history of 139 years of supporting people of all ages in Rotherhithe and Bermondsey, we bring people together for mutual support, fun and friendship, with a wide range of services and activities for older people and other adults, along with children and families’ programmes and a range of volunteering projects.

The Role

In this role you will:

• Lead the development, delivery and continuous improvement of Time & Talents’ Community Programme and volunteering offer, ensuring activities are inclusive, responsive to local need and underpinned by strong safeguarding, participation and partnership working.
•  Develop meaningful volunteering pathways, including corporate volunteering, embed community voice in programme design and evaluation, and contribute to organisational sustainability through effective budgeting, reporting and fundraising support. 

About you

You are an experienced community professional who believes in the power of people coming together to support one another. You bring a mix of strategic thinking and practical delivery, with experience developing community programmes and supporting volunteers to thrive. You are organised, collaborative and confident managing staff, volunteers and partnerships.

You are comfortable working in a busy, community-led environment, balancing day-to-day delivery with longer-term development. Most importantly, you share our commitment to inclusion, participation and community voice, and are excited about helping Time & Talents grow its impact as we begin delivering our new organisational strategy.

About us 

We are an energetic, experienced, and passionate team of 15, with a strong sense of shared purpose and a lively sense of humour. You’ll have the chance to make a big contribution to a growing, ambitious and innovative organisation which has doubled its reach and impact in recent years.

This role is 22.5 hours per week, with flexibility for regular evening and occasional weekend working. 

Time & Talents is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity, and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person that they are. We actively encourage applications from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. 

If you would like an informal chat about the job, please email helenkeenan @ timeandtalents. org. uk with your phone number and a suitable time for us to call. 

The closing date is 23rd March; interviews will be held on 8th April.

TO APPLY: All applications to be submitted online via CharityJob. Send a CV and a cover letter of no more than two sides of A4, explaining why you want the job and how your experience relates to the job description and person specification. 

IMPORTANT: We’ll use cover letters to assess applications alongside CVs. Cover Letter should outline how you meet the job requirements, Specifically:

Community Leadership
Tell us about a community programme or initiative you have developed or led.
What was the need, what did you do, and what difference did it make for the people involved?
2. Volunteering Strategy
What do you think makes a great volunteering programme, and how would you strengthen and grow volunteering at Time & Talents?
3. Partnership & Collaboration
Describe a time you built a partnership that improved a community project or activity.
What role did you play and what was the result?
4. Values & Motivation
Why does this role at Time & Talents interest you, and what excites you about working with the Rotherhithe community? 

Community Builder (Community Development) – Edinburgh

Salary: Up to £33,995 per annum   

Location: Remote in Edinburgh with travel within the UK. See the “Please Note” section below for further details.

Contract Type: 12-month fixed term 

The vacancy   

We have an exciting opportunity for a COMMUNITY BUILDER to join our Community Development team working to support local veterans to take an active role in their communities. If you believe in the power of strong, connected communities, this role is for you.  

Please see below for more information on what just might be your future role.  

About The Role  

As a Community Builder, you will be at the heart of our charity’s ambition to reach seldom-heard members of the Armed-forces Community (AFC) and engage them in creating positive action that strengthens wider connections. 

You will identify the strengths, passions and interests within the AFC, foster meaningful connections with the wider community, and utilise these to create meaningful and sustainable outcomes.  

About You  

You will be a highly motivated and dynamic individual who is passionate about collaboration and community-led change.  You will have experience of engaging and supporting people in a community, charity, education, social care, housing, youth work, or other people-focused role using a range of facilitation tools, techniques and Community Development skills. You will need experience of working in a community setting with a diverse range of people and interests. You will have good organisational skills, energy and the ability to listen, build relationships, and inspire collaboration, which will be essential in creating positive, lasting change.

We are looking for someone with:  

• A Community Development qualification and/or transferable Community Development skills and experience.

• A basic understanding of the Asset-Based Community Development approach (ABCD) is required however full support and development of this practice and our internal ways of working will be provided.    

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships that drive action.  

• A track record of successful collaboration with internal and external partners and stakeholders.  

• Effective and efficient organisational and IT skills. 

PLEASE NOTE:  

• The successful candidate will need to be based within a 30-minute commute of their allocated locality and there is a requirement to travel regularly across the wider area (travel expenses covered).  The successful candidate must possess a valid full UK driver’s license and have access to a reliable vehicle with business insurance for work purposes.  

• There will also be a requirement for occasional travel to other UK locations for meetings and events depending on the charity’s needs such as our annual all colleagues in person event.   

• The successful candidate will work 35 hours per week over 5 days, Monday - Sunday. Core working days will be Monday to Friday; however, flexibility is essential, as regular evening and weekend work will also be required to meet the needs of the role. Working hours will vary to ensure a total of 70 hours is covered over a two-week period, so please take this into consideration before applying.  

• The successful candidate will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check   

About the Team  

You’ll be joining a dynamic team of community development professionals who are passionate about supporting people to make a difference where they live. We amplify the strengths already present in communities, forge lasting partnerships and initiatives that empower members of the AFC to thrive. Together, the Community Development Managers and the Community Builders strengthen local communities using the resources and networks that are readily available.

Please see the job description for more details.  

In return we can offer you: 

• Belonging to a team who make a difference to our community and value equality, diversity and inclusion. 

• 29 days’ annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, regardless of service -plus your birthday off to celebrate! 

• Opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave per year. 

• Added to our free health scheme from day one, including discounts on dental, opticians, massages, and more - with the option to upgrade. 

• 3 volunteer days per year to support the Help for Heroes community.

• A generous salary sacrifice pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution and a minimum 3% employee contribution, plus life insurance up to 4× salary as an active member. 

Closing date: 22nd March 2026

Please note: We may close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of strong applications.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Women’s Work is a National Award Winning Charity founded in 2003. We aim to deliver a holistic, person centred support service to vulnerable and disadvantaged women with complex health and social needs. We do this by ensuring they can access support, education and information to raise self-esteem and confidence, empowering them to make positive life choices resulting in improved health and wellbeing.

We are seeking a talented, motivated and highly organised Business Development Manager to join our Senior Management Team and play a key role in supporting the organisation’s growth, sustainability and financial resilience.

The Role

This is predominantly an office-based role working closely with the Finance Manager and under the guidance of the CEO, with a strong focus on:

• Bid writing, tender submissions, commissioning applications and grant funding
• Identifying, securing and managing new funding opportunities
• Supporting financial planning, allocation to funded projects
• Fundraising and promoting the charity in the local community

You will lead on the development and continuation of the project-specific funding, ensuring bids and applications align with Women’s Work’s strategic objectives and future expansion plans.

Working collaboratively with the Finance Manager, you will review funding streams, develop robust applications and contribute to the effective financial management of funded activities. You will liaise with businesses, statutory bodies, organisations, community groups and charities to identify and secure new income opportunities, partnerships and sponsorships.

Key Responsibilities

• Research, identify and secure new funding opportunities, grants and tenders
• Lead and co-ordinate high-quality bid writing, commissioning and tender submissions
• Support the Finance Manager with funding reviews, budgets and financial monitoring
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with funders, partners and stakeholders
• Contribute to organisational planning, sustainability and income diversification
• Ensure funding requirements, reporting and compliance are met
• Event planning/identify and co-ordinate fundraising opportunities

About You

The successful applicant will be self-motivated, detail-focused and high organized, with strong project management and communication skills. You will be able to work collaboratively while also managing competing priorities independently.

You will also be able to demonstrate:

• Proven experience in bid writing, tenders and/or commissioning
• A track record of pro-active business development, ideally within the charity or voluntary sector
• Strong relationship-building skills across multiple sectors
• Empathy and a clear commitment to Women’s Work values, aims and objectives

Additional Information
An Enhanced DBS check will be required.
Ref: BDM

We are recruiting for a temporary community fundraising mananger  for a children's hospice. This role will focus on supporting the delivery and development of the hospice’s community fundraising programme, maintaining strong relationships with supporters, and helping to grow income from local communities. Working closely with the wider fundraising team, you will help coordinate community fundraising activities, support key supporters and volunteers, and ensure the programme continues to deliver meaningful engagement and sustainable income.

Hybrid working min 2 days in the office , need an enhanced DBS 
 
The Company:
Support the delivery of the hospice’s community fundraising programme and associated income targets
Develop and maintain relationships with community groups, schools, clubs, and local businesses
Identify opportunities to grow income through community partnerships and supporter-led fundraising
Represent the hospice at community events, fundraising activities, and local meetings
Provide excellent stewardship to community supporters, fundraisers, and volunteers
Offer guidance, resources, and encouragement to individuals and groups organising fundraising activities
Ensure supporters feel valued and connected to the impact of their fundraising
Support the development of new community fundraising opportunities and initiatives particularly across our new geographic catchment
Work collaboratively with colleagues across the fundraising team to maximise supporter engagement
Contribute ideas and insight to help strengthen the community fundraising programme
 
The Role:
Experience in community fundraising or a relationship-based income generation role
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Confident in public speaking and able to present to an audience
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple activities
Excellent IT and Microsoft Office skills. 
Knowledge of community fundraising methods and supporter stewardship
Experience working in the charity or hospice sector
Experience of using Raiser’s Edge database
Full UK Driving license 

IMPORTANT NOTE

Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you haven't been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful and your details will not be held further but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

The Vacancy

Community Builder (Community Development) – Leeds 

Salary: Up to £33,995 per annum   

Location: Remote in Leeds with travel within the UK. See the “Please Note” section below for further details.

The vacancy   

We have an exciting opportunity for a COMMUNITY BUILDER to join our Community Development team working to support local veterans to take an active role in their communities. If you believe in the power of strong, connected communities, this role is for you.  

Please see below for more information on what just might be your future role.  

About The Role  

As a Community Builder, you will be at the heart of our charity’s ambition to reach seldom-heard members of the Armed-forces Community (AFC) and engage them in creating positive action that strengthens wider connections. 

You will identify the strengths, passions and interests within the AFC, foster meaningful connections with the wider community, and utilise these to create meaningful and sustainable outcomes.  

About You  

You will be a highly motivated and dynamic individual who is passionate about collaboration and community-led change.  You will have experience of engaging and supporting people in a community, charity, education, social care, housing, youth work, or other people-focused role using a range of facilitation tools, techniques and Community Development skills. You will need experience of working in a community setting with a diverse range of people and interests. You will have good organisational skills, energy and the ability to listen, build relationships, and inspire collaboration, which will be essential in creating positive, lasting change.

We are looking for someone with:  

• A Community Development qualification and/or transferable Community Development skills and experience.

• A basic understanding of the Asset-Based Community Development approach (ABCD) is required however full support and development of this practice and our internal ways of working will be provided.    

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships that drive action.  

• A track record of successful collaboration with internal and external partners and stakeholders.  

• Effective and efficient organisational and IT skills. 

PLEASE NOTE:  

• The successful candidate will need to be based within a 30-minute commute of their allocated locality and there is a requirement to travel regularly across the wider area (travel expenses covered).  The successful candidate must possess a valid full UK driver’s license and have access to a reliable vehicle with business insurance for work purposes.  

• There will also be a requirement for occasional travel to other UK locations for meetings and events depending on the charity’s needs such as our annual all colleagues in person event.   

• The successful candidate will work 35 hours per week over 5 days, Monday - Sunday. Core working days will be Monday to Friday; however, flexibility is essential, as regular evening and weekend work will also be required to meet the needs of the role. Working hours will vary to ensure a total of 70 hours is covered over a two-week period, so please take this into consideration before applying.  

• The successful candidate will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check   

About the Team  

You’ll be joining a dynamic team of community development professionals who are passionate about supporting people to make a difference where they live. We amplify the strengths already present in communities, forge lasting partnerships and initiatives that empower members of the AFC to thrive. Together, the Community Development Managers and the Community Builders strengthen local communities using the resources and networks that are readily available.

Please see the job description for more details.  

In return we can offer you: 

• Belonging to a team who make a difference to our community and value equality, diversity and inclusion. 

• 29 days’ annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, regardless of service -plus your birthday off to celebrate! 

• Opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave per year. 

• Added to our free health scheme from day one, including discounts on dental, opticians, massages, and more - with the option to upgrade. 

• 3 volunteer days per year to support the Help for Heroes community.

• A generous salary sacrifice pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution and a minimum 3% employee contribution, plus life insurance up to 4× salary as an active member. 

Closing date: 22nd March 2026

Please note: We may close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of strong applications.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

SMART CJS – Trust and Foundations Bid Writer

Role Overview

Are you committed to supporting people who are homeless or rough sleeping?

Are you proactive with a positive attitude?

Job Title: Trust and Foundations Bid Writer (with some responsibility for corporate fundraising)

The salary will be in the range of £36,000 to £42,000.

Hours: 37 hours per week

Term: Permanent

Location: Working from our office in central Bedford, with some provision for remote working.

About SMART CJS

Founded in 1997, we are a charity that provides safe spaces for people who are facing or experiencing homelessness, are rough sleeping or have fallen on tough times. As times have changed, our services have adapted and grown, but we’ve always kept the people we support at the centre of all that we do. We believe that everyone needs a little help sometimes and, with trust, respect and honesty, people can make incredible changes. Our vision is to transform communities so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential, participate in and contribute to all aspects of life. Our mission is to provide safe spaces to work with vulnerable people within our communities, empowering them to make positive changes and take control of their lives.

Why Join Us?

We believe in diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Benefits include:

• 27 days Annual Leave (rising to 30 after 3 years) + Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Generous Pension scheme (after successfully completing a probation period)
• Excellent Development and Growth Opportunities
• Access to a Charity Worker Discount scheme
• Access to the company health and wellbeing service including support with mental health, legal advice and more
• Access to an online GP service

We require all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This job description will be supplemented by annual objectives which will be developed in conjunction with the post holder.

The Role

SMART CJS is looking to recruit a Trusts and Foundations Bid Writer. The successful candidate will also have some responsibility for corporate fundraising with businesses based in Bedford and beyond; this responsibility will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

The main responsibility, though, will be to generate income by writing bids to charitable trusts and foundations, and to statutory funders.

The role will include researching and identifying charity trusts and similar bodies which are able to make an award to SMART. It will also include keeping abreast of developments in fundraising in the charity sector as a whole, especially in the field of grant awarding and, to a lesser extent, of corporate giving.

There will be a probationary period for the role. As it generally takes six months for a grant to be awarded (though some arrive more quickly), the probationary period will need to be for a minimum of seven months, though its precise duration can be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Training will be given; the scope of the training will depend on the candidate’s previous experience.

This is an exciting opportunity to join SMART’s friendly and dedicated team. You’ll need to be able to manage your time effectively; the role is primarily self-directed. We envisage that you’ll be working primarily from our offices in Prebend Street, Bedford, though you'll be able to work from home for some of the time as well. Given the nature of our work, personal resilience is important; some of the stories we use when applying for funding can be emotionally challenging.

Our fundraising comes from regular gifts, donations from the community (individuals and groups), and corporate bodies (businesses). The majority of our fundraising income comes from grants. There will be a realistic target for the amount you need to raise; this will reflect the performance for grant applications in the charity sector as a whole and it will not be unrealistic. Fundraising is not an exact science; the assessment of performance against the targets will be fair and reasonable. The final responsibility for SMART’s fundraising rests with the trustees; they appreciate and understand the complexity of the issues involved.

Main Purpose of the Role

You will work closely with the CEO, the Chair of Trustees, the Head of Business and the fundraising team. The post involves gathering information, writing the bids, tracking the progress of submissions, and reporting back to grant awarders on how their money has been spent, if they require this.

There will also be a responsibility for corporate fundraising. This will involve building relationships with businesses in and beyond the Bedford area. The responsibility for this will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising and Bid Writing

• Research and identify suitable grant and funding opportunities from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies.
• Write and submit high-quality funding applications and proposals in line with SMART’s strategic priorities.
• Work collaboratively with service leads and front line teams to gather accurate, up-to-date data and service information for applications.
• Tailor the applications to the funder’s criteria, using storytelling effectively.
• Manage a pipeline of applications and submissions, ensuring deadlines are met and income targets are tracked.
• Maintain and build relationships with key funders, providing timely reports and updates on grant-funded work.
• Work to realistic targets and be able to provide feedback on these.
• Organisational Development and Support
• Contribute to the strategic development of SMART’s income generation plans.
• Support development of strong internal bid and grant management systems.
• Monitor success rates and provide monthly reporting on funding performance to the Head of Business and to the Chair of Trustees.
• Represent SMART CJS at funding briefings, webinars, and networking opportunities where appropriate.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in SMART’s performance management and appraisal process.
• Attend the monthly meetings of the Fundraising Committee (a sub‑committee of the Board of Trustees).
• Comply with health and safety policies and procedures.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as required by the CEO, the Head of Business or the Chair of Trustees.

Person Specification

Whether you’re already an experienced bid-writer, or whether you think this is something that you could learn to do effectively, we’d like to hear from you. You need to have excellent skills in written English and be able to write in prose that’s clear and readily understandable to the general reader. The criteria for each grant awarder are different; you need to be able to match your bid to what they would like to fund (homelessness, mental health, relief of poverty, women’s issues and so on). You need, then, to tell SMART’s story in a way which appeals to each funder.

You need to have excellent inter-personal skills and be able to work as part of a team. While there is a strong element of self-direction in the role, you need to be able to work closely with senior management and also with the trustees; the trustees have the final responsibility for fundraising in the charity.

You will need, too, to have a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to have a genuine interest in homelessness and the work of the charity, and a commitment to improving our clients’ lives and wellbeing.