Grant Manager

Reports to: Board of Trustees

Salary: £36,000 (pro rata) 

Based in: Remote

Contract: 12 months fixed term

Hours: Part-time – 0.8 FTE, open to flexible working 

Benefits – 25 days Annual Leave (pro rata), staff learning fund, enhanced parental benefits package, flexible working.

Why this role is important – and why you’ll make a difference doing it:

Hope Unlimited exists to support people and organisations working at the grassroots to challenge hate, strengthen relationships and build hope in their communities. Much of the most important work to bring people together happens quietly, locally and without recognition –often led by volunteers, neighbours and community members responding to what’s needed around them.

Too often, these groups are locked out of funding that doesn’t reflect how they work or what their communities need. This role exists to help change that. As Grant Manager, you will help ensure funding reaches hyper-local organisations. You’ll play a key role in backing community-led work that builds connection, resilience and agency, and in supporting communities to shape their own futures on their own terms.

What you’ll be doing in this role:

Grant management & assessment

• Reviewing and assessing grant applications in line with the Grassroots Fund criteria
• Carrying out desk-based research and liaising with applicants
• Making grant decisions within agreed levels of responsibility, and supporting decision-making by subcommittees and Trustees where required
• Keeping clear and accurate records of grants in a way that supports transparency and shared oversight

Funding processes & governance

• Supporting clear, fair and accessible funding processes
• Preparing grant offer letters and agreement
• Ensuring grants support Hope Unlimited’s charitable purpose and meet basic governance requirements
• Improving and evolving our grant-giving and reporting processes, and suggesting changes that make them work better for communities and for Hope Unlimited

Reporting & learning

• Supporting grantees to share what difference the funding has made after 12 months
• Encouraging reporting that works for communities, including written, visual or creative formats
• Helping Hope Unlimited learn from what grantees tell us, particularly about what strengthens community resilience over time

Relationship management

• Being a supportive and approachable point of contact for funded organisations
• Responding to enquiries from grassroots groups who may want to be considered for funding, even where we are not able to accept open applications

What we think you’ll need to be able to do the job:

You’ll need to bring:

• Experience managing grants, funding decisions or similar processes
• The ability to make thoughtful, fair judgements with limited information
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Confidence balancing trust and flexibility with responsibility and accountability
• Clear, kind and accessible written communication
• A strong belief in community-led change and local knowledge

It would also be helpful if you have:

• Experience working alongside small, volunteer-led or informal community groups
• An understanding of issues around community cohesion, division or far-right activity
• Experience with non-traditional or flexible approaches to understanding impact