Jobs

We're growing in the Oxfordshire area and we're excited to be recruiting for a new Housing Officer role to join our existing team of Housing, ASB and Scheme officers. Based from our Greenham Office 1 day a week, with extensive travel across the Oxfordshire area.

You'll manage your own diary with a mix of working from home, office and out with our customers, colleagues and partner agencies.

The Role:

As a Housing Officer, you'll be the visible and proactive within your community. Working directly with residents, colleagues, and partners to deliver customer-focused services.

You'll play a key role in tenancy, lease, and neighbourhood management, ensuring that our services are safe, compliant, and responsive.

What you'll be doing:

• Delivering excellent tenancy, leasehold, and neighbourhood management services across your locality
• Acting as a trusted point of contact for customers
• Building relationships with local authorities, community groups, and partner agencies
• Using data insights to improve services and ensure compliance with legislation and regulations
• Supporting neighbourhood improvements and shaping services based on the voice of our customers
• Maintaining accurate customer records and ensuring data is used responsibly
• Promoting SNG's values and culture of collaboration, safety, and inclusion

What we're looking for:

• Experience delivering tenancy, lease, or neighbourhood management services
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and resolve complex issues
• A collaborative approach, working across teams and with external stakeholders
• Good knowledge of landlord services and the ability to apply this in practice
• A customer-first mindset, with a track record of achieving positive outcomes
• Confidence using digital tools to support service delivery
• A full driving licence and access to your own vehicle

Job Title:  Chief Executive Officer

Location:  Basingstoke area

Salary:  £45,000 - £54, 000 p.a. dependent on experience and skills

Hours:  Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Holiday allocation:  33 days per annum inclusive of Bank Holidays

The Role

Citizens Advice Basingstoke is seeking a new Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through a period of increasing demand and change.

This is an opportunity to make a significant impact in the local community, ensuring people continue to receive high-quality advice on issues including debt, housing, employment, and the cost of living.

We are looking for a values-led and strategic leader who can:

• provide clear organisational direction and leadership to staff and volunteers

• ensure financial sustainability, including income generation and diversification

• build effective partnerships with funders and stakeholders

• work closely with the Trustee Board to ensure strong governance

The role will involve leading the charity through key challenges including funding pressures, local government reorganisation and evolving service delivery needs.

Applications

At Citizens Advice, we recognise the positive value of diversity, promoting equity and celebrating inclusion. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.

Close of business on Tuesday 26 May 2026

Thank you for your interest in Citizens Advice Basingstoke.

This role is ideal for someone who combines technical knowledge with a pragmatic, risk-based approach and a passion for safeguarding both sensitive personal data and supporter trust. Your ability to influence and work together with others will help us drive forward our Information Governance programme.

We are looking for someone with experience in an Information Governance, Data Protection, or Compliance role.

Join us and be a part of something truly transformative. Together, we can change the narrative around diabetes and create a more inclusive world.

WFD’s exciting plans for growth include diversifying our donor funding and delivering our new business development strategy.

As our new Business Development Manager, you will play a central role in expanding our funding portfolio, unlocking new strategic partnerships, and scaling high-impact programmes across more than 50 countries.

Working closely with the Head of Business Development and Funding Partnerships, this role will

Strategy - Actively engage in donor analysis; identifying emerging donor trends and contribute to the diversification of donor funding and the execution of our new business development strategy.

​Systems -​ Review and design effective business development systems and operating procedures.

​Proposals - Lead funding opportunities with institutional donors (FCDO, ISF, EC and other bilateral European donors) including trusts and foundations when renewing or expanding WFD’s non-regional portfolio.

We are looking for the following

• Track record of engaging with, developing and delivering business development strategies.
• At least 4 years’ experience managing end-to-end bid processes.
• Experience writing convincing bids for both grants and commercial contracts.
• Evidence of winning institutional funding.
• Strong understanding of donor landscapes.
• Experience working with global cross-functional teams.
• Strong proposal writing and budgeting skills.
• Proficient in business development systems and operations procedures including designing and implementing.
• Experience in consortium development and strong negotiation skills.
• Strategic and commercially aware.
• Highly organised and able to manage competing priorities.
• A confident communicator and collaborator
• Self-motivated and proactive.

​Apply by 25th May 2026. Upload your CV and Cover Letter directly to our website.

​

The Senior Partnerships Manager is responsible for developing, securing and stewarding our partnerships, with a particular focus on the corporate and higher education spaces. Reporting to and working closely with the CEO, the postholder will lead on relationship‑driven partnership development and account management, ensuring partners experience a professional, values‑aligned and impactful relationship with Brightside.

The postholder will steward these partnerships from initial engagement through to renewal, working closely with the Partnerships Lead to support renewals and identify opportunities for deeper partner engagement. The role will involve researching potential partnerships, securing meetings through outreach and networking, generating proposals, and delivering high‑quality ongoing stewardship to partners. In addition to corporate and higher education partners, the postholder will also steward relationships across government and the third sector.

Please note - this role will require extensive travel to London for partnership meetings, events and networking. Our ideal candidate would therefore be based in London or within commuting distance.

Please review the job description attachment at the end of the advert for full roles and responsibilities, application instructions, the essential criteria and further information on salary and benefits.

Responsible for

 Pipeline development

• Researching potential prospects across the corporate and higher education sectors, including analysis of corporate ESG strategies and university access and participation plans
• Maintaining and enhancing our prospects database on our CRM
• Building and nurturing relationships with prospective partners
• Delivering pitch presentations to prospective partners
• Regular attendance at in-person prospect meetings or networking events to build strong relationships that develop into new partnerships
• Generating proposals that align partner priorities to Brightside’s aims
• Maintaining regular contact with prospects to stay on their radar and keep them up to date with Brightside activity
• Attending regular networking events and relevant contacts to build contacts across sectors

 Partnership management and stewardship

• Acting as the consistent relationship manager across the partnership lifecycle
• Stewarding partnerships beyond programme activity, maintaining relationships that reflect partners’ wider goals, values and organisational priorities
• Holding regular partnership check-ins focused on relationship health, strategic alignment and future opportunities
• Ensuring partners feel informed, valued and connected to Brightside’s broader mission and impact
• Working closely with the partnerships delivery team to stay up to date on delivery progress and partner milestones
• Identifying opportunities to deepen or broaden relationships, including multi-year partnerships or expanded engagement
• Delivering a consistent, high-quality partnership experience that strengthens long-term retention
• Attending partner events and conferences where relevant, becoming embedded within their communities
• Working with the Partnerships Lead to prepare for and initiate renewals conversations, including renewals proposals and monitoring

Application instructions

• Submit your CV and one-page cover letter via CharityJob
• Your cover letter should be no more than 1-2 pages and must explain how you meet the essential criteria (listed in the job description) for the role with clear examples, specifically the items tested at application
• You must answer the screening questions
• Applications without a cover letter or screening questions answered will not be considered
• Applications due: 23:30, Wednesday 27 May 2026
• First interviews (online): 4/5 June 2026
• Second interviews (in person, London): 11/12 June 2026

The Senior Fundraising Manager is responsible for delivering Brightside’s fundraising activity with a core focus on grants from trusts and foundations, and major donors. Reporting to and working closely with the CEO, the postholder will forge new relationships with major donors and manage our grant applications to support Brightside to achieve its fundraising targets. The postholder will deliver high quality stewardship across our major donor relationships and act as the key point of contact for all grant activity, working closely with the delivery teams to support funder relationship management and reporting.

The postholder will work closely with colleagues across the organisation to develop clear cases for support for potential funding projects, as well as managing our approach to individual giving and increasing regular donations. The role will involve working closely with the CEO and the trustees, who will provide warm introductions to their networks of potential major donors and support in their stewardship.

Please review the job description attachment at the end of the advert for full roles and responsibilities, application instructions, the essential criteria and further information on salary and benefits.

Responsible for:

Trusts and foundations:

• Identify and research trusts and foundations that would support our organisational priorities and funding needs
• Develop high quality, compelling grant applications and cases for support
• Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of funding opportunities
• Lead funder relationship management and deliver high-quality stewardship
• Lead on grant reporting, including monitoring, accountability and opportunities for reapplication
• Working closely with technology and delivery teams to build evidence-based cases for support for key projects
• Ensure clear and effective handover of successful grants to delivery teams, including reporting requirements and timelines
• Attending external events and meetings to support our fundraising strategy and learning

Major donors:

• Identify and research potential major donors whose interests and capacity align with our mission
• Cultivate new donor relationships through targeted outreach, contact mapping, networking and events
• Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of potential major donors
• Develop tailored engagement and stewardship plans approaches for each donor
• Create meaningful opportunities for donors to share insight, experience or sector knowledge and ensure this expertise is valued and acknowledged
• Lead major gift conversations and negotiations, including face-to-face meetings
• Provide high quality, personalised stewardship to major donors
• Identify opportunities to grow or repeat giving through deeper donor engagement
• Deliver exceptional stewardship to major donors

Individual giving

• Maintaining regular contact with donors and potential donors (including our volunteers and alumni) to generate donations
• Maintaining and monitoring our individual giving platforms
• Ensure all donations and supporter interactions are accurately recorded and that donors receive timely acknowledgements

Application instructions

• Submit your CV and one-page cover letter via CharityJob
• Your cover letter should be no more than 1-2 pages and must explain how you meet the essential criteria for the role, with a focus on the items tested in application and clear examples (see job description for the essential criteria)
• You must answer the screening question on the application page
• Applications without a cover letter or screening question will not be considered
• Applications due: 23:30 Wednesday 27 May
• First round interviews (online): 4/5 June 2026
• Final interviews (online or in person) 10/11 June 2026

We have a newly created opportunity for an Income Maximisation Manager to join our fantastic Benefits, Debt & Money Advice Service at RBL. The role will be responsible for leading the delivery of the National Income Maximisation Service, providing line management, supervision and guidance to our new team of Income Maximisation Advisers working across the UK.

Come and be part of the leading Armed Forces charity, making a difference to the lives of those who have served to keep us safe and protect our way of life.

This role will see you leading the setup and delivery of the Income Maximisation Service, establishing processes, pathways, and ways of working that can be tested and improved to ensure delivery in line with nationally agreed standards and best practice guidelines.

Reporting to our Head of Welfare BDMA (Benefits, Debt and Money Advice), key areas of responsibility will include:

- Co-ordinating the allocation of resources and planning of support activities within the Income Maximisation Service, ensuring person centred support is provided.
- Overseeing caseload allocation and monitoring referral volumes.
- Carrying our regular quality assurance and compliance checks, including staff observations, file reviews, checking the accuracy of advice given.
- Managing the Income Maximisation team including recruitment, induction, identifying training needs, ensuring appropriate training is undertaken and that relevant policies, practices and procedures are adhered to.
- Ensuring that individual cases are allocated and supported in an integrated way that best meets the beneficiaries’ needs.
- Keeping abreast of, and implementing, changes in social welfare law relevant to benefits and broader income maximisation.
- Liaising and working with local statutory bodies, national representatives, and other organisations as appropriate.

You will bring demonstrable experience of leading, managing and developing high performing Benefit or Income Maximisation teams across England and Wales and will have significant knowledge of the full range of welfare benefits available. You will have a solid understanding of statutory and discretionary support available to people from Central Government, Local Authorities, Energy companies and other advice charities and will be keen to utilise this experience to start and grow a new team in our national charity.

You will be contracted to your home address and will primarily work remotely from there, with occasional travel for regional and national staff and team meetings.

Employee benefits include -

- 28 day’s paid holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with optional annual leave purchase scheme of up to 5 working days
- Enhanced paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Generous pension contributions, with Employer contributions ranging from 6% to 10%
- Range of flexible working options may be available, depending on your role
- Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential counselling, financial and legal advice
- Range of courses delivered by learning specialists to support your development goals and objectives
- Opportunities to volunteer
- Travel loans, Cycle to Work, and more!

For more detailed information about the role, please see the Vacancy Information Pack attached to our direct advert. Our teams take a personalised approach to shortlisting, which is carried out without the use of AI and is based on the evidence provided in your application against the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification.

RBL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interview schemes for candidates who declare an Armed Forces connection and/or a disability. However, candidates are only eligible for this scheme if their application clearly demonstrates that they meet all of the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification for the role.

We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen within our award-winning fundraising team, to join us in an exciting new role of Legacy and In Memory Manager (Lead).

At Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity, we believe there’s always more we can do for our sick kids and women, and that’s why we will always strive to do more for our patients and families. It’s our mission to raise the vital funds needed to make a real difference to all who use our hospitals, and to make our hospital feel just like home. 

This role requires someone with experience in legacy administration and promotion and/or in memory fundraising, as well as excellent communication skills and a strategic mindset. We need someone with previous experience in relationship management and income generation - ideally within a legacy and/or in memory setting - who is able to lead and inspire our supporters and staff in order to generate long term income and awareness for the charity.

To be successful in this role you will: 

• Lead the development and delivery of legacy marketing and in-memory fundraising strategies to drive sustained income growth and supporter retention
• Be self-motivated, independent and target-driven
• Act as the subject matter expert on legacy administration and in-memory giving, providing guidance, training, and mentoring while promoting a strong culture of philanthropy
• Manage all aspects of legacy casework, including complex and contentious cases, ensuring effective stakeholder relationships and full compliance with legal, regulatory, and best practice standards
• Oversee data management, reporting, and analysis to generate insights, improve processes, and support accurate forecasting and long-term financial planning
• Collaborate across teams to maximise fundraising opportunities, enhance donor engagement across channels, and deliver impactful events and integrated giving initiatives
• Posses a natural confidence in talking to people with high emotional intelligence and resilience due to the sensitive nature of the role, with excellent communication and relationship building skills.

What we offer: 

• Flexible and hybrid working to support work-life balance 

• Generous annual leave entitlement with additional leave for long service  

• Enhanced sick pay 

• Enhanced Maternity Pay 
• Employee Assistance Program and Lifestyle Savings

• Free flu jabs 

• Cycle to work scheme 

• Charity events throughout the year 

• Employer enhanced auto-enrolment pension scheme with 8% employer contribution 

• Ongoing commitment to education and professional development 

The Charity is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.  

Successful candidates will have access to vulnerable beneficiaries therefore the role is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.  

If you think you have the qualities we are looking for and the desire to contribute, please download the Job Vacancy Pack and then send us a CV and covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria for the role and making clear why you would like to be considered for it. 

PLEASE NOTE: Within our organisation, this role is titled Legacy and In Memory Lead. This reflects our internal structure and does not change the scope or responsibilities described in this advert.

We will conduct interviews as suitable candidates apply and we're ready to hire if we find the right person before the job ad closes.

Individual Giving Manager

Role Overview

The Talent Set are delighted to partner with our client on a fantastic Individual Giving Manager role. This pivotal position involves leading and growing the organisation’s direct public engagement efforts, supporting sustainable fundraising growth within an admired environmental charity.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a comprehensive individual giving programme to increase supporter retention and acquisition.
• Oversee multiple channels including regular giving, payroll giving, legacies, and digital campaigns to optimise engagement.
• Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of marketing and stewardship campaigns, ensuring strong donor relationships.
• Use data insights to monitor performance, inform strategies, and evaluate the success of acquisition and retention initiatives.
• Collaborate with key teams to ensure seamless supporter experiences and programme growth.

Person Specification

• Solid understanding of individual giving fundamentals and supporter management.
• Experience managing regular giving and donor retention programmes.
• Confidence in coordinating multi-channel campaigns, including digital, direct mail, and events.
• Data-driven mindset with strong organisational and analytical skills.
• Ability to prioritise work effectively and work collaboratively across teams.
• Demonstrated success in developing or supporting successful fundraising initiatives.

What’s on Offer
Salary: £39,000 - £43,000
Location: Hybrid, 2 Days In London Office

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.

Sheffield Community Bike Project is a not-for-profit community cycle repair workshop that aims to improve access to cycling through three main activities:

• Free (donations appreciated) access to tools and workshop space for DIY cycle repairs, with support from our volunteer team. This includes some sessions for specific groups.

• Offering affordable new and used parts, and refurbished second-hand bikes for sale.

• Focussed cycle maintenance training sessions to upskill our community.

The CEO will lead Sheffield Community Bike Project to successfully carry out its charitable aims, working closely with the Board of Trustees, Bike Project Manager and volunteers. This will include providing strategic leadership, building the organisation's long-term sustainability, securing the funding that enables our work, and supervision of any other paid staff. Please see the responsibilities for the role in the table below. 

SCBP is at a key moment of growth. Having taken on workshop premises in September 2024, we are now working to increase the number of sessions that we run, streamline our volunteer and participant experience, and expand the breadth of provision that we offer. This is a genuine opportunity to shape what SCBP becomes as an established institution - not just to maintain what exists. At the same time, as a grassroots charity, central to our ethos is nurturing a sense of community ownership and collaboration. We aim to make the project a friendly, welcoming place to volunteer for people of all backgrounds and experiences. Another key part of our culture is our “hands-on-tools” approach: participants are encouraged to “learn-by-doing” cycle maintenance themselves with help from our volunteers.

It is important that the CEO embodies our shared ethos of promoting and supporting access to participation in cycling, for the benefit of the Sheffield community and the protection of the environment. The CEO should also uphold SCBP’s values of shared responsibility and consensus building.

If you are unsure if the job as described would work for you, but believe you would excel in this role, we’d love to hear from you. We are looking for someone who can lead independently, build relationships, secure resources, and help SCBP grow - and we are open to discussion about how the role might work for the right candidate. 

We recognise that the set of responsibilities described below is ambitious for a part time role. There will be regular prioritisation of key responsibilities and resources with the Board of Trustees and in one to one supervision with the Chairs.

-

Key Responsibilities

Strategic leadership and organisational development - setting and driving long and short term strategy in partnership with the Board of Trustees, and building SCBP's capacity as an established institution. 

Financial sustainability and fundraising - securing the income that enables SCBP's work, including grant applications, donor engagement, and earned income development. Overseeing financial strategy and ensuring the organisation lives within its means. 

Line management of the Bike Project Manager and any other paid staff - providing regular supervision, support and accountability, and ensuring operational delivery is on track. 

External representation and partnerships - acting as a public-facing spokesperson for the charity, building relationships with funders, partners, statutory bodies and the wider community. Enabling others to take this role where beneficial.

Internal leadership and culture - nurturing a positive, inclusive organisational culture across staff, volunteers and trustees, consistent with SCBP's values.

Governance and compliance - working with trustees to meet SCBP's legal obligations as a charity, retailer, premises leaseholder and public-facing organisation. Overseeing development and periodic reviews of charity policies. Carrying out incident review processes where appropriate.

Any other reasonable duties that come up to ensure the smooth running of the project - including responding to emergencies.

As our Fundraising Officer (Community) you will be a key member of the income generation team for Winchester Hospice Fundraising Charity, joining at an exciting time following significant growth in revenue generation. You will drive our community fundraising efforts, delivering our ambitious plans and meeting financial targets.

You will lead innovative fundraising campaigns, foster and manage community relationships and ensure exceptional supporter experiences. Your role will encompass key community fundraising campaigns to maximise support and donations from both community groups and individuals.

In this role you will collaborate with the wider team to ensure a unified and effective approach to fundraising to ensure that the charity is financially sustainable and widely recognised by the local community. You will support the promotion and delivery of significant events, provide excellent stewardship and enhance supporter journeys. Your proactive, can-do attitude and dedication will play a crucial role in achieving substantial revenue growth and driving the success of our strategic initiatives.

As our Fundraising Officer (Corporate) you will be a key member of the income generation team for Winchester Hospice Fundraising Charity, joining at an exciting time following significant growth in revenue generation. You'll be driving our corporate fundraising efforts, delivering our ambitious plans and meeting financial targets.

You will lead innovative fundraising campaigns, foster and manage corporate relationships and ensure exceptional supporter experiences. Your role will encompass corporate campaigning and working with local and regional businesses to maximise support and donations to the charity.

In this role you will collaborate with the wider team to ensure a unified and effective approach to fundraising to ensure that the charity is financially sustainable and widely recognised by local organisations. You will support the promotion and delivery of significant events, provide excellent stewardship and enhance supporter journeys. Your proactive, can-do attitude and dedication will play a crucial role in achieving substantial revenue growth and driving the success of our strategic initiatives.

We are seeking a highly organised and detail-oriented Finance and Operations Manager to oversee our financial operations and ensure the effective management of our resources. This role is central to maintaining our financial health and supporting our strategic goals. You will ensure all financial processes are accurate, compliant, and efficient. You will work closely with our Director to ensure all financial processes are accurate, compliant, and efficient. 

KEY RESPONSIBILTIES INCLUDE: 

Invoicing and Payments 

Cash and Monitoring 

• Update monthly actuals and track variances within the cashflow. 
• Support project teams with maintaining and reporting on budgets in line with funder requirements.
• Contribute to the development of budgets for fundraising proposals.
• Continuously review financial systems to ensure efficiency and best practice

Bookkeeping 

• Carry out weekly and monthly bookkeeping tasks, including journal entries in QuickBooks and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Support the production of quarterly management accounts.
• Prepare ad-hoc financial reports and analysis as required.
• Oversee Gift Aid claims and processes.

Independent Examination, Annual Report and Accounts 

• Prepared and organised all documentation for the Independent Examination, ensuring compliance with statutory and Charity Commission requirements. 

• Supporting the Director in responding to examiner enquiries and year-end processes. 

• Reviewing financial records, reconciled balances, and drafted sections of the Annual Report. 

• Coordinating with internal teams and external advisors and assisting with implementing examiner recommendations. 

Full time (35 hrs/wk), permanent

Split place of work between Horizons, Reading (3 days) and Home (2 days)

Salary up to £50,000 FTE pa plus benefits

It’s really simple: we need you to bring your HR subject matter expertise and train our line managers on how to deal with the employment demands they are facing today – demands which continue to grow. You will shape the HR training roadmap and deliver regular technical and induction training, in person and online, to our line manager group. You will train on topics across the full employment lifecycle including recruitment, induction, performance management, engagement, recognition, disputes, exits and more, to upskill our line managers, boost their confidence, and reduce risk to the University.

You will also contribute to the achievement of wider team objectives and projects as part of our people strategy, working with and supporting HR colleagues. Overall, your work will positively contribute to helping the University realise its ambitions for growth and secure its ongoing success.

You must be CIPD qualified and have a business partnering or senior advising background. The things which make you different will be your confidence and passion for training managers and building strong, supportive, and productive relationships. You must have the ability to develop your own training resources using your digital skills and, overall, be prepared to help shape this important new role.

At University of the Built Environment we expect employees to demonstrate our values and behaviours, which are important ingredients of our culture. To find out more about these, view the full job specification, and how to apply, visit our careers site.

We are a long-standing and leading provider of supported online education with a long-term ambition to be the world’s most sustainable university. At The London School of Architecture, our students study onsite. Staff wellbeing and work-life balance are a priority for us, with flexible working arrangements and a generous holiday allowance amongst some of our key employee benefits.

Vacancy closes on Monday 25 May 2026 at 17:00.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We champion equality, diversity, and inclusion in our workforce. We celebrate diversity and the strengths it brings to our staff body, our student community and our Board of Trustees, recognising that people are key to our success. Our aim is to attract, develop and retain a diverse workforce, therefore we welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds.