Proposal and bid manager jobs in liverpool

Title: Fundraising Manager

Reports to: Fundraising Director

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Based from one of our RTS offices with the expectation of at least 2 days a week in the office, with some flexibility to work from home, subject to business requirements and line manager approval. 

Hours: 5 days per week (37.5 Hours) Worked between Monday- Friday

Salary: £44,261 - £47,868 (5% employer pension contribution, Medicash and group life assurance, 27 days annual leave per annum for FTE plus bank holidays)

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Role Summary

We are looking for a motivated and dynamic individual who is passionate about collaboration and community-led change. If you believe in the power of strong, connected communities, this role is for you. You will need good organisational skills, energy and the ability to listen, build relationships, and inspire collaboration, which is essential in creating positive, lasting change.

As a Fundraising Manager, you will be responsible for managing a mixed portfolio of supporters with a view to growing this pool to deliver a mixture of revenue which can sustain and grow our ambitions and work. This will involve taking responsibility for nurturing and growing an existing philanthropic pool of funders whilst identifying, cultivating and mapping new high value opportunities, in excess of £75k. For your portfolio you will manage donor acquisition strategies, proposal writing and stewardship and supporter journey planning. 

The role involves securing funding from various sources, including trusts, corporations, and individuals, to support the charity’s mission. This includes developing and maintaining strong donor relationships, managing a portfolio of donors, and managing fundraising pipelines.

The ideal candidate will therefore be proactive, results-driven, and skilled in developing insight-led strategies, managing solicitations, along with the ability to create processes, gather insights, and propose budgets. You’ll be passionate about continuous improvement, have a proactive attitude and be comfortable in suggesting new and/or better ways of working. You’ll enjoy a challenging and fulfilling environment, working with a supportive and forward-thinking team.

Key Objectives:

• As a member of the Fundraising team, you will work across all parts of the fundraising process, from prospect research all the way through to the fundraising ask.

• You will work collaboratively within the Fundraising team and the wider organisation to develop compelling fundraising proposals for corporate donors, high net worth individuals, community appeals and trusts and foundations. 

• You will seek out and identify patterns of prospect and funder data and behaviours which inform our growth and generate ideas and solutions

• You will problem solve with others enabling planning and anticipation of challenges and opportunities

Fundraising Objectives:

• Develop a high value pipeline of prospects and funders which has a balanced approach across acquisition, retention and uplift to meet team targets and which provides the best supporter experience.

• Manage a personal portfolio through all stages of the fundraising cycle, within an overall fundraising team target, demonstrating an understanding of how to mitigate risk, maximise return on investment and give a focus to unrestricted income generation.

• Manage and cultivate prospect and funder relationships in their entirety, with responsibility for planning briefings, proposal writing, stakeholder engagement, reporting, stewardship, delivery, and evaluation.

• Research, prepare, and submit high-quality grant applications to charitable trusts, foundations, and other funding bodies utilising different funder approaches including bids, applications, proposals and EOIs, all delivering high-quality experiences and materials to secure funding. 

• Monitor and report on the progress of fundraising activities and grant applications, providing regular updates to the management team.

• Plan and write bespoke engagement plans (e.g. stewardship reports), including report-writing and impact analysis, and coordinating event and PR milestone activities.

• Work with internal & external stakeholders to develop new projects and ensure donor requirements and engagement opportunities are met.

Team and Operational Objectives:

• Help colleagues and supporters overcome any challenges and maximise their fundraising efforts.

• Manage your time and workload, and utilise our given processes, systems, and parameters to overcome barriers

• Support funder account management and compliance through planning, financial budgeting, and record keeping. 

• Ensure that systems and processes are effective, and that our database is updated and utilised as the central source of information for recording income, supporter interactions and reporting. 

• Ensure all supporters are appropriately thanked and help develop specific supporter journeys.

• Identify potential funding opportunities and contribute to philanthropic discovery exercises across new territories and themes

• Build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders from corporate partners through to community groups.

Please note the key responsibilities of this role are described above. They may be subject to reasonable changes from time to time in line with business needs. 

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Person Specification

Experience (essential)

• Experience in a charity fundraising role.

• A successful track record of building strong internal and external relationships and generating income from a broad range of funders

• Experience in fundraising preferably from Trust and Foundations; both family, corporate and individual, and partnership bid development.

• Experience in all aspects of donor cultivation (research, writing, follow-up, and stewardship), required

• Experience closing gifts at the six-figure level, including complex gifts using a variety of giving vehicles

• Pipeline development and management thereof, to ensure multi year planning and team financial target contributions are reflected.

• Proven track record in achieving financial and non-financial targets and in forecasting/ setting KPI’s

• Experience in identifying and acquiring new business opportunities and creatively retaining long term funder relationships

• Knowledge of prospect research techniques

• Maintaining a library of templated materials

Experience (desirable)

• Knowledge of place-based fundraising

• Experience working with under-represented communities 

• Enthusiastic “all hands-on deck” style team player; able to operate and collaborate across multiple teams and thrive in a fast-paced culture

• Advancing or building digital capabilities to support work activities

• Managing relationship milestones in collaboration with colleagues to include performance tracking, solicitations and reporting 

Skills (essential)

• Commitment to the aims and ethos of Right to Succeed and a genuine desire to bring about positive change for children and young people. 

• Knowledge or experience in a broad range of high value income generation practices and legislation

• Highly proactive and organised, with strong project management skills including multitasking and attention to detail

• An ability to identify, research and qualify potential donors and explore networks.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages to different audiences and craft compelling grant proposals

• Ability to nurture, develop and promote effective relationships and communicate with colleagues, community members and funders

• Strong cross team planning and organisation skills ensuring lead time processes for tight deadlines, consultation and proofing 

• Experience in utilising a range of printed and electronic resources and in working with databases to build a strong pipeline of funding and diverse portfolio of supporters

• Confident networker and relationship builder with excellent interpersonal, presentation, and negotiation skills

• Understanding of financial planning and business plans, ability to analyse accounts and data to inform funder activities, decision making and forecasting.

• Demonstrable IT skills and the ability to learn detailed processes quickly and accurately.

Qualifications & knowledge (desirable)

• Awareness of local areas, key challenges and understanding of current contexts 

• In-depth knowledge of education improvement and community development

• Demonstrated experience with Google Suite, fundraising CRM, project management tools

• CIOF or equivalent sector membership or qualification

• Sector Peer Network Participation and knowledge building 

• Fundraising compliance knowledge – inc Data Protection and Due Diligence

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Timetable 
Applications invited by 12:00pm Monday 19th May 2025
First Stage Interviews: Ongoing as applications received
This will be a two-stage interview process with a task to be prepared for stage 2.

Please note we will be interviewing candidates as applications are received and may close the vacancy earlier if a suitable candidate is identified. Candidates are advised to apply as early as possible.
These dates may be subject to change. 

Please identify your notice period and salary expectation in your cover letter.

Note: Unfortunately we cannot support applications from international candidates at this time

As one of the largest federated charities in the UK, with arguably greater reach into the lives of families and educational settings than any other non-Government organisation, Parentkind is on a bold and urgent mission: to support, champion, and empower parents to be partners in their children’s education and wellbeing. To help deliver this, Parentkind's fundraising efforts helped grow Parentkind's income from £1.5m to £10m (including in-kind donations) between 2022 and 2024.

Although best known for our support of almost 24,000 Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), Parent Councils, and Schools, helping them build strong school communities whilst they raise over £130 million each year to enhance children’s education, our work stretches far beyond the school gates. Parentkind is building a powerful movement that recognises parental engagement not as a nicety, but a necessity.

In recent years, families have faced a series of compounding challenges: the cost-of-living crisis, rising child poverty, and deepening educational inequality. These pressures have left many parents struggling to meet basic needs—let alone feel confident engaging in their child’s learning journey.  Parentkind has responded to this moment with compassion, agility and purpose, through a series of transformative campaigns, resources, and partnerships. Our recent transformational journey has seen Parentkind’s network grow by more than 70% of schools, and the income Parentkind has delivered both for itself and for its members by more than 550%. 

Our No Cold Child initiative, launched with FatFace, stepped in to address a stark statistic: over 150,000 children in the UK do not own a winter coat due to poverty. Through our trusted relationships with schools, we distributed 10,000 warm, high-quality coats worth £600,000 to the children who needed them most. Shortlisted for two Business Charity Awards, the campaign has been praised not just for providing warmth, but for restoring dignity, inclusion, and school readiness to thousands of children.

Our collaboration with Asda on Cashpot for Schools is another example of unlocking support at scale. This innovative community-led funding model allows shoppers to nominate and fund their local schools simply through everyday spending. In just the last year, this campaign has generated £5.78 million for schools—supporting everything from basic classroom supplies to vital extracurricular programmes and pupil wellbeing initiatives. Also shortlisted for a Business Charity Award, it is already a model for community-driven philanthropy.

Meanwhile, our All Dressed Up campaign—developed with World Book Day and Rubies Masquerade—confronted the often-overlooked issue of financial exclusion on key celebration days. More than 100,000 free dressing up costumes worth £1.34 million were delivered to children from low-income families. By enabling participation in events like World Book Day, we helped spark imagination, joy, and belonging for children who might otherwise feel left out—boosting self-esteem and supporting a positive connection to learning.

Alongside these national campaigns, Parentkind supports families year-round through a growing suite of programmes designed to inform, prepare and empower parents. Our Be School Ready programme offers crucial guidance and confidence to parents preparing their children for the leap into primary education. With a mix of practical advice, developmental tips, and reassurance, through the distribution of 135,000 copies of Be School Ready and an online campaign, it supports families at one of the most formative moments in their child’s life.

We also deliver a wide-ranging series of live expert webinars and parent-friendly resources, covering topics such as managing anxiety, supporting special educational needs, navigating school transitions, and building home-school partnerships. These resources—developed in consultation with experts and rooted in lived parent experience—equip families to feel informed and empowered, no matter what challenges arise.

This month, we launched our Parent-Friendly Schools Accreditation Programme, designed to formally recognise schools that go above and beyond in fostering positive, inclusive relationships with parents. The accreditation celebrates schools that actively listen to parent voices, make engagement easy and accessible, and embed family partnership in their culture. It is a practical and inspiring tool to drive long-term change in the sector and offers a roadmap for schools wanting to strengthen their community.

Our work is grounded in evidence. Every year, we conduct the UK’s largest parental engagement study: the National Parent Survey. In 2024, over five thousand parents participated, providing invaluable insight into what families think about the education system. The findings are fed directly into government consultations and have already influenced national debates on school funding, attendance, mental health support, SEND provision, and curriculum reform. We believe passionately that parents must not be the missing voice in education policy—and we work tirelessly to ensure their views shape the decisions that affect their children’s lives.

Today, through Parentkind’s federated network of more than 130,000 parent and teacher volunteers, our work impacts the lives of millions of parents, carers, teachers and children throughout the UK through our membership, programmes, advocacy and campaigns. But we know we can—and must—do more.

We’re looking for someone with passion, purpose, and creativity—someone who understands that a warm coat, a World Book Day costume, or a parent’s voice at the table can all be catalysts for lifelong change.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing Fundraising Team and play a leading role in shaping a brand-new trust fundraising programme from the ground up. We’re looking for someone with experience in securing income from trusts and foundations—someone who’s a confident communicator, both in writing and in person, and who brings a curious and strategic mindset to prospect research.

You’ll help craft compelling cases for support and develop a portfolio of proposals and reports that showcase the impact of our work—amplifying the voices of parents and schools and demonstrating how Parentkind is driving positive change. Strong attention to detail is essential, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.

If you believe, like we do, that when parents matter, children succeed, we’d love to hear from you.

You’ll have:

• Proven experience in trust and statutory fundraising, securing five- and six-figure grants.
• Demonstrable success in developing compelling proposals and reports for funders.
• Strong relationship management skills with a track record of stewarding long-term partnerships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey impact effectively.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Knowledge of the education, family support, or community development sectors.

You’ll get:

• To join a fast-moving charity with an exciting future
• To build your own team, playing a key role in driving forward the charity’s strategy and shaping our fundraising activity
• Remote working full-time with a great online team culture
• 25 days holiday in addition to UK public holidays.

How to apply

A full candidate pack is attached on this listing. To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter outlining your motivations for applying for the role and how you meet the Person Specification.

Interviews will be held on a rolling basis via video conference.

Parentkind is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and we ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and equally.  We would be grateful if you would complete the equal opportunities monitoring questions when applying online to help us check that we are carrying out our policy of equal opportunities for all people.  The information will be kept confidential and will be separate from your application.  It will have no bearing on your application.

Parentkind is committed to meeting the needs of applicants with disabilities.  Please let us know if you require any adjustments to your application or interview process.

We have an exciting opportunity for a new member of staff to join Transport for All and support the delivery of our vision: Transport Justice for All Disabled People. 

This role will lead on securing income from trusts and foundations for our projects and programmes. You will help to ensure that Transport for All remains financially sustainable, and can grow to meet the needs of our community. You’ll also drive cross-organisational use of the CRM database.

Importantly, you’ll understand how to communicate about a Disabled People’s Organisation without our community being stereotyped as ‘inspirational’ or ‘vulnerable’ – taking a social model approach and aligning with our organisational values. 

We’re looking for someone with experience of broad-base fundraising, significant success in trusts and foundations fundraising, and skills and experience in databases. 

About Transport for All

Transport for All is the disabled-led group breaking down barriers and transforming the transport system so disabled people can make the journeys we want, with freedom, dignity, ease and confidence. We work with our members to campaign for change, influencing governments, industry and the public.

Your responsibilities

1. Fundraising strategy (10% of time)

· Work with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team to set and deliver the fundraising strategy.

· Work across teams to identify opportunities to create projects and seek funding.

· Ensure all fundraising activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

· Report regularly to the Finance Committee and Board.

2. Trust and foundations fundraising (60% of time)

· Work with the Senior Leadership Team to identify projects and core costs for funding and develop realistic budgets.

· Craft compelling applications to secure funding.

· Develop and maintain strong relationships with key funders.

· Work across teams to ensure continuation funding for existing projects and costs where needed.

· Manage grants from existing trusts and foundations, ensuring grant requirements are met, and reports are on time, accessible and demonstrate impact.

· Manage the trusts and foundations pipeline, keeping up to date records at all times.

3. Database management (20% of time)

· Ensure the CRM supports funding monitoring purposes and staff can use it for this purpose.

· Continually champion and develop the CRM so that it is accessible to all staff and meets the requirements of all teams.

· Work with the Communications and Engagement team to put in place good stewardship of members, advice service users and other contacts via the CRM.

· Put in place supporter journeys that provide excellent stewardship.

4. Wider fundraising (10% of time)

· Explore, test and evaluate wider fundraising opportunities. This could include appeals, corporate fundraising, events, individual giving and legacy giving.

· Support the Training, Research and Consultancy team with bid and proposal writing on an ad hoc basis.

5. General (at all times)

· Undertake any other tasks, duties or projects which may arise from time to time which are in line with the general level of this post and as instructed.

· Undertake occasional evening and weekend work as required, and take responsibility for arranging time off in lieu with your manager.

· Line manage and supervise members, contractors and staff as required.

· Work within the Social Model of Disability.

· Work in adherence to Transport for All’s values and staff policies.

· Maintain confidentiality.

· Attend staff meetings as needed.

Skills

We’re looking for someone who:

· Has experience of fundraising, particularly from trusts and foundations, preferably including significant, multi-year grants

· Has strong research skills and enjoys identifying funders and their priorities

· Can construct realistic budgets and work with colleagues to craft project proposals

· Has a track record of securing funds for social justice causes

· Has excellent persuasive, value-based communication skills, both written and verbal

· Understands data protection and fundraising compliance and good practice

· Understands the potential for a good CRM to add value, and is confident about helping other team members to use a database to help their work

· Can manage a mixed workload with conflicting priorities

· Has strong organisational and time management skills

· Has a commitment to and understanding of the social model of disability, and disability justice

We particularly welcome applicants from disabled people. This explicitly includes those of us who are Deaf, neurodivergent, chronically ill, have a mental health condition, have age-related impairments, and people with both visible and non-visible impairments.

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day. The Macular Society is the only charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world class research, and the best advice and support.

To support people affected by macular disease now, the Macular Society provides a range of support, information and services. Our research programme is focused on finding new treatments and a cure to Beat Macular Disease forever.

This exciting role is responsible for delivering income from a range of donors and prospects, with a focus on trusts and foundations, lottery and statutory sources, as well as HNWI. We are looking for an ambitious and strategic fundraiser with a proven track record of raising significant funds from charitable trusts and foundations, lottery and statutory sources as well as HNWI, who, alongside our existing team, will help to grow and develop this area of fundraising for the Macular Society. The post holder will have a proven eye for detail, an analytical nature, first class relationship management skills and a flair for writing successful applications.

In return, we provide a great working culture – we do something worthwhile and are proud to work together to Beat Macular Disease – as recognised by our inclusion in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023 list. 

We offer flexible working options, 26 days annual leave, rising to 27 after one years’ service, the ability to buy or sell annual leave, supportive family policies, and 6% pension contribution.

We are passionate about treating people fairly and as equals, doing so is instinctive to us. To Beat Macular Disease for all we know we have work to do. That’s why we are keen to hear from people of all backgrounds who have the skills and experience we are looking for. We particularly encourage applications from people from under-represented groups, to help ensure what we do and how we do it is inclusive – for everyone.

Introduction to the Role

We are seeking a results-driven Development and Fundraising Officer to lead our grant applications, trust initiatives, and donor engagement efforts. In this international role, you will work closely with our team to create compelling proposals, coordinate fundraising events, and secure essential funding. Reporting directly to the Interim Director, you will play a vital role in shaping our fundraising strategy while working within a flexible, remote environment.

General Details

• Title: Development and Fundraising Officer

• Salary: £28-35,000 per annum based on experience and training

• Reporting to: Interim Director

• Contract: One-year renewable, Full-time (35 hours per week)

• Location: Remote

• International scope: Engage with international donors, trusts, and grant-making bodies

Core Responsibilities

1. Grant & trust applications

You will drive the research, development, and management of grant applications and trust funding. Your role involves identifying funding opportunities that align with Hong Kong Watch’s mission and preparing detailed proposals that secure essential resources for our projects.

2. Fundraising campaigns & donor engagement

In this responsibility, you will design and execute targeted fundraising campaigns and events. You will work to cultivate and maintain relationships with individual donors, trusts, and institutional funders, ensuring a consistent flow of financial support that underpins our advocacy and community work.

3. Coordination & communications

This responsibility centres on effective internal collaboration and external representation. You will coordinate with our communications teams to ensure consistent messaging, manage donor communications, and report on the impact of our fundraising efforts.

Key Tasks

• Research and application development:
  Identify suitable grant opportunities, trusts, and philanthropic funding sources both in the UK and internationally. You will draft, refine, and submit proposals that reflect Hong Kong Watch’s strategic priorities, ensuring compliance with each funder’s requirements.

• Campaign strategy and event coordination:
  Develop integrated fundraising campaigns in collaboration with our communications team. This includes planning virtual and in-person events, managing donor appreciation sessions, and ensuring that each campaign aligns with our overall mission and values.

• Donor relationship management:
  Build and nurture relationships with a diverse range of funders. This task involves regular communication, organising meetings and presentations, and providing clear, detailed impact reports that demonstrate the effectiveness of our initiatives.

• Internal collaboration and reporting:
  Work closely with the operations team to ensure that all fundraising efforts are fully aligned. You will attend monthly strategy meetings, coordinate updates, and produce comprehensive reports on campaign performance and donor engagement.

• Digital and social media integration:
  Collaborate with the communications team to create engaging online content that supports fundraising efforts. This includes drafting newsletters, managing social media updates, and developing digital materials that promote events and initiatives.

• Monitoring, evaluation, and strategic review:
  Continuously track key fundraising metrics and donor engagement levels. You will evaluate the success of fundraising initiatives, adjust strategies as needed, and prepare strategic reviews that inform future plans and objectives.

Essential Skills & Behaviours

• Grant-writing expertise:
  Proven track record of researching, drafting and submitting successful grant and trust applications.

• Excellent written & verbal communication:
  Able to craft compelling narratives and present confidently to donors, partners and colleagues.

• Relationship-building & stakeholder management:
  Skilled at cultivating and maintaining donor relationships, with strong interpersonal presence.

• Project & time management:
  Highly organised and able to plan multiple bids, campaigns and events to tight deadlines without oversight.

• Attention to detail & accuracy:
  Meticulous in proposal compliance, budgets, reporting and data entry.

• Analytical & outcomes-driven:
  Tracks fundraising metrics, evaluates impact, adjusts tactics to hit targets.

• Team-player & collaborator:
  Works seamlessly with communications, operations and senior leadership to align messages and priorities.

• Self-starter & remote-working discipline:
  Proactive, resourceful and able to manage your own workload in a flexible, home-based role.

• Cultural sensitivity & political awareness:
  Strong understanding of Hong Kong’s human rights context and respect for diaspora communities.

Desirable Skills & Behaviours

• Language skills:
  Proficiency in Cantonese.

• Event planning & virtual engagement:
  Background in coordinating both in-person and online fundraising events, webinars or galas.

• Digital fundraising & social media integration:
  Know-how in peer-to-peer platforms, crowdfunding tools and integrating campaigns with social channels.

• Budgeting & financial literacy:
  Able to draft, monitor and report against budgets for grant-funded projects and campaigns.

• Network in philanthropic/trust circles:
  Existing contacts or familiarity with UK and international grant-makers, foundations and trusts.

• Human rights or advocacy sector experience:
  Prior work in NGOs, think tanks or advocacy that demonstrates commitment to civil liberties.

• Strategic thinking & innovation:
  Creative in identifying new funding streams and piloting novel campaign approaches.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary: £28-35,000 per annum

• Flexible working: Enjoy a remote working environment with one monthly in-person meeting in London if you are based in the UK

• International exposure: Engage with a diverse network of global donors, trusts, and philanthropic partners

• Professional development: Opportunities for training and growth in the field of international fundraising

• Collaborative culture: Join a dedicated team committed to making a tangible impact for Hong Kongers and their communities

Interviews

First-round interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, both before and after the application deadline.

IPSEA is the leading charity in the field of special educational needs and disability (SEND) law in England, and we provide free and independent legal advice and support to families of children and young people with SEND. We also provide training on the SEND legal framework, and we influence policy at both a local and national level.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Trusts and Philanthropy Officer to join our small, ambitious fundraising team. IPSEA has a proven track record of successfully securing grants, and this is a new role designed to help strengthen and grow IPSEA’s income from charitable Trusts and Foundations. You will be responsible for researching new funding opportunities, preparing and submitting tailored applications and reports, and managing relationships with existing funders through thoughtful and timely stewardship. You will also support the early development of strategies in major gifts and wider philanthropy. 

This role is an opportunity to play a key role in our future fundraising strategy and help secure long-term financial sustainability for our services. 

You will work remotely, with occasional travel required for essential meetings approximately 4-5 times per year. 

If you share our commitment to protecting, promoting and upholding the rights of children and young people with SEND and would like to use your fundraising skills at IPSEA, we would love to hear from you. 

To apply

• Download our ‘Trusts and Philanthropy Officer Recruitment Pack’
• Visit our website to download an application form
• Submit your completed application form via our website

Please note that we do not accept CVs as applications.

Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 12 May 2025 
First-round interviews: 21 or 22 May in central Birmingham