Proposal and bid manager jobs in longbridge, west midlands

Role: Full-time* Trust & Foundations Manager

Salary: £37,000 - £40,000 dependent on experience

Location: Remote, with occasional travel to Edinburgh or London

This position is full-time; however, for the right candidate, we would consider a four-day working week (or equivalent reduced hours) at the full salary rate, depending on the demonstration of exceptional relevant experience. 

ABOUT US

School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is an education charity that exists to empower and support young people living in complex and challenging circumstances. We use rugby to foster an environment of genuine acceptance, where the sport becomes a platform for participants to improve their confidence, communication skills, commitment, self-control, and ability to work effectively within a team. Through group learning and one-to-one mentoring, SOHK helps young people (re)engage with education and safeguard their wellbeing.

Ninety percent of our participants report feeling more confident and more engaged with school after taking part - with long-term effects on attendance, attainment, and life outcomes. Find out more about our Schools Programme here.

SOHK is at a new and exciting stage of development. Having delivered its programmes to thousands of adults and young people over the past 13 years, in 2024 we chose to focus solely on working in schools. This shift responds to a dramatic rise in need among young people in the UK, many of whom are struggling to navigate adolescence amid rising poverty, a mental health crisis, and increasing isolation.

We plan to double the number of young people engaging with our programmes over the next five years. We are also making significant investments in our impact function, to better understand how we can maximise the benefits for participants and attract more attention and investment to social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions.

Our Mission:

To empower young people to fully realise their potential.

Our Vision:

A society in which every young person has an equal opportunity to succeed. 

OVERVIEW

The Trusts & Foundations Manager will play a central role in shaping SOHK’s future growth. They will lead on major grant applications, support targeted bids aligned with regional delivery, and manage relationships with existing charitable funders.

Around one-third of SOHK’s £1.5 million income currently comes from grants, with active partnerships including major funders such as the Garfield Weston Foundation and Impetus. Sustaining and growing this income will require proactive research, strategic outreach, and a highly organised, detail-focused approach to both applications and stewardship.

The role works closely with the CEO, who is committed to leveraging their time and networks to support fundraising success. The post-holder will also collaborate with Regional Directors and other fundraising colleagues, while enjoying a high level of autonomy and contributing to the long-term direction of SOHK’s Trusts & Foundations strategy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Develop and submit high-quality funding proposals, including applications for six-figure and multi-year grants, by meeting appropriate deadlines and tailoring applications so they appeal to different funder priorities
• Manage and develop a strong pipeline of Trust & Foundations funders for future years, including researching and prospecting new leads through active outreach
• Work with the CEO, Regional Directors and overall fundraising team to identify key funding priorities and strategically deploying the capacity available
• Develop and keep the fundraising CRM updated as a central source of trusts and foundations knowledge, clearly identifying funding gaps and adjusting targets
• Strengthen existing funding partnerships through warm stewardship and efficient grant reporting, maximising the charity’s chances of repeat funding
• Build upon the organisational strategy for scaling trusts & foundations income

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Demonstrable track record in leading on successful medium and major grant applications, including six-figure and multi-year grants
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, able to present a compelling case for support to a variety of funders
• Comfortable in understanding and presenting financial information and in creating budgets for grant applications
• Experience with CRM/fundraising databases for tracking applications, deadlines, and relationship management
• Highly organised and proactive, used to taking the lead on managing a large volume of potential grants in line with the submission dates
• Confident in liaising and engaging with external organisations, including building new relationships with potential funders who are invite-only
• Enjoy working across different teams within an organisation, bringing in new perspectives and utilising the assets and expertise of current staff for fundraising purposes
• Growth mindset, always ready to accept new challenges and opportunities to develop funding strategies.
• Genuinely buy into the SOHK mission, purpose and values

Desirable

• An understanding of how to build and develop a multi-year fundraising strategy for trusts and foundations
• Experience in social impact measurement, with a grasp on how we could use impact data even more persuasively with funders
• Knowledge of the education and/or youth work sector, understanding the impact which this work can make specifically and the context of fundraising for work in schools
• Experience, or willingness to develop knowledge, in how the charity sector can safely and appropriately utilise AI in the creation of strong funding bids and efficient reporting

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

• Salary range: £37,000 - £40,000
• Full-time or 0.8 Full-time Equivalent - dependent on the skills and experience of the candidate, we would be open to discussing a 4-day week on full salary
• 28 days annual leave entitlement plus public holidays.
• Some travel to the different regions may periodically be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required for successful candidates and the job is dependent on suitable references.

This role at Relate - Family Action

Relate at Family Action is here to promote safe, supportive relationships for all and support everyone to strengthen the relationships that mean the most to them.

For over 150 years Family Action has seen first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better and worse. That's why we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today. Whatever family means or looks like to us, ultimately, it's relationships that matter – and the quality of our relationships affects the quality of all our lives.  

This is a pivotal role responsible for crafting and executing strategies and campaigns that promote both the Relate brand image and overall marketing efforts to support the achievement of sales targets across a range of counselling services (both B2C and B2B), training products, charity retail outlets and other income streams.

We are looking for a marcomms ‘all-rounder’: someone who can take a strategic view as well as being ‘hands-on’ in the delivery of marketing support to the wider Relate team. 

Evidence Officer

UK-Wide

£28,831 per annum (pro rata for part time hours)

Ref: 34REC 

Full Time 37.5 hours per week

Base: Hybrid working from any UK-Wide hub 

About the role

We have a new and exciting opportunity to work with us as an Evidence Officer, working as part of the Strategy, Impact and Evidence team. 

Sustrans’ Strategy, Impact and Evidence team is a leading centre of excellence in active travel research, monitoring and evaluation and we are recruiting now. As an Evidence Officer, you will work on a range of behaviour change and infrastructure projects, providing monitoring, evaluation, and analytical support. The Strategy, Impact and Evidence teamplays an important part in supporting our vision by providing robust evidence on sustainable and active travel that ultimately influences and shapes policy, practice and behaviour across the UK.

Focusing on monitoring and evaluating the impact of infrastructure and behaviour change programmes, you will work on a range of projects around the UK and be involved in the planning, delivery, analysis and reporting of our monitoring and evaluation work. 

We offer true hybrid working, a flexible mix of working from home and occasional travel to a nearby office hub. There is minimal travel required in this role, however in the course of your work you may have to travel to one of the nominated hubs or project sites if required to do so. 

About you

You should have demonstrable quantitative and/or qualitative analytical skills, and be a competent Excel user or have working knowledge of statistical software, such as R.

As an excellent communicator in both oral and written forms, you will have with the ability to present data and findings clearly. You should also have the capability to find innovative and creative solutions to problems.

You will own some experience of project management as well as delivery of project monitoring and evaluation. You should also have some experience of working and communicating with suppliers, partners and/or clients. 

Sustrans has a long-term commitment to being a charity for everyone - reducing inequality, valuing diversity, enabling inclusion and ensuring all people are treated with dignity and respect. We aim to be a truly inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all parts of the community, in particular from under-represented groups. 

What we offer

In return we can offer true hybrid working to suit individual circumstances and a flexible, supportive and rewarding working environment. 

Wellbeing

• 28 days’ leave per annum plus bank holidays for full-time working
• Ability to buy an extra week of annual leave (pro-rata for part-time staff)
• Staff volunteer days
• 24/7 free, impartial and confidential support service
• We are members of the Green Commute Initiative and Cycle Scheme who both offer cycle to work schemes

Financial

• Group Personal Pension scheme with a 6% or 7% of basic salary contribution being matched by Sustrans
• Bike, computer and season ticket loans
• Discount benefits
• London Weighting Allowance of £4,530 for all those living within a London Borough (32 local authority districts plus the City of London)
• Death in Service benefit – 3 x annual Salary

Family Friendly

• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Flexible Working practices (full time hours are 37.5 per week, Monday - Friday)

Additional information

• Closing date for the receipt of completed applications is 23:59, 25 August 2025.
• Interviews will take place via MS Teams between the 2nd and 4th September 2025

About Sustrans

At Sustrans you'll be part of a movement to make it easier for people to walk and cycle. 

We're all here to change things! You’ll be part of an incredible community of talented, passionate, creative, problem solvers all working together to change things for the better. We act locally and think big - we have a vision of a society where the way we travel creates healthier places and happier lives for everyone.

You'll be questioning the status quo and daring to imagine a different world. You'll work on exciting, impactful projects that will stretch and empower you and you'll be rewarded by seeing the difference you make to people, communities and the planet. 

We believe including everyone is central to who we are and what we want to achieve, we welcome difference and pride ourselves on creating a culture where you can be yourself and where your wellness is supported. 

You'll be guaranteed to make friends for life and work with a team that is incredibly flexible, supportive, ethical and fun.

About Success Club

Success Club is a London-based growing charity dedicated to supporting children and young people who are at risk of disengaging from education. Our mission is to empower children and young people who are at risk of under-achieving to fulfil their potential. We aim to help them rise up above their negative behaviour patterns and environments, through a series of reflective learning, confidence building and positive behaviour led programmes that have mindfulness at their heart; these can be delivered directly into schools (educational settings), online or through effective partnerships.

Our vision is to create a future where every at-risk youth thrives, enabling a society filled with successful children and young people. Our aim is: ‘no child left behind’.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Fundraiser to join our friendly team. We seek someone who feels passionately about our mission, to help us to drive income and ensure Success Club can continue to change lives, by building strong engagement with our donors and fundraisers. You will build on our past successes by managing existing relationships with, and making new grant-applications to Trusts and Foundations. We are a small core team and ideas are welcomed! You will identify new avenues for fundraising, and help us explore a growing portfolio of community support, to ensure the best possible experience for individual supporters and donors.

As Fundraiser, you’ll be the first point of contact for all inbound fundraising enquiries—whether by email, phone or at in-person events. You will nurture relationships with our existing individual and corporate supporters and identify and cultivate prospective donors.

You’ll be proactive and organised, passionate about delivering outstanding supporter experiences, and will have a strong understanding of the charity sector. Familiarity with fundraising databases or CRMs is also a plus.

The role will involve representing Success Club at occasional meetings and events, where you’ll be well supported by our existing team of Trustees and the CEO & Business and Operations Manager. There may be occasional out-of-hours work required. You’ll be a strong communicator and natural networker who enjoys building relationships and presenting.

Measures of Success

■ Strategic Communications – Delivering compelling, high-quality written applications, proposals, and reports to funders, alongside excellent verbal communication with stakeholders and partners.

■ Supporter Stewardship – Proactively identifying and cultivating relationships with high-value supporters, including trusts, foundations, and corporate sponsors, to increase engagement and secure long-term support.

■ Bid Development – Writing successful funding bids and grant applications that align with funder priorities and Success Club’s mission, achieving or exceeding income targets.

■ CRM/Data – Maintaining accurate and comprehensive records of donor interactions, applications, and outcomes in line with GDPR, enabling effective pipeline management.

■ Events & Representation – Attending and supporting community, corporate and networking events to raise the charity’s profile and create new funding opportunities.

Fundraising Executive Responsibilities

■ Deliver Against Fundraising Targets – You will work to a pre-agreed fundraising target, with a focus on generating income through writing high-quality funding applications to trusts, foundations, and corporate partners.

■ Be a Welcoming First Point of Contact – Provide a professional and helpful response to all supporter and donor enquiries across phone, email, and in-person interactions.

■ Individual Donor Strategy Development – Design and implement innovative and tailored supporter journeys to retain and grow donor engagement, particularly for high-value funders.

■ Third-Party Fundraising – Act as the key contact for all independent fundraising initiatives and offer advice and tools to maximise their success.

■ Reporting – Produce regular and accurate fundraising performance and pipeline reports for internal use and funder updates.

■ Funding Applications – Take the lead on writing compelling, well-researched funding bids to trusts, foundations and corporate partners, including tailored proposals, reports, and budgets.

■ Represent Success Club – As required, attend meetings, relevant seminars, pitches, and external events to represent the charity, network with potential funders, and raise organisational visibility.

■ Values and Culture – Uphold and model Success Club’s values of inclusivity, empowerment, and mindfulness in all aspects of your work.

■ Sector Awareness – Stay up-to-date with sector trends, funding opportunities, and changes to grant-making practices and regulations.

SSAFA’s Grants and Statutory Income Team, operating across the UK, are proud to announce this role as part of their strategic plans to develop a steady and growing source of income from statutory organisations.

About the role

This is a new fundraising opportunity to help provide support for serving personnel, veterans and their families ensuring that no-one battles alone.

Supported by the Statutory Grants Manager, this role is fundamental in developing, advancing and championing both new and existing income from local authorities, health providers, and other local commissioning bodies and grant funders. The aim of this role is to increase income generation in this area whilst enhancing SSAFA’s visibility and profile within these organisations on a local level. Achieving this will require the development of strong, strategic relationships, underpinned by excellent bid writing skills to produce effective proposals for support.

SSAFA is entering into an exciting period of strategic development with this income stream and if successful, you will be part of a small team with the potential for career development.

Whilst the post is homebased, to be eligible for this role you are required to live in the South East or South West of England as the role will focus on these regions and will require regular travel within them. There will also be an occasional need to travel across the UK and to work evenings and weekends at key events.

About the team

You will join a small, established and dedicated team who cover the whole of the UK. With regular team meetings and a variety of communication mediums you will be given ongoing support, training and mentoring throughout. We are a remote team and well connected to all colleagues. This supports and drives our determination and success 

About you

We are seeking an exceptional candidate who thrives on challenge and brings a strong understanding of the statutory funding landscape. You will be a determined, highly motivated individual, with a proven track record of securing significant funds from statutory organisations. You will be a natural communicator with proven success with bid writing and presentation skills. You will be a confident networker, able to represent the charity to external stakeholders and will excel at developing strong relationships with statutory organisations, both in person and remotely whilst working from home. An ability to self-motivate with a can-do attitude is a must.

About SSAFA

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing practical, emotional, and financial support to our Forces and their families since 1885. SSAFA, is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need; last year our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 53,000 people in need, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.

SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. We are here for that person and their family – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.

No agencies please. Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate and no fees will be payable.

Closing date: Midnight Monday 25 August 2025

Interviews: TBC

We have an ambition to support 15,000 young people across the UK annually with our mentoring programmes by 2028. To achieve this goal, we need to build new partnerships, secure funds through grants and foundations and grow our external profile. We are looking for someone with demonstrable experience of supporting income generating activity in the charity sector to help us meet these ambitions. This will be a broad and fast paced role, and we are looking for someone who enjoys researching and establishing productive relationships with a variety of businesses, charities, foundations. 

Responsible for

This role will give you the opportunity to work across all our income generating activity and will suit someone who enjoys breadth and depth in their day to day: 

Grants:

• Identifying and researching trusts, foundations, and grant opportunities to add to the pipeline 

• Liaising with the Programmes team and others on the content of an application 

• Writing and submitting high-quality applications

• Tracking and updating all submissions on our CRM (Salesforce) 

Business development: 

• Generating prospect leads through desk-based research and identifying sectors and organisations to target 

• Contacting prospects and leading initial conversations 

• Responding to incoming requests from organisations 

• Represent Brightside at networking events

• Writing bespoke and compelling proposals 

• Tracking and updating all relationships on our CRM (Salesforce) 

Communications and marketing: 

• Working with the team to identify marketing campaigns and collateral to attract new leads 

• Supporting the creation of new content for the website, campaigns, and marketing 

• Maintaining and managing the website 

• Collating statistics on social media and website engagement 

• Supporting the delivery of campaigns to increase individual giving 

Reporting: 

• Providing regular, accurate reports on progress related to income generating activity, including the pipeline, applications or prospects, and secured income 

• Monitoring progress of grants and business development 

• Inputting to the quarterly work plan and priorities 

Team working 

• You will be line managed by the Income Generation Lead 

• You will work closely with Partnership Lead and other members of the Programmes team where relevant 

• You will work regularly with external freelancers responsible for marketing and social media 

Essential criteria  : To be successful in this role, you should: 

• Have at least 12 months relevant business development or fundraising work experience 

• Have demonstrable experience of email outreach and/or funding applications 

• Thrive in a target driven team and meet ambitious targets 

• Be confident and self-motivated with high standards of quality 

• Be able to build strong relationships and collaborate well with others 

• Enjoy meeting people in networking settings 

• Have excellent attention to detail 

• Have ability to use initiative when researching prospects 

• Have excellent organisation and prioritisation skills 

• Be able to work to tight deadlines and stay focused in the face of changing priorities 

• Be strongly aligned with our mission 

• Embrace Brightside’s values and contribute to a positive staff culture 

Desirable criteria  - We are especially interested in candidates who: 

• Understand the challenges and barriers facing young people from under-served communities 

• Understand and have a passion for the power of mentoring 

• A confident and experienced networker 

• Experience in developing marketing materials 

• Have experience using Salesforce or other CRM software 

• Experience in individual giving campaigns 

• Experience of managing website using Word Press 

• Experience of using SEO analytics 

• Have experience of using project management software such as Monday for tracking deliverables 

A DBS check at the enhanced level will be required for successful applicants 

Your development 

You will be supported and challenged in this role. All staff can get involved in activities across the organisation. We are committed to the learning and development of staff and your line manager will work with you to create a personal development plan to support your growth and career progression. 

We’re committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can be themselves and succeed in the workplace and beyond. Our culture is inclusive and supportive to staff from all backgrounds, and we provide flexible policies to cater for the differing needs of all staff. 

Salary and benefits 

Salary: £27,750 - £32,230  

Contract: Permanent

Hours of work: 37.5 hours a week (full-time) 

Holiday allowance: 25 days

• Submit an answer, around 150 words, via CharityJob to the following question: “Can you give an example of your involvement with a grant/funding bid or new partnership, what was your role and the outcome?” 

• Submit a one-page cover letter, outlining how you meet the role’s essential criteria 

• Submit your CV 

About you

You’re entrepreneurial, independent, and driven. You treat your work like it’s your own business - spotting opportunities, testing ideas, and chasing results.

If you’re a traditional charity fundraiser, this probably isn’t for you. But if you’re excited by risk, growth, and pace - keep reading.

Over the past three years, we’ve bought and scaled swim events, turned others down, failed fast, and doubled our unrestricted income. We want someone who’s up for that kind of journey over the next three years too.

You’re as comfortable pitching to a corporate partner as you are writing fundraising copy, tweaking button text, or building a forecast. You can move between detail and vision, instinct and data, phone calls and spreadsheets.

You know how to deepen supporter journeys, grow fundraising per head, and develop new income streams. Bonus points if you like outdoor swimming.

About us

We’re a Founder-led charity working to solve learn-to-swim for disabled children - and we aim to do that in the next ten years.

We’ve grown our impact 5x in the past three years and now raise over £1m in unrestricted income annually through our swim events. Our events attract 5,000 swimmers and 3,000 fundraisers, and we own and operate some of the UK’s most iconic outdoor swims - including the Dart10k and Bantham Swoosh - alongside a growing series of 24-hour relays in lakes and lidos.

We’re small, ambitious, and fast-moving. Strategy and delivery happen side by side. We work on multiple projects, test constantly, and keep things flexible and responsive. You’ll need to thrive in that environment to enjoy the role.

The role

We’re all driven, and you’ll need to be too - this is a fast-paced, ambitious environment with lots of learning and change.

We’re looking for a strategic, creative Head of Fundraising to lead our next phase of growth.

Your first focus will be stewarding our 3,000 fundraisers - overseeing segmented email journeys, managing a £40k prizing fund, and improving supporter care through deeper, more personal touchpoints. That might mean calls, events, or just finding ways to help people feel more connected to their impact.

Beyond that, you'll help us develop and test new income streams - from matched giving and regular giving, to sponsorships, repeat fundraising, and post-event conversion. You'll also play a key role in evolving our Challenge Events portfolio across in-person, virtual, and blended formats.

This role requires someone with a strong track record in fundraising growth, a test-and-learn mindset, and the ambition to build something big.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategy Development and Implementation
• Develop and execute a fundraising strategy aligned with the charity's objectives.
• Identify and cultivate new fundraising opportunities to diversify income streams.
• Defining our fundraising growth strategies, specifically around our event series.

Community and Events Fundraising

• Oversee the planning and execution of community fundraising initiatives, specifically with our event fundraisers.
• Engage and mobilise volunteers and supporters for fundraising activities.

Fundraiser Care

• Customer Lifetime value / retention / regular giving.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, ensuring effective stewardship.
• Develop and implement donor retention strategies to increase long-term support and regular giving.

Trusts and Foundations

• Working closely with our Head of Programmes to oversee our bids process, working with specialists and utilising learnings from previous years.
• Deepen strong relationships with grant-making bodies and ensure compliance with grant requirements.

Corporate Partnerships

• Manage and develop corporate partnerships and event sponsorships. 
• Develop tailored proposals and pitches to attract corporate support.

Team Leadership

• Lead, inspire, and manage a small fundraising team, fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for team members for both fundraising and marketing.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Track and report on fundraising performance against targets.
• Provide regular updates to the Senior Leadership Team. 

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience in a senior fundraising role.
• Proven experience working on fundraising events and event fundraising.
• Demonstrable success in developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies.
• Strong track record of securing major gifts, grant funding and/or corporate partnerships.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience in digital fundraising and leveraging social media platforms.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Optional / Ideal Responsibilities

Marketing & Comms

• Developing Level Water’s marketing and communications strategy
• Leading strategy implementation and ensuring that we’re representing our Programmes work and impact work in the best possible way to our different groups of stakeholders. 

Digital Fundraising

• Leverage digital platforms, advertising and social media to enhance fundraising.
• Implement innovative online fundraising campaigns and initiatives.

Event growth and innovation

• Understanding the mass participation event landscape and its opportunities, ideally within the swimming sector but other sports experience very welcome.

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about the mission and values of Level Water.
• Strategic thinker with a results-oriented approach.
• Creative and innovative mindset.
• Resilient and adaptable, with a positive attitude.
• High level of integrity and commitment to ethical fundraising practices.

Please send a CV and Cover Letter (which can be a 2-3 minute video) to apply.