Prospect research officer jobs in liverpool
JOB PROFILE
JOB TITLE: Lead Trusts & Grants Officer
RESPONSIBLE TO: Senior Trusts & Grants Manager
HOURS OF WORK: Full time 35 hours per week
LOCATION: Home working/ Hybrid
DURATION: Permanent
SALARY / GRADE: £32,330
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
• Senior Trusts & Grants Manager
• Trusts & Grants Officer
• Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications
• Chief Operating Officer
• Senior Leadership & Service Managers
• Grant making trusts and foundations
• Major Donors
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Lead Trusts & Grants Officer is responsible for developing and delivering income from mid-value grant making funders, notably trusts and foundations. The role involves managing a dedicated pipeline of opportunities, writing and submitting compelling applications, and stewarding funder relationships. This position works closely with service teams to understand project needs and create accurate budgets and impactful funding proposals. This role will also provide direct line management to the Trusts & Grants Officer, supporting their professional development and ensuring the team's overall success in meeting fundraising targets.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising and Grants Management
• Pipeline Management: Lead on prospecting, developing and managing the mid-value trusts and grants pipeline, focusing on bids around £20,000 - £70,000, including multiyear grants, ensuring a consistent flow of opportunities to meet team income targets. Developing the skills and ability to manage higher value and more complex strategic bids.
• Application Writing: Develop and submit compelling, high-quality grant applications and proposals for mid-value funders, working closely with service teams, ensuring accurate budgets and income against Adoption UK’s strategic priorities.
• Stewardship: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with a portfolio of new and existing mid-value funders, providing timely and impactful reports to secure renewed funding, and developing relationships with key external contacts through excellent communication.
• Reporting: Oversee the accurate tracking of all applications, reports, and communications using team tracking methods, and the CRM database, providing regular progress updates to the Senior Trusts & Grants Manager.
• Collaboration: Work closely with the Senior Trusts & Grants Manager, the Trusts & Grants Officer, and service teams, to align fundraising activities with the organisation’s strategic priorities and annual income targets.
• Undertake other duties and projects as directed by the Senior Trusts & Grants Manager and Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications.
Team Management and Development
• Line Management: Provide line management and support to the Trusts & Grants Officer, including regular one-to-ones, appraisals, and professional development.
• Training and Mentoring: Guide the Trusts & Grants Officer on best practices for researching, writing, budgets, and stewarding of small-value grants.
Personal specification
Knowledge and experience
• Track record of successfully securing individual grant awards typically ranging between £10,000 and £50,000. (E)
• Knowledge of fundraising sector with specialist knowledge of grant making trusts and foundations, or similar grant/bid-writing experience (E)
• Experience in writing persuasive proposal documents and bids (E)
• Experience in developing and implementing fundraising policies and process to deliver strategic goals (E)
• Experience in supporting service teams to deliver complex projects on time and to budget (E)
• Experience in successfully stewarding multiple stakeholders including grant managers and major donors (D)
Qualifications and Education
• Graduate level or equivalent significant professional experience in fundraising/bid
Skills and abilities
• Ability to make decisions within area of responsibility, based on defined frameworks, policies, and procedures and/or based on knowledge of regulations and best practice (E)
• Shows good professional judgement (E)
• Can successfully operate matrix management of complex projects at a national level (E)
• Delivers high quality work with minimal supervision and direction (E)
• Able to communicate clearly and engage with stakeholders at all levels (E)
• Is successful in securing positive external relationships with stakeholders and supporters (E)
• Demonstrates personal credibility (E)
• Demonstrates experience and ability in impact reporting (D)
• Ability to research the sector to identify the best prospects (D)
• Has the capacity to deal with complex issues and is good at problem solving (D)
• An exceptional administrator with excellent organisational and writing skills (E)
• Self-starter, used to working to deadlines and delivering against KPIs (D)
Accountability
• Shows previous experience of achievement of income targets (E)
• Shows previous experience of excellent funder or similar relationship stewardship (E)
• Able to contribute to the development of income growth strategy and strategic goals (D)
Behaviours
• Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values and mission in all interactions with external stakeholders.
• Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times.
• Contributes to an open and honest culture
• Encourages challenge and creativity, transparency and consistency.
• Leads by example.
• Offers outstanding service to members.
• Promotes cross-functional team working, sharing skills and knowledge
• Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.
• Values the opinion of others. Treating colleagues and other stakeholders with respect.
• Takes pride in own development, committed to achieving high standards and agreed objectives.
Adoption UK is the leading charity for adopted and care experienced people and adoptive families.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Main Role & Responsibilities
The overall purpose of this role is to support the Head of Fundraising in establishing a corporate partnerships income stream as part of Ygam’s new Income Generation strategy, which underpins the organisation’s ambitious aims and objectives. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in diversifying our range of income streams to ensure financial health for the future of the charity, underpinned by sustainable and ethical fundraising models.
You will have the chance to work with a diverse range of organisations and develop compelling, creative pitches and applications for corporate support. You will also play a key role in identifying opportunities and developing relationships with corporates to strengthen the chance of bid success in both the short and medium term.
Join us in this pivotal role and be part of a mission-driven team dedicated to making a difference. Your contributions will bolster our fundraising efforts and advance our mission in meaningful ways.
Who are we looking for?
Ygam is seeking an experienced corporate fundraiser, or individual with transferable skills, to join our tight-knit and ambitious team. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to use your communication skills and initiative to manage and develop a pipeline of corporate partnerships opportunities, spotting synergies and developing relationships with potential donors. By writing proposals and managing a calendar of supporting activities, you will not only hone your communication skills, corporate account development and management, but also make a tangible impact on our mission to Safeguard our Digital Generation.
Key tasks:
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manage and grow a portfolio of small to medium corporate partners, increasing income by identifying new prospects and through the stewardship of existing donors.
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write high quality applications and communicate accurately and transparently on the progress made in partnerships.
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work with our programme experts to develop expertise in key programme areas and build your knowledge of Ygam’s work.
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support with applications and reports to large corporates and other associated fundraising activity.
The ideal candidate will be motivated, creative, and organised, with a knack for relationship building. This role suits an ambitious self-starter with excellent research, communication, writing, IT, and presentation skills. We are looking for someone who believes in Ygam’s mission and is excited to collaboratively shape and develop our fundraising work.
Role Requirements
Duties will include but not be limited to:
Business Development
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Work with the Head of Fundraising to develop strategies which increase Ygam’s visibility in the corporate space.
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Conduct prospective supporter research; establish and grow the partnerships pipeline, and develop pitches to meet shared objectives, working with the Head of Fundraising.
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Build strong relationships with organisations that share our values.
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Manage the prospect pipeline using Salesforce, segmenting the pipeline into areas of programme interest and tracking applications, expected and actual income and reporting deadlines.
Relationship Building:
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Craft engagement plans to deepen existing relationships and maximise fundraising opportunities
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Provide excellent account management for new and established partners, including regular and meaningful communication.
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Produce relevant, creative, and compelling proposals, reports and updates to keep our corporate partners motivated and engaged.
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Identify and execute creative ways to bring our work to life for funders.
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Ensure that relationships with donors (both new and existing) are maintained and managed effectively before, during, and after receipt of funds.
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Effectively communicate Ygam’s vision, mission, and programmes to potential donors. Delivering and shaping engaging and emotive copy for appeal letters, emails, newsletters, and other promotional materials.
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Contributing to wider Fundraising Department objectives, sharing innovative ideas, supporting all income streams, and promoting a culture of positive team-working.
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Working closely with the External Affairs team to ensuring effective use of case studies, photography, statistics, and organisational information and that all communications are consistent and in line with Ygam brand guidelines.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Head of Developing Philanthropy
We are looking for a passionate and strategic Head of Developing Philanthropy to join the Environmental Funders Network (EFN) in this remote working role.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key part in growing environmental philanthropy across the UK and to help inspire funders to support causes that sustain a thriving planet.
Position: Head of Developing Philanthropy
Location: Home-based (within 90 minutes of London by train)
Salary: £60,000 per annum, pro rata
Hours: Full time (nb. 80% FTE or flexible working considered for the right candidate)
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 11:59pm on Sunday 23rd November 2025
The Role
Working closely with EFN’s Executive Director, you will lead on growing the amount of funding flowing to environmental causes from UK funders – including trusts, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals – by connecting and engaging with those not yet funding environmental causes at scale, and inspiring and supporting them to start giving or to give more.
You will form part of EFN’s Leadership Team, deputising for the Executive Director as needed, and will likely line manage a small team of 3–4 individuals.
You will:
- Revise and implement EFN’s Growing Environmental Philanthropy (GEP) strategy, working with the Executive Director, Board and GEP Advisory Group.
- Raise awareness of the need for environmental philanthropy through partnerships, events, communications and media opportunities.
- Identify and engage new funders and advisors through meetings, events, field trips and speaking engagements.
- Provide inspiration, advice, and practical resources for funders and advisors to start or expand their environmental giving.
- Support wider programme delivery, including the Big Give’s Earth Raise campaign and partnerships with organisations such as the Beacon Collaborative and Climate Lead.
- Contribute to fundraising for EFN’s GEP programme and support EFN’s financial sustainability.
About You
You’ll bring at least five years’ experience in fundraising or a related industry, with a proven track record of building and managing relationships with individual donors or high-net-worth clients. You’ll be a confident communicator and creative thinker with a strong commitment to environmental and social justice.
You will have:
- Strategic leadership skills, with experience managing and mentoring teams.
- Excellent relationship management and influencing skills, with confidence in public speaking and representing EFN at high-profile events.
- Experience developing and delivering inclusive, outcome-focused events and programmes.
- Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to prioritise a substantial workload and work independently.
- Solid IT skills, including CRM systems (preferably Salesforce) and virtual meeting platforms.
Desirable:
- Experience coordinating networks of funders or organisations.
- Understanding of the funding landscape within the environment or NGO sectors.
- Experience in fundraising and/or managing online resources or websites.
Benefits Include:
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
- 7% employer pension contribution
- Flexible working options
- Learning and development opportunities
- Equipment and office allowance
About the Organisation
The Environmental Funders Network (EFN) works to transform environmental philanthropy in the UK by increasing funding levels, improving effectiveness and supporting those creating a thriving planet. EFN engages more than 1,000 funder participants and 1,800 fundraiser participants through research, collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.


