The role offers the chance to work across multiple sectors including arts, heritage, education, health, sport and community organisations, helping clients to develop fundraising strategies, secure funding and build sustainable income streams.
Alongside client work, you will play an active role within the wider Cause4 Development Team, contributing to research, organisational planning, training delivery and business development activity.
Unlike many in-house fundraising roles, this position offers broad exposure across a wide range of organisations, fundraising disciplines and consultancy projects, making it an excellent opportunity for someone looking to broaden their experience and develop their career within the charity or consultancy sectors.
This role could particularly suit:
An ambitious individual looking to build consultancy, fundraising and strategic development experience across a broad range of organisations.
Someone looking to step into their first consultancy or Development Manager role.
A fundraiser wanting broader experience across multiple organisations and income streams.
Someone currently working in the charity, arts, education or cultural sectors looking to transition into consultancy.
An existing manager looking to build their consultancy skills to fast track into more senior positions in the sector.
Team & Organisational Development
Contributing to Cause4's business development and growth activity.
Sharing knowledge, expertise and fundraising insight across the team.
Supporting the wider strategic and operational needs of the organisation.
Fundraising & Client Support
Supporting a portfolio of clients with fundraising strategy development and delivery.
Writing compelling funding applications, Cases for Support and donor-facing materials.
Supporting funding approaches to Trusts & Foundations, statutory funders, corporates and individual donors.
Conducting research into prospective funders, partners and opportunities.
Supporting the development and delivery of fundraising events and engagement activities.
Building positive relationships with clients, funders and wider stakeholders.
Supporting the delivery of fundraising training and wider Cause4 programmes.
Research & Consultancy
Producing high-quality research, reports and briefing papers.
Supporting the development of programme ideas, evaluation frameworks and measurable outcomes.
Contributing strategic thinking to fundraising campaigns and organisational development projects.
Supporting wider consultancy and innovation work across the organisation.
We are particularly interested in candidates who are ambitious, adaptable and keen to grow within a consultancy environment.
We are looking for:
Experience within a charity, fundraising, arts, education or consultancy environment.
Strong written communication skills and the ability to produce high-quality written material.
An interest in fundraising, philanthropy and organisational development.
Strong research and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail.
The ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
Confidence working with a range of stakeholders and building professional relationships.
Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
Strong organisational and coordination skills.
Experience using Zoom or Teams.
Experience across fundraising or income generation is desirable, but we are equally interested in candidates with strong transferable skills and the ambition to develop into a client-facing consultancy role.
To apply, please send your CV, a Cover Letter or Cover Video (no more than 2 pages/video application no longer than three minutes), to Ben Wilson, Director of Development and Enterprise.
Please include with your application a completed equal opportunity form, downloadable on our website.
Thank you!
At Samaritans, our vision is that fewer people die by suicide. Every day, our volunteers and staff provide life-saving emotional support to people in distress, and behind that work is a culture built on compassion, inclusion, learning and human connection.
Samaritans is seeking an experienced and ambitious Trust and Grants Manager to lead and grow a vital income stream supporting our life‑saving work. Reporting to the Head of Trusts and Statutory Income, you’ll play a central role in delivering an ambitious Trusts programme raising over £2 million annually, while inspiring and leading a talented team.
Contract
- £40,000-£45,000 per annum plus benefits
- Full Time (35hrs per week)
- Permanent
- Hybrid working - Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. This role is linked to our Ewell (Surrey) office with a blend of home working and option to work out of our London office as required.
- In-person working - expectation of a minimum of 1 office day each week on Tuesdays in Ewell.
- We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences
About the role
As Trust and Grants Manager, you’ll be responsible for developing and delivering our Trust Fundraising Strategy, ensuring strong performance, excellent funder stewardship and long‑term growth. You’ll manage high‑value relationships, lead strategy and planning, and provide inspiring line management to Trust fundraising colleagues.
Working closely with colleagues across Income Generation, Business Development and operational teams, you’ll ensure Samaritans’ work is communicated compellingly to Trust and Statutory funders, grounded in evidence, insight and lived experience.
What you’ll do
- Lead the development and delivery of the Trust Funding Strategy, with clear KPIs, work plans and performance analysis
- Oversee a Trusts programme raising over £2m per year, with responsibility for future growth
- Personally manage a portfolio of high‑value Trust relationships, delivering £600k–£700k annual income
- Shape and deliver donor cultivation and stewardship approaches that create inspiring funder experiences
- Line manage and develop Trust fundraising staff, supporting performance, wellbeing and professional growth
- Produce compelling, high‑quality funding applications, cases for support and reports on Samaritans programmes and projects
- Lead prospect research and pipeline development, identifying new large Trust opportunities
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across Samaritans to ensure strong alignment with organisational priorities
- Contribute to senior leadership discussions, team planning, away days and cross‑departmental initiatives
- Embed learning, insight and sector best practice into team ways of working
About you
You’re an experienced Trust fundraiser with a strong track record of securing six‑figure grants and building effective relationships with major Trusts and Foundations. You combine strategic thinking with attention to detail, and you’re motivated by making a meaningful social impact.
You enjoy leading and developing others, thrive in collaborative environments, and are confident working with data, budgets and complex funding requirements. Above all, you’re committed to Samaritans’ vision of fewer people dying by suicide, and to working inclusively, ethically and with compassion.
What you will bring:
- Proven success in securing six‑figure Trust, Foundation, Lottery or public sector funding
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including persuasive storytelling
- Strong grant management, stewardship and donor care expertise
- Experience developing and managing fundraising strategies, plans and pipelines
- Confidence working with financial information, budgets and full cost recovery models
- Analytical skills and the ability to translate evidence into compelling funding cases
- Experience line managing or supporting the development of staff (desirable)
- A collaborative, curious and values‑driven approach to work
- Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding and lived‑experience principles
Full outline in the Job description below.
Why Samaritans?
At Samaritans, people matter deeply. We know that meaningful impact starts with how we support each other.
We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive and flexible workplace where everyone can thrive. We value diversity of thought, background and lived experience, and we actively encourage applications from people from all communities.
Every person at Samaritans plays a role in helping fewer people die by suicide. If you are motivated by purpose, compassion and the opportunity to make a lasting difference, we would love to hear from you.
For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available below. You can also visit our careers website to access this.
We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.
To Apply
Please complete the application questions including those outlined below, and submit your CV.
Please note the following questions have a 300-word limit for each answer.
Q1 What interests you about Samaritans and our work? What do you think might make Samaritans compelling to Trust Funders?
Q2 Tell us about your demonstrable experience securing six‑figure Trust or Statutory grants. What approaches did you use to build your pipeline, cultivate funders and secure large or multiyear grants?
Q3 This role requires strong project leadership, cross‑organisational collaboration and stakeholder management. Can you share an example of how you have led a large programme application, and what your approach to collaboration and stakeholder management was in delivering a successful outcome?
We kindly ask that you don’t rely on AI tools for your application answers, or to generate interview answers. We want to see your own unique ideas and writing skills. We want your application to stand out from the rest and showcase your own strengths.
Applications close at midnight on Monday 25 May
Interviews
All applicants will receive notification of the outcome of their application, at the appropriate time.
1st stage interviews will be online: w/c 1 June
2nd stage interviews will be held in person in our Surrey office (KT17 2AF). Date TBC.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
We prevent suicide through the power of human connection. Connecting people in crisis with trained volunteers who will always listen.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Sight Scotland is Scotland’s leading charity providing specialist care, education and research for people with vision impairment. The charity has been in existence for over 230 years, and offer a variety of services in the community as well as education, transcription into alternative formats and residential care for adults and children. Their vision is of an inclusive Scotland where people of all visual abilities have the opportunity to thrive. To achieve their mission and as part of the new fundraising strategy the Fundraising and Audience Development team recognises that there are efficiencies within fundraising operations that need to be identified and implemented – this role will be critical to delivering that.
Within the Fundraising and Audience Development team the post holder will work closely with peer managers on areas such as supporter journey planning, developing CRM integration with platforms such as MailChimp for integrated marketing opportunities, providing accurate and useful reporting and CRM dashboards, and processes for prospect research and pipeline management. This role has line management responsibility for the Fundraising and Engagement Administrator.
This role would suit someone who has experience of fundraising operations, supporter care or database functions within a fundraising team. The successful candidate will want to work in a role where they can use their experience to really shape and improve fundraising operations and have both immediate and long-term positive impact on income generation.
Application notes
Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.
To progress your application, please contact THINK recruitment to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date.
If you need assistance with downloading the pack, please contact THINK Recruitment and our team will support you.
Closing date for applications: Midnight Tuesday 2nd June 2026
Interviews are expected to be held on Thursday 11th June 2026
