Trust and foundations manager jobs

Family Education Trust is recruiting a Development Manager to turn evidence-led research into real-world impact for families across the UK. This is a rare opportunity to build a fundraising function from the ground up inside a respected policy organisation - with the autonomy to do it your way.

About the role

You will build and lead FET's income growth function, securing near-term unrestricted income while developing durable fundraising capacity. Your core focus is establishing a new major donor and mid-value programme and delivering a high-performing trusts and foundations pipeline.

We have streamlined administrative responsibilities so you can concentrate on what matters: income growth and donor relationships. You will work closely with our Communications Manager, who produces copy and assets for your fundraising brief.

What we are looking for

We need someone with recent, hands-on fundraising experience in a mission-led organisation who has built income, not just maintained it. Experience building a major donor pipeline is essential, along with trusts and foundations competence. You must have genuine personal alignment with FET's mission and established public positions on family policy.

The details

Salary: Up to £40,000, with flexibility for an exceptional candidate Location: Home-based, with UK travel as required Contract: Full-time, permanent Hours: 37.5 per week Annual leave: 25 days plus bank holidays Pension: 5% employer contribution via salary sacrifice Closing date: 9am Monday 16 March 2026 

How to apply

Please read the full job description and person specification (attached) and send a CV and covering letter by 9am Monday 16 March 2026. Your covering letter should explain how you meet the essential criteria set out in the person specification.

Orchard Vale Trust is a Registered Charity founded over 40 years ago to support adults with learning disabilities; we currently provide Residential, Day and Community Services. This is an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated and well organised individual to join our vibrant central team and raise vital funds for the individuals we support. 

It is our vision that adults with learning disabilities are valued as leaders and peers and are supported to achieve their goals and live life to the full. The role of the Trust Fundraiser is essential in building our capacity to ensure the delivery of our vision.

The Trust Fundraiser will work with the CEO in developing a high quality fundraising strategy and raising funds against agreed targets that support the work of Orchard Vale Trust. They will use this to manage projects - from application of funding to delivery, including on-going evaluation and reporting.

They will work with the senior management team to ensure service users are supported in accordance with the ethos, policies and practices of Orchard Vale Trust and with current best practice as set out by Care Quality Commissions (CQC) regulations, the Charity Commission and other relevant legislation and guidance.

Main Duties

1. To develop and implement a fundraising strategy for the Trust

2. To develop and sustain partnership working with a range of external stakeholders

3. To work with the CEO in the delivery of the Trust’s communication strategy

4. To work with the CEO in the funding and promotion of the Trust’s Social Enterprise

5. To ensure fundraising activities are safe and compliant with regulations and Orchard Vale Trust’s Policies

Person Specification

Essential

Qualifications/ Experience

• A track record of successful fundraising in an organization or a relevant recent qualification

• An understanding of supporter acquisition and growth

• Understanding of developing existing and new fundraising opportunities

• Experience of working to tight deadlines and prioritization.

• Knowledge or experience in working with communications and media teams as required

The National League Trust is a registered charity and is one of a group of community focused organisations that are linked to professional football.  As a critical partner of the National League, the Trust supports the development of community projects at football clubs who are members of the competition.  

We are looking for someone who can lead the Trust, with a vision to use knowledge, influence and funding to improve the lives of those who benefit from the work of the organisations the Trust supports. This will involve change and shaping the Trust so that it is guaranteed a successful future.

As our new Head of Trust, you will lead a resilient, dedicated small team with a clear strategic focus on impact, innovation, strengthening standards and improving visibility. You will be guided by our values which include working with trust and accountability, learning, sharing what works and collaboration.  You will shape our direction, embed our strategic framework, strengthen relationships and ensure robust governance. 

We are looking for a strategic, relational and operational leader to take the Trust forward in its development over the next five years.  This includes:

• developing and delivering our strategy
• overseeing grant funding operations
• working to increase our unrestricted income
• raising the Trust’s profile
• growth of activity and impact.  

Critical to the role is building and sustaining strong relationships with key stakeholders in all sectors: including potential funders and other third sector bodies.

You do not need to have a background in football for this role. Your skills and experience can be obtained in any sector.

Our Senior Trusts & Foundations Manager is primarily responsible for managing and generating income from our Trusts & Foundations portfolio (including Corporate Foundations). They identify new prospects, write compelling and persuasive proposals to secure significant gifts, actively develop relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and provide brilliant stewardship.

We are looking for someone who has a sound understanding of T&F fundraising. You’ll have a strong track record of nurturing relationships, securing multi-year and five-figure+ gifts, and a genuine passion for youth development. You are a creative problem solver with the ability to work independently and take ownership of projects – ensuring they run smoothly and effectively.

The Talent Set are delighted to partner with a mission driven charity on an exciting Grants, Trusts & Foundations Manager role. This pivotal position offers an opportunity to lead the development and management of funding strategies, directly supporting impactful charitable initiatives through strong relationships with funders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify, develop, and maintain relationships with grant-making organisations, trusts, and foundations to secure funding aligned with organisational goals.
• Prepare compelling funding proposals, reports, and updates that clearly communicate the organisation's impact and needs.
• Manage and oversee grants lifecycle, ensuring compliance and timely reporting.
• Monitor funding trends and opportunity pipelines to maximise revenue streams.
• Collaborate with internal teams to collect evidence of outcomes and evaluate programme performance.
• Maintain accurate records of applications, awards, and funder correspondence.
• Provide strategic advice and insights to senior leadership on funding opportunities and partnership development.

Person Specification:

• Proven experience in securing and managing trusts, foundations, or similar institutional funding.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to craft persuasive proposals and reports.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management abilities.
• Well-organised with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Knowledge of the charitable sector and awareness of funding landscape.
• Analytical mindset for interpreting funding trends and assessing organisational needs.
• A collaborative approach to working across teams and engaging stakeholders.

What’s on Offer
Salary: £38,000 - £41,000 per annum
Working Pattern: Full time, Hybrid | 3 days a week on site

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the ‘apply now’ button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

The TSA is looking for an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and experienced person to join our small but ambitious fundraising team. This is a key role at the TSA, with trusts and foundations an area we have identified for significant growth, while acknowledging the extremely competitive world the sector currently finds itself in for receiving such funding. 

It would suit a candidate with a strong track record in consistently delivering in a similar role. The charity has completed significant work in this area to get the foundations right for this role (Theory of Change etc.) 

The Trusts and Foundations Manager will be responsible for developing and delivering a successful trusts and foundations fundraising programme, securing both restricted and unrestricted income to support TSA’s services, research and strategic priorities. Working closely with colleagues across fundraising and the wider organisation, the post-holder will manage a varied portfolio of funders, from small charitable trusts to major grant-making foundations. In return, you’ll have the opportunity to have genuinely flexible working as part of a warm, empathetic and committed team. Every day, you will know that you are making a massive difference in the lives of thousands of people across the UK. 

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated professional interested in working in a thriving and successful Development team. We are seeking an individual who has the skills and determination to help support the University’s trust and foundation fundraising and enjoys working as part of a happy and vibrant in-house/remote team.

Working to support the Senior Development Manager, Trusts and Foundations; the Development Officer, Trusts and Foundations, will help to deliver the trust and foundation fundraising strategy. The post-holder will work alongside Development colleagues to identify funding opportunities both in the UK and internationally. The post-holder will have responsibility for securing significant new funds to support the strategic priorities of our £300 million fundraising campaign which covers a wide range of areas. This work will focus particularly on proposals for four and five figure gifts.

The post-holder will assist the Senior Development Manager, Trusts and Foundations, in cultivating currently engaged and new trusts, foundations and charities. They will work with the Senior Development Assistant (Research) to grow the pipeline of giving through research into suitable trusts and foundations whose aims are closely aligned with the strategic priorities of the University.

The post-holder will have experience of trust and foundation fundraising accompanied by a sound knowledge of university fundraising. They will be a creative and strategic thinker and possess excellent communication skills with the ability to work proactively, both internally and externally. This role will require knowledge of trust and foundation funders, excellent written communication skills and a high level of attention to detail.

Above all, the post-holder must be passionate about the role that philanthropy plays in supporting higher education for the benefit of society as a whole.

In addition to the salary on offer for this position, there are a wide range of benefits for staff working at the University of St Andrews:

•       Financial contribution to relocation

•       Membership of the S&LAS Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions

•        A hybrid working environment, including partial homeworking where appropriate and a range of family friendly policies, supporting work-life balance

•        Staff discount scheme for local and national goods and services

•       Free staff parking, employee Carshare and Cycle to Work Schemes and subsidised local bus travel

•       Subsidised sports membership, reduced tuition fees on degree programmes for staff, access to training and development opportunities including LinkedIn Learning, access to library facilities, salary sacrifice scheme

•          34 Days Annual Leave plus 5 Public Holidays.

Closing date: 11 March 2026

Interview date: 19 March 2026

We’re seeking an experienced and driven Trusts and Foundations Fundraiser to help change the lives of young carers. In this pivotal role, you’ll secure vital funding from charitable trusts and foundations, building strong relationships and crafting compelling cases for support. You’ll lead on high-value applications, identify new funding opportunities, and play a key role in shaping our income growth. Working with a passionate, mission-led team, you’ll see the direct impact of your work every day. If you’re persuasive, and inspired by making a lasting difference for children, we’d love you to join us.

Thrive (Community Council for Somerset) is a countywide charity supporting communities to thrive.

Our work starts on the ground. We listen to people, respond to need, and help communities build strength, connection and resilience.

We are growing and changing. Alongside our commissioned work, we are investing in fundraising so we can increase unrestricted income, tell our story better, and build long-term sustainability.

The Fundraising Manager will lead and develop Thrive’s fundraising activity, with trusts and foundations at its core and a growing focus on community fundraising, events, and individual giving.

This role replaces our Trusts and Foundations Officer post and brings together grant fundraising, supporter development and team leadership into one coherent function.

You will line manage our Fundraising Administrator and support their development, including helping them begin to take on smaller grants and applications.

You will also work closely with the Head of Development and Communications to test and develop new income streams over time.

This is a hands-on role for a confident self-starter who understands community development and can translate impact into income.

For more information on what you'll be doing please read the attached job description and person spec.

We are looking for a fundraising manager whose core strengths are trusts and foundations fundraising, major donor cultivation, and excellent proposal writing.

The NCTJ is the guardian of the gold standard in journalism training. Through charitable initiatives including the Community Reporting Fund and Journalism Diversity Fund, we widen access to journalism careers, strengthen community reporting, and champion trusted journalism at a time when misinformation and public scepticism make high professional standards more important than ever.

Diversifying and growing charitable income is a strategic priority for NCTJ. Following the development of our fundraising strategy, this role will focus on building and growing income from UK trusts, foundations and high net worth supporters. You will have the autonomy to shape the grants and major donor pipeline.

Corporate partnerships are led primarily by our Head of Business Development. This role focuses on grants, major donors and stewardship.

About the role

You will:

• Research and manage a strong pipeline of trusts and foundation prospects
• Write and submit high-quality, tailored grant applications and expressions of interest
• Develop compelling cases for support, budgets, outcomes and proposal templates
• Build and manage major donor/high net worth pipeline through warm networks
• Lead on donor cultivation and follow-up
• Strengthen stewardship and reporting so funders feel valued and close to the impact
• Use HubSpot CRM to track pipeline, deadlines, reporting and performance

About you

You will have:

• A strong track record in trusts and foundations fundraising
• Experience securing substantial grants (five-figure and above)
• Excellent proposal and case for support writing skills
• Experience working with major donors/high net worth supporters (or strong transferable relationship-led fundraising experience)
• Strong organisation and CRM discipline
• Confidence working with senior leaders

Experience in journalism, media, education, social mobility or EDI is welcome but not essential. It is vital that you support the critical role professional journalists play in our democracy.

Benefits

• Salary c £40,000 (£37,000-£43,000) depending on experience
• Pension: 5% employer and 5% employee contribution
• Annual leave of 25 days plus bank holidays
• Discretionary bonus based on company performance
• Life cover
• Training and career development

How to apply

Please apply with your CV and a supporting statement (maximum 1,000 words total) addressing the following:

1. Trusts and foundations track record (300 words)
   Describe one trust or foundation grant of £30,000+ that you personally led. Include who the funder was, what the project was, how you shaped the proposal to meet their criteria, and the outcome.
2. Proposal writing approach (250 words)
   When starting a new funding application, what are the first five things you do before you begin writing? Please be specific.
3. Working with senior stakeholders and impact information (250 words)
   Give an example of how you worked with colleagues, senior leaders or contacts to gather the information needed for a funding proposal or donor meeting. What did you do and what was the result?
4. Interest in journalism and the NCTJ mission (200 words) What is it about the NCTJ’s work, values and mission that interests you, and why do you think it is important at this point in time for journalism and society?

Your supporting statement is an important part of the assessment for this role. We are looking for evidence of your own proposal-writing style, experience and judgement. Generic or highly templated responses are unlikely to score well.

Shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a short writing exercise as part of the interview process.

About the NCTJ

The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) is the charity at the heart of journalism education and training in the UK. We are the guardian of the gold standard in journalism training and qualifications, and we champion equality, diversity and inclusion so that journalism is accessible to people from all backgrounds.

Through charitable initiatives including the Journalism Diversity Fund and the Community Reporting Fund, we widen participation in journalism, support community reporting, and strengthen trusted journalism at a time when misinformation and public scepticism make high professional standards more important than ever.

NCTJ is financially stable and widely respected within the industry. However, diversifying and growing charitable income is a strategic priority for 2026–27. We have developed our first fundraising strategy to support sustainable growth and impact, and this role is central to delivering it.

Purpose of the role

This is a specialist role focused on securing and stewarding funding from trusts and foundations and developing a pipeline of major donors and high net worth supporters, underpinned by exceptional proposal writing and strong relationship management.

Corporate partnerships are led primarily by the head of business development. This role will support corporate fundraising through proposal/case development and stewardship where needed, but the primary focus is securing charitable grants and major donors.

Key responsibilities

1) Trusts and foundations fundraising

• Build and manage a strong pipeline of UK trust and foundation prospects that advance NCTJ’s charitable priorities (including diversity, community reporting, and training for a fast-changing media industry).
• Develop and maintain a grants calendar and tracking system, including deadlines, funder preferences, decision timelines, and reporting requirements.
• Write and submit high-quality, tailored grant applications and expressions of interest, working to agreed targets and timescales.
• Develop a suite of core fundraising materials (case for support, programme proposals, budgets, outcomes and evaluation narrative, boilerplate and templates) to increase quality and consistency across submissions.
• Confidently communicate the NCTJ’s purpose and impact through presentations, reports, and digital content and represent the NCTJ at meetings and events, both virtually and in person.
• Build and maintain strong funder relationships, ensuring excellent stewardship, timely reporting and opportunities for renewal and uplift.

2) Major donor / high net worth giving

• Work with the senior team to identify major donor prospects through networks and sector connections.
• Undertake proportionate prospect research and build a high-quality cultivation pipeline.
• Create tailored donor proposals and impact statements that support donor interests while advancing NCTJ priorities.
• Support cultivation meetings with briefs, materials, follow-up and stewardship plans, tracking all activity in CRM.

3) Impact, storytelling and stewardship

• Work closely with programme and communications colleagues to gather impact data, case studies and beneficiary stories to strengthen proposals and reporting.
• Develop and deliver a clear plan for thanking trusts and major donors, keeping them updated on impact, and staying in regular contact.
• Use NCTJ events and industry milestones as stewardship and cultivation opportunities, coordinating targeted follow-up and relationship management.

4) Systems, reporting and evaluation

• Maintain excellent data quality and discipline in HubSpot CRM, including prospect stage, relationship owner, next actions, submissions, reporting deadlines and contact history.
• Produce clear pipeline and performance reports for the HoBD/chief executive (eg, submissions, conversion rates, forecast, learning and next steps).
• Contribute to quarterly review sessions to evaluate progress and refine approach.

5) Collaborative working

• Build strong working relationships across the charity and its stakeholders to translate NCTJ’s work into fundable propositions and well managed projects ensuring effective delivery of programmes through cross functional collaboration.
• Bring innovative and creative concepts to the team, and develop valuable programmes and initiatives which add to the NCTJ’s new income stream.
• Contribute to shared messaging that reflects NCTJ’s mission: high standards, quality, trusted journalism, accessibility and measurable EDI impact.

Person specification

Essential

• Significant experience in trusts and foundations fundraising, including writing successful applications.
• Proven track record of securing substantial grants (five-figure and above, including multi-year where possible).
• Outstanding proposal and case for support writing skills (clear structure, persuasive narrative, strong budgets/outcomes, and tailoring to criteria).
• Strong pipeline management skills and ability to deliver multiple submissions to deadlines.
• Experience cultivating and stewarding major donors/high net worth individuals (or strong transferable relationship-led fundraising experience).
• Strong CRM capability and reporting discipline.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience strengthening fundraising systems, templates and stewardship processes.
• Experience in education, media/journalism, social mobility, EDI or local/community development.

Personal attributes

• A high-quality writer who takes pride in precision, tone and evidence.
• Proactive, organised and accountable.
• Warm, credible and professional with funders and senior stakeholders.
• Motivated by widening access, high standards, and trusted journalism.

Reports to: Board of Trustees

Salary: £36,000 (pro rata) 

Based in: Remote

Contract: 12 months fixed term

Hours: Part-time – 0.8 FTE, open to flexible working 

Benefits – 25 days Annual Leave (pro rata), staff learning fund, enhanced parental benefits package, flexible working.

Why this role is important – and why you’ll make a difference doing it:

Hope Unlimited exists to support people and organisations working at the grassroots to challenge hate, strengthen relationships and build hope in their communities. Much of the most important work to bring people together happens quietly, locally and without recognition –often led by volunteers, neighbours and community members responding to what’s needed around them.

Too often, these groups are locked out of funding that doesn’t reflect how they work or what their communities need. This role exists to help change that. As Grant Manager, you will help ensure funding reaches hyper-local organisations. You’ll play a key role in backing community-led work that builds connection, resilience and agency, and in supporting communities to shape their own futures on their own terms.

What you’ll be doing in this role:

Grant management & assessment

• Reviewing and assessing grant applications in line with the Grassroots Fund criteria
• Carrying out desk-based research and liaising with applicants
• Making grant decisions within agreed levels of responsibility, and supporting decision-making by subcommittees and Trustees where required
• Keeping clear and accurate records of grants in a way that supports transparency and shared oversight

Funding processes & governance

• Supporting clear, fair and accessible funding processes
• Preparing grant offer letters and agreement
• Ensuring grants support Hope Unlimited’s charitable purpose and meet basic governance requirements
• Improving and evolving our grant-giving and reporting processes, and suggesting changes that make them work better for communities and for Hope Unlimited

Reporting & learning

• Supporting grantees to share what difference the funding has made after 12 months
• Encouraging reporting that works for communities, including written, visual or creative formats
• Helping Hope Unlimited learn from what grantees tell us, particularly about what strengthens community resilience over time

Relationship management

• Being a supportive and approachable point of contact for funded organisations
• Responding to enquiries from grassroots groups who may want to be considered for funding, even where we are not able to accept open applications

What we think you’ll need to be able to do the job:

You’ll need to bring:

• Experience managing grants, funding decisions or similar processes
• The ability to make thoughtful, fair judgements with limited information
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Confidence balancing trust and flexibility with responsibility and accountability
• Clear, kind and accessible written communication
• A strong belief in community-led change and local knowledge

It would also be helpful if you have:

• Experience working alongside small, volunteer-led or informal community groups
• An understanding of issues around community cohesion, division or far-right activity
• Experience with non-traditional or flexible approaches to understanding impact

Job Title: Trusts and Foundations Manager
Reporting To: Head of Trusts & Foundations
Manages: Trusts and Foundations Officer
Location: Remote (Occasional travel to Leicester office & other UK locations as necessary)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time (36 hours per week).
Salary: £36,200 per annum

About Home-Start UK

Home-Start is a federated charity consisting of a central national office – Home-Start UK - and over 170 geographically dispersed local Home-Start organisations, all working together under the same identity.

We recognise that being a parent has never been easy. Every Home-Start volunteer is trained to work alongside parents to overcome the challenges they are facing. We work with parents to build on their strengths and give them the support that they tell us they need. We offer no judgement – just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. This peer-to-peer support is key to the difference Home-Start makes and often our volunteers have lived experience of the challenges their families are facing themselves.

About The Role

Home-Start UK is looking for a Trusts and Foundations Manager to join the Trusts and Philanthropy Home-Start UK team. A highly motivated and results-focused fundraiser, you will play a pivotal role in raising funds for our work with parents and children across the UK.

This role is perfect for someone looking take their next step in trust and grant fundraising. Home-Start UK has a wide portfolio of grant funders, who support our work with grants and donations of around £2m each year. This income funds brilliant projects right across the Home-Start movement, from groups for army families, to volunteer perinatal mental health training, to large-scale initiatives to increase volunteer numbers. Our Trusts and Philanthropy team is central to the delivery and development of great support for families, and for ensuring Home-Start UK has the capacity it needs to deliver high quality services and support to our network. No two days here are the same, and we work closely with colleagues right across the organisation.

We are looking for someone who is organised and detailed-oriented, with a love of writing and who can build strong relationships with funders and colleagues. As the Trusts and Foundations Manager you will manage key funder relationships, submit compelling applications, develop end-of-grant reports and gather inspiring real-life stories from our network of Home-Start charities.

You will be part of the Trusts & Philanthropy team and be managed by our Head of Trusts and Foundations who is keen to support your development in this role.

The people at Home-Start are its most important resource. Home-Start UK has been accredited with Investors in People since March 2005, which recognises the commitment we give to developing our staff.

Benefits of working for Home-Start

• Flexible working
• Family friendly policy
• PayCare health cash plan
• Enhanced employer contribution pension
• Learning and development

If it sounds like your type of challenge, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The closing date for applications is 6th March 2026 at 4pm.
First stage interviews will take place virtually on Monday 16th March.
Second stage interviews will take place virtually on Monday 23rd March.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Home-Start UK is committed to Equality of Opportunity and Diversity. We wish to encourage applications from all parts of the community irrespective of gender, race, colour, age, sexual orientation or disability.

No agencies please.

At Turn2us, we believe that everyone should have financial security so that they can thrive. Turn2us is a national charity tackling poverty and the structural causes of poverty. We work with co-producers and partners to provide people in financial crisis with the means and agency to get back on their feet, build resilience, move forward with their lives and thrive.

We are searching for a Trust and Foundations Officer to work with the Trust and Foundations Manager to grow Turn2us’ income from grant funding. This role will sit within the wider Philanthropy and Partnerships Team, which focuses on building relationships with trusts, corporates and major donors.

The ideal person for this role may have experience working within the charity sector, or equivalent, in a relationship management role and/or knowledge of how to work with Trust and Foundations to generate income. Or they may have relevant transferable skills that they are looking to apply to this role. Key skills include good written communication, good time management and organisational abilities, the ability to infer and interpret different types of information and good relationship management skills.

Turn2us is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from members of all communities. It is committed to equality of opportunity, inclusion and diversity. We encourage and welcome applications from all parts of the community regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Turn2us wants to enable an environment where everyone is kept safe from harm and can thrive. We are committed to safeguarding everyone involved in our charity and the work we do. You can read a safeguarding policy on the Turn2us website.

We offer flexible working patterns, both in terms of hours and remote working. Please note that all employees are contractually required to work from the office a minimum of 4 days a month on a weekly basis. Some roles may be required to be in the office more often than this and this will be agreed with the hiring manager upon starting at Turn2us.

Closing date: 23rd February 2026, 09:00am

1st Interviews: 3rd March 2026

To enable Operation Smile’s global surgical activities, OSUK’s Partnerships Team works to maximise high-potential income channels such as corporate partnerships, major donors, community fundraisers and trusts and foundations.

We have an exciting position in our team for an experienced and ambitious trusts fundraiser. Working as part of the Partnership Team and line managing one Grants & Programmes Manager, the Senior Grants & Programmes Manager will secure critical income from new and existing trust and foundation donors through compelling pitches and excellent stewardship.

The position will build on existing multiyear relationships with donors giving at the six-figure level per year, aiming to grow their contributions, as well as making approaches to new prospects, working closely with the Director of Partnerships. The role is also the key liaison between OSUK and teams at Operation Smile Inc and in programme countries around the world, leading on donor reporting and sourcing programmatic information for new funding opportunities.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Trust and Foundation Funding Development

• Ensure achievement of annual income target for trusts and foundations
• Take primary responsibility for managing the current pool of trust/foundation donors, to ensure their growth and longevity – strategic input into the growth of each relationship will be essential
• Develop and maintain a pipeline of new funding prospects, creating propositions/proposals and making approaches, working with the Director of Partnerships, with a focus on the highest value prospects (those worth six-figures per year plus)
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting to donors and internal stakeholders
• Represent Operation Smile UK in global funding discussions, applying any global strategies to develop successful fundraising plans for the UK
• Lead on development and management of any trust/foundation cultivation events

Programmes Liaison

• Lead on interaction with global teams at Operation Smile Inc (US) and programme country teams around the world, regarding OSUK’s funding of programmes
• Identify funding opportunities for new prospects and existing donors, sourcing relevant programmatic and financial information
• Support the allocation of OSUK’s funds to a portfolio of programmes that best meet our donors’ interests, and work with colleagues internationally to reallocate funds when needed
• Monitor projects’ progress against KPIs and ensure donor reporting (programmatic and financial) is complete and timely, and meets donors’ needs and expectations

Additional Responsibilities

• Line-manage one Grants & Programmes Manager, supporting them to manage their own portfolio of new prospects and existing relationships, including small trusts mailings
• Create and maintain annual trusts and foundations income and expenditure budgets and business plans, including current donors and forecasting new business income

Additional Information

• 4 years’ experience in a trusts/foundations/institutional funding role
• We promote flexible and hybrid working, with 2 days per week in our London office in Battersea (nearest stations Clapham Junction and Wandsworth Town). There will also be some UK travel for meetings, conferences and events.
• Some overseas travel required to visit projects and partner countries, a highlight of the role!

First-round interviews are set for the week of 2nd March 2026. We strongly encourage early applications.

Disability Confident Committed Employer

We're a Disability Confident Committed employer, so we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the minimum requirements for the job.

At Operation Smile UK, we value individuals based on their performance and potential. We're dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports everyone's needs. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application and employment process, and we particularly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.

If you need this document in a different format, require any adjustments, or need help with your application, please contact us (further details contained within the job description).

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Operation Smile UK knows fundraising could better reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people the charity sector supports. If you don’t meet every requirement but believe your transferable skills align with the role, we encourage you to contact us for a conversation. 

We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of, age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We celebrate diversity and encourage you to bring your authentic self to Operation Smile UK. We are committed to supporting all applicants and ensuring a fair hiring process. All appointments will be made solely on merit, and we are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.