Trust and foundations manager jobs

Chichester Festival Theatre has a strong track record of building long-term relationships with both local and national trusts, securing essential investment across areas including arts engagement, mental health, dementia care, education, heritage, inclusion and access.

With an established and credible trust base already in place, this role will be responsible for identifying new opportunities for growth, writing compelling bids and ensuring excellent stewardship of existing funders. Working closely with the Development Director and wider Development team, the postholder will help strengthen and expand CFT’s Trusts & Foundations portfolio, contributing directly to the theatre’s long-term financial sustainability and impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and identify new Trusts & Foundations to build a strong funding pipeline.Write compelling, tailored funding applications
• Coordinate with internal departments to shape high‑quality, evidence‑based proposals.
• Track application progress, deadlines and reporting schedules.
• Provide outstanding stewardship to existing funders through reports, evaluations and updates.
• Manage invitations to cultivation events, press nights and project visits.
• Cultivate new prospects through Development Committee and trustee networks as well as proactive outreach.
• Process payments, receipts and acknowledgements via Spektrix.
• Work with Finance to reconcile restricted income.
• Attend supporter events, press nights and cultivation events as required (including evenings/weekends).
• Manage and oversee excellent trust administration.
• Contribute to annual Trusts strategy alongside the Development Director.

Essential Criteria

• Experience writing successful five and six figure bids.
• Strong relationship‑building skills with trustees and funders.
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and reporting requirements.
• Strong written communication skills adaptable for different funders.
• Proactive and collaborative approach.
• Ability to manage a minimum annual Trust income target of c£250,000.
• Understanding of impact reporting/evaluation.
• Desirable Criteria
• Experience in the arts or charity sector.
• Knowledge of Spektrix or similar CRM systems.
• Experience stewarding funders via events or project visits.

Please visit our website for full details.

Mission Without Borders UK are seeking an exceptional Major Donors, Trusts & Partnerships Manager to help drive our mission forward and make a lasting difference for children and families across Eastern Europe.

Mission Without Borders (MWB) is a Christian organisation working in some of the most challenging contexts in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine. We come alongside children, families, and communities living in poverty, offering practical, emotional and spiritual support, sharing the hope found in Jesus Christ to enable people to move towards self-sufficiency.

MWB UK is entering an exciting period of growth. With an ambitious five‑year plan underway, we are seeking to strengthen our work with major donors, charitable trusts, foundations, and Gift‑in‑Kind (GIK) partners to expand our impact and reach more people in need.

About the role

This is a pivotal and high‑impact role, perfect for a talented relationship‑based fundraiser who is motivated by purpose, strategy, and the power of partnership.

You will:

· Build and manage a strong portfolio of major donors, developing tailored engagement plans that inspire deep and long‑term support.

· Grow income from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory funders through high‑quality applications and outstanding stewardship.

· Lead MWB UK’s Gift‑in‑Kind strategy, securing in‑kind products and managing the logistics journey from offer to delivery into field countries.

· Craft compelling proposals and impact reports that clearly articulate MWB’s vision and programme outcomes.

· Collaborate with passionate colleagues across MWB’s international network to identify funding priorities, shape supporter experiences, and maximise impact.

· Contribute strategically to MWB UK’s fundraising plans, spotting opportunities, and driving income growth.

This role blends hands‑on relationship management with strategic ownership.  This is ideal for someone who thrives on initiative, creativity, and wants to see their work translate into real, tangible change for vulnerable people.

About you

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

· Proven experience securing income from major donors and/or charitable trusts.

· Excellent relational skills with the ability to connect, inspire, and build trust.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills, including crafting persuasive proposals.

· A proactive, organised, detail‑driven approach with the ability to prioritise effectively.

· A genuine alignment with MWB’s Christian ethos and values.

If MWB’s vision is a cause that inspires you and the position fits with your skills, values and experience, then we would love to hear from you.

The position offers flexibility with a mix of home working and office based to be discussed. This is a full-time position, but we are open to hearing from candidates who can work a minimum of 4 days a week.

What we offer

· 30 days holiday per year

· Flexible working

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Pension scheme

· Opportunities to travel to projects in our field countries, as required

How to apply

Please send a covering letter of no more than 2 pages highlighting your reasons for applying and explaining your how your skills, experience and values align with the role.

Please see the Job Description below for more details.  If an informal conversation about the role would help, please call or email us.

We are actively interviewing as applications come in, so please apply now.

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 Youth Endowment Fund   

Programme Manager 

Reports to: Programme and Impact Lead  

Salary: £44,200  

Contract: 12-month fixed term (Full-Time), dependent on co-funding being secured. 

Location:  Central London or Hybrid*(see below) 

Closing date for applications: 12pm Friday 13th March 2026 

Interview dates: Week commencing 23rd March 2026 

About the Youth Endowment Fund 

We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.  

Every child should grow up safe from harm. Yet far too many are drawn into violence or live with the fear of it. This robs them of opportunity and damages whole communities. Even when violence doesn’t strike directly, we know that the fear of violence has a terrible effect on children’s lives.   

The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build an exceptional body of knowledge about violence affecting young people and how we reduce it. This knowledge has to be both rigorous and highly relevant to those making decisions about how to support vulnerable young people. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives. We need to convert this into highly accessible content on what works, how delivery organisations need to change their practice and how the systems they operate in need to be reformed. We then need to work with the right people that can make change happen, across systems, policies and practice, to have a real impact on reducing violence affecting children’s lives.   

Key Responsibilities 

Deciding which projects, we should fund and evaluate is key, as is making sure we deliver our funding and evaluations to the highest standards. Our Programme Managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, funding and supporting programmes designed to prevent youth violence.

Programme Managers at YEF come from all walks of life. We look for individuals who may have experience in the youth sector, children’s social care, policing, criminal justice, education or how to involve local residents in making decisions about their own neighbourhoods.

As a Programme Manager at YEF, you will work very closely with our evaluation team to make sure we learn from what’s being implemented and that the organisations we fund are prepared and excited to work with us to find what works.
 

To achieve this, you will: 

• Make sure we choose the best organisations to work with by assessing funding applications, critically appraising delivery plans and budgets and getting to know potential grantees. These assessments will help you form recommendations to our senior leadership team about which opportunities to pursue.

• Work closely with grantees, external evaluators and our own evaluation team to ensure that the activity we are funding will be evaluable to the highest standards. This requires you to support and advise grantees on how to work in the context of an evaluation – usually, a randomised controlled trial (you don’t have to have experience working on a randomised controlled trial in the past, but it helps!).

• Build strong relationships with our grantees and provide them with ongoing management and support through the life of their funding. You will also be responsible for monitoring the performance of grantees and ensuring targets are met and any project risks are effectively mitigated.

• Think carefully about how we find the best projects to fund and evaluate, ensuring we can best find what works to keep children safe. To do this you might need to work with colleagues to spot where there has previously been a lack of evidence about what works (we will help you with this!). You would project manage these projects so they are excellently delivered – on time, within budget, and to a high standard. You will help to determine what our commissioning and management processes aim to achieve and design grant application and management processes to achieve it.

• You’ll manage our engagement with potential grantees to make sure we are attracting a diverse and promising portfolio of organisations to apply.

• Report to our team and external stakeholders regularly on how well the projects we are funding are going, spotting where grantees need support and coming up with how we can best provide that support. 

• Represent the Youth Endowment Fund at external events, including reporting and presenting to our Grants and Evaluation Committee, who approve all our funding decisions. 

About You 

You are this sort of person: 

• You don't want your days to pass without making a difference. You want to play a significant part in a charity that is making a difference.

• You want to work in a job that makes young people safer. This issue matters to you. You don’t need extensive experience in grant making, you just have to be committed to learning it. You should be keen to learn about the sectors we work with, the challenges facing young people and what organisations face when implementing programmes.

• You have experience in one or more of the following areas: policing, education, criminal justice, social care or the youth sector. 

• You have a strong understanding of challenges that organisations face in delivering projects. You must also be a really good project manager, great at managing and developing people and external stakeholders, energised by tackling complex problems and really care about the YEF’s mission to build evidence of what works.  

• You have incredible judgement. You are able to reach sound and considered judgements about the viability and suitability of applicants based upon our given criteria, often using detailed written and financial information, and are able to deliver constructive feedback to organisations. You can also identify when things aren’t going to plan and be proactive with sharing observations and recommendations. 

• You are an optimiser. You look for solutions and think creatively to overcome challenges. You are curious, hungry to learn and always looking for ways to improve processes and increase efficiency and impact. 

• You love well-designed systems. You are committed to designing and maintaining the best systems to make sure we manage our commissioning processes well. You know this is critical to effectively managing multiple, large-scale funding programmes and competing priorities. 

• You are an excellent communicator. You have the ability to convey information clearly and effectively—both in writing and verbally. You understand the importance of strong communication in fast-paced decision-making and thrive in a busy, collaborative team environment. 

• You win people over. People tend to warm to you and respect you. You have built good relationships with people at every level inside and outside the organisation and have managed large networks of stakeholders with different interests and priorities. You are excellent at customer service and can professionally handle issues that come up within your grant portfolio. 

• You work very well in a team. You are not motivated by being the individual winner. You want the team as a whole to succeed. You don’t care who gets the credit as long as things get done. 

• You are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, backgrounds and values. 
   

While it’s not a criteria, we are especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.

We’re also keen to hear from applicants with a strong understanding of evaluation methodologies—particularly Randomised Control Trials (RCTs)—and experience either directly supporting or overseeing programme delivery within an evaluation context. 

It’s important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.

All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

This position will require a DBS check to be performed, but a record is not a block to performing this role. 

Funding and Start Date  

This role is subject to funding. We are currently in the process of securing the necessary funding for this work, which is expected to commence in April 2026. The successful candidate will need to be available to start within four weeks of receiving an offer. 

Hybrid Working Details  

The office is based in Central London, but you don’t have to be. Those living in London and within the 32 London Boroughs are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month. As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage.

To Apply  

To apply, please send a CV and a cover letter answering the specific questions below, along with the completed monitoring form, by clicking the "Apply for this" button by 12pm Friday 13th  March 2026. 

If you have specific expertise in any of our sectors, we want to hear about it in your examples, when answering the following questions as part of your cover letter to be considered. 

Application Questions   

1. Tell us about your experience and understanding of the challenges organisations face in delivering projects and any experience you’ve had of this in the context of evaluations? (max 400 words).

2. The Programme Manager role involves overseeing several projects at once and juggling many different tasks simultaneously. Tell us about when you’ve had several competing priorities and how you managed those? (max 400 words) 

3. Tell us about your experience of managing multiple partners and resolving conflicting positions? (max 400 words) 

Interview Process 

This is likely to be a one stage process, with interviews taking place on the week commencing 23rd March 2026 

PLEASE NOTE: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.  

Benefits Include 

• £1,000 professional development budget annually 

• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays 

• Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support 

• Volunteering days - 4 half days per year 

• Death in service - 4 times annual salary 

• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm 

• Financial support including travel and hardship loans 

• Employer contributed pension of 5%. 

Personal Data  

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful, and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area. 

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.

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

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. 

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.

Background

The Caerlow Trust (“the Trust”) is a family-led discretionary grant-making trust, governed by four trustees (the Board) that aims to alleviate poverty-related suffering in the United Kingdom.

The Trust’s operating principles are rooted in the basic belief that everyone deserves to have access to sufficient resources such that they are not concerned with day-to-day survival. It aims to achieve this by making grants targeting three main pillars of work: hunger, homelessness, and addiction.

Based in London, the Trust’s founders hope to make significant and meaningful change in the social landscape of London but also to grow to have a nationwide focus over time. The ambition is for the Trust to develop rapidly to become a versatile and flexible organisation that will have a very real impact and make a difference to the lives of the people supported through its grants. 

The Grants Manager will join our small but expanding team at an exciting time, having an important part to play in turning this ambition into reality.

Role overview and purpose

The Grants Manager will provide a range of services that will be key to the Trust’s grant management cycle including research,  assessment, database management and development, reporting and evaluation. They will be the key contact for a portfolio of grant applicants and recipients, to support them throughout their relationship with the Trust.

Key responsibilities

Grants Management:

· Managing a portfolio of grants throughout the entire grant cycle including assessment, award, support, monitoring and learning

· Act as the key contact for grant applicants and recipients, developing positive and supportive working relationships

· Organising and holding meetings with grantees, including taking notes and following up on actions

· Administrative tasks relating to grants, including correspondence, drafting and issuing agreements, tracking of applications, reports and payments

· Undertaking scoping work and research about organisations that may be appropriate for funding

· Reviewing grant applications, undertaking assessments and completing due diligence checks

· Drafting summaries and papers to support Trustees to make informed decisions  

· Reviewing grantee reports to evaluate progress and ensure compliance with any grant conditions

· Support budget management, financial reporting, cashflow monitoring and compliance with charity regulations in relation to grants

· Provide project management for new activities or grant programmes

· Working with colleagues and grantees to develop the Trust’s impact reporting capabilities

Database and system management

· Support the development and maintenance of our systems and grant management database, Beacon

· Ensure all data is accurate, kept up to date and retained in line with data protection regulations

· Provide support and guidance to grant applicants to access and use the grant application portal

· Provide support and guidance to Trustees and other external evaluators to use Beacon portal

Other responsibilities

· To represent the Trust at external events

· To support ongoing improvement in the context of grant-making and organisational development

· To role model desired behaviours in line with the Trust’s values

· Provide other ad hoc support to the Director as needed

Key internal relationships and reporting lines

· Receives line management and development from the Director

· Works closely with other colleagues and volunteers as part of an small effective team

This role doesn’t currently have any line management responsibilities but it is likely to in the future as the Trust grows.

Person specification

Knowledge and experience:

· Knowledge and understanding of the issues being supported by the Trust, developed through work or study in a relevant field or through lived experience

· Knowledge of charity finance, governance best practice, impact measurement and evaluation

· Experience of the grant management cycle

· High level of literacy and numeracy, including experience of handling and analysing qualitative and quantitative data

· High level of IT literacy with experience of working with MS365 applications and CRM databases

· Experience of liaising with a range of different stakeholders

Key skills and abilities:

· Outstanding communications skills with excellent written and spoken English

· Excellent interpersonal skills

· Attention to detail and commitment to quality

· Strong administrative, planning and organising skills

· Ability to work on your own and use initiative but knows when to seek advice and guidance

· Ability to identify improvements and propose solutions

· Collaborative and proactive approach to supporting others in a small team

Personal qualities:

· Commitment to the vision, mission and values of the Trust

· Dedication to the charity sector and the specific issues that are being addressed by the Trust

· Commitment to respect and value equality and diversity and inclusion

· Enthusiasm for continuing personal and professional development

· Good judgment and integrity

· Self-aware and empathetic

· Appreciative of the joy of grant making and sense of humour

· Adaptable and flexible, happy to work in an evolving and rapidly growing organisation

Other requirements

The Caerlow Trust is only able to consider applications from candidates who already have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

The Grants Manager will be required to travel across the UK as part of their role.

Working for the Trust

The Trust is committed to organisational and staff development. We offer various opportunities for staff to learn and develop, with management who are devoted to coaching and development. We encourage staff to attend events such as conferences, expert and donor meetings, to keep abreast of the developments in our areas of focus. The Trust is committed to being a good practice employer. We offer flexible working arrangements and a wide range of staff benefits.

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