Trust manager jobs in Cambridge, cambridgeshire

At In2scienceUK, we believe that every young person deserves a future in STEM, regardless of their background. Each year, too many talented young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face systemic barriers to careers in science, technology, engineering, and research. We are here to change that.

We are looking for an ambitious, creative, and mission-driven Fundraising Manager to join our team. If you are a fundraiser who thrives on building meaningful relationships and wants your daily work to have a tangible impact on social mobility, we want to hear from you.

As our new Fundraising Manager, you will be the driving force behind securing and growing income from corporate partnerships, trusts, and foundations. You will play a central role in our fundraising strategy, working closely with our Head of Fundraising and the wider team to secure the sustainable, multi-year partnerships that allow us to expand our impact across the UK.

This role offers the chance to develop your fundraising career while working with passionate colleagues, engaged trustees and inspiring young people. We are committed to staff development from day one and offer flexible home working to support work-life balance, alongside benefits including an Employee Assistance Programme, salary sacrifice options, pension contributions matched up to 7%, 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, and other staff benefits.

Please review the full Job Description for further information about the role, responsibilities and person specification before applying.

About the role

The Trusts & Statutory Fundraising Manager will play a key role in delivering Sands’ ambitious income growth plans and strengthening long-term philanthropic partnerships that support Sands’ work to save babies’ lives and support bereaved families. 

Reporting to the Senior Philanthropy Manager and sitting within the Partnerships & Philanthropy Team, the role will lead the development and growth of a strategic portfolio of trusts, foundations and statutory funders, securing significant multi-year income and building long-term relationships with supporters and partners. 

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and relationship-driven fundraiser to help shape and grow a high-potential area of fundraising at Sands. The postholder will work closely with senior colleagues across research, training, bereavement support and engagement teams to develop compelling funding propositions aligned to Sands’ strategic priorities. 

The role combines strategic planning, relationship management and high-quality bid writing, alongside leadership of the trusts pipeline, stewardship activity, cross-team collaboration and line management of a Trusts Fundraiser. 

The successful candidate will be a strong communicator and strategic thinker with experience securing five and six-figure grants, developing funder relationships and translating complex programmes into compelling, impact-led cases for support. 

Includes line management of one Trusts Fundraiser. 

Main Responsibilities

The overall aims of this role are to: 

• lead and grow Sands’ trusts, foundations and statutory fundraising programme, securing significant multi-year income in support of Sands’ strategic priorities

• build and manage a sustainable pipeline of trust, foundation and statutory prospects, developing long-term relationships and identifying opportunities for growth

• lead the development of Sands' corporate grant and corporate foundation fundraising programme, bringing experience of securing corporate grant funding to establish an expanded area of income growth

• develop compelling, evidence-led funding propositions that translate Sands’ work into clear, engaging and donor-focused cases for support

• collaborate closely with colleagues across Research, Bereavement Support, Training, Communications and Engagement teams to shape strategic funding opportunities

• strengthen organisational understanding of trusts and statutory fundraising, bringing insight, innovation and strategic thinking to funding approaches

• provide supportive line management and development to the Trusts Fundraiser, fostering strong performance and collaboration

• ensure excellent stewardship, compliance, reporting and grant management across all trusts and statutory activity

• contribute to a culture of ambitious, relationship-led and insight-driven fundraising across Partnerships & Philanthropy

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Management & Income Growth 

• Develop and deliver Sands’ trusts and statutory fundraising strategy, aligned to organisational priorities and long-term income growth ambitions.

• Manage and grow a strategic portfolio of charitable trusts, foundations, lottery and statutory funders, securing five- and six-figure grants and multi-year partnerships.

• Lead trust-funded matched giving appeals (including Big Give), coordinating cross-organisational campaign activity across Philanthropy & Partnerships and Individual Giving teams, while collaborating with Engagement & Communications to develop compelling campaign assets and drive income growth. 

• Lead pipeline development and prospecting activity, identifying new funding opportunities and prioritising prospects with the highest strategic potential.

• Work collaboratively across the organisation to shape compelling propositions and articulate clear, evidence-led cases for support.

• Develop thematic and strategic funding propositions aligned to Sands’ work across research, training, bereavement support, inequalities and systems-change activity.

• Contribute insight and sector knowledge to strengthen organisational understanding of trusts and statutory fundraising opportunities and trends.

• Support the diversification of income through innovative approaches to partnership development, restricted and unrestricted funding, and strategic engagement opportunities.

Trusts, Foundations & Statutory Fundraising 

• Lead the development of high-quality funding applications, proposals, bids and reports for charitable trusts, foundations and statutory bodies.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective funders, ensuring excellent stewardship and long-term engagement.

• Develop tailored cultivation and stewardship plans that strengthen funder relationships and maximise opportunities for renewal and multi-year support, including leading and contributing to cross-charity stewardship initiatives and engagement campaigns involving trust funders, such as donor thankathons, impact events and bespoke recognition activities. 

• Work with internal stakeholders to identify fundable projects and package work into compelling donor-focused narratives and propositions 

• Manage the trusts and statutory funding pipeline, ensuring accurate forecasting, reporting and tracking of opportunities and deadlines.

• Maintain oversight of trust or statutory restricted funding, ensuring compliance with grant conditions and timely reporting on impact and outcomes.

• Represent Sands confidently in meetings, presentations and funder discussions, acting as an ambassador for the organisation and its work. 

Team Management 

• Line manage the Trusts Fundraiser, providing coaching, support, professional development and clear strategic direction.

• Foster a collaborative, supportive and high-performing team culture.

• Conduct regular line management responsibilities including 121s, supervision and performance check-ins, and contribute to annual appraisal and development processes.

• Support knowledge sharing and continuous improvement across the Partnerships & Philanthropy team.

Governance, Insight & Performance 

• Lead forecasting, budgeting and KPI management for trusts and statutory income streams.

• Use CRM systems, fundraising data and prospect research to support strategic decision-making, pipeline management and stewardship planning.

• Ensure compliance with fundraising regulation, GDPR, grant conditions and ethical fundraising standards.

• Develop and maintain robust systems and processes to support efficient grant management, reporting and donor stewardship.

• Monitor sector trends, funding opportunities and emerging areas of interest relevant to Sands’ strategic priorities.

General 

• To undertake other duties as required by the Senior Philanthropy Manager and Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy

• To work flexibly and proactively with other members of the team.

• To maintain confidentiality over personal information relating to staff.

• Abide by all Sands Policies and Procedures.

• Undertake all mandatory training as required.

• Participate in annual appraisal and personal development review.

• The post holder must familiarise themselves with matters relating to Health & Safety Management, as affecting themselves, their department and the organisation as a whole.

• Promote the Sands vision and values at all times. 

Personal Specification: Skills & Experience

Fundraising Expertise 

• Proven track record of securing five- and six-figure grants from charitable trusts, foundations and statutory funders.

• Strong experience developing and managing sustainable fundraising pipelines and securing multi-year funding partnerships.

• Experience identifying corporate foundation prospects and securing funding from corporate foundations. 

• Experience developing compelling, evidence-led and donor-focused cases for support.

• Experience of developing funding applications involving multiple stakeholders and complex programme areas.

• Strong understanding of trusts and statutory fundraising landscapes, trends and opportunities.

Strategic & Relationship Skills 

• Excellent relationship-builder, confident engaging with funders, senior stakeholders, clinicians, researchers and external partners.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into compelling and accessible narratives.

• Strategic thinker with strong judgement, able to identify opportunities and balance long-term relationship building with day-to-day delivery.

• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and influence stakeholders to support fundraising priorities and opportunities.

Management & Operational Capability 

• Experience managing, mentoring or supporting colleagues to achieve strong performance and professional development.

• Strong planning, forecasting, organisational and project management skills.

• Experience using CRM systems and fundraising data to support pipeline management and decision-making.

• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and perform effectively within a fast-paced environment.

Personal Specification: Core Competencies 

• Builds collaborative and credible relationships internally and externally, acting with professionalism and integrity.

• Communicates clearly and persuasively, adapting style for different audiences and translating complex information into compelling narratives.

• Demonstrates strategic thinking and sound judgement, balancing ambition with practicality and delivery.

• Uses insight, evidence and data to inform planning, prioritisation and fundraising approaches.

• Demonstrates resilience, adaptability and a solutions-focused mindset when managing competing priorities or challenges.

• Works collaboratively across teams to strengthen organisational impact and supporter experience.

• Demonstrates a commitment to inclusive and equitable fundraising practices aligned to Sands’ values and strategic priorities. 

An introduction from our Head of Fundraising

Villiers Park is a national social mobility charity with a strong track record of delivering impactful programmes that support young people from under-represented backgrounds to fulfil their potential.

We are seeking to recruit an experienced Trusts and Foundations Manager to lead and grow income from charitable trusts, foundations and grant-making bodies. This is a pivotal role within the fundraising team, responsible for developing and delivering a successful trusts and foundations income stream to support Villiers Park's programmes and ambitious ‘Beyond Barriers’ growth strategy.

Villiers Park is generously supported by charitable trusts and foundations, which contribute over £500,000 every year towards our work. The Trusts and Foundations Manager will build on and develop Villiers Park’s trust fundraising, by cultivating relationships with current and prospective supporters, preparing compelling applications and reports, and seeking new funders and opportunities to help us to realise our goals and those of the communities we serve.

As Trusts and Foundations Manager, you will be part of a supportive fundraising team (based in our Cambridge office) and will work closely with dedicated and welcoming colleagues from across the organisation including our Communications Manager, Finance Manager, Programmes Team, Senior Leadership Team and Trustees. I hope that you will be inspired to apply for the role and look forward to hearing from you.

Melody Brooker

Head of Fundraising

About the role

Villiers Park is generously supported by charitable trusts and foundations, which contribute over £500,000 every year towards our work. The Trusts and Foundations Manager will build on and develop Villiers Park’s trust fundraising, by cultivating relationships with current and prospective supporters, preparing compelling applications and reports, and seeking new funders and opportunities to help us to realise our goals and those of the communities we serve. Our established portfolio offers a unique opportunity for an experienced Trusts and Foundations Manager to steward relationships and meet with funders across our hubs, to see our work in action.

The successful candidate will be joining the team at an exciting time for Villiers Park. We have five thriving regional hubs cross the UK, and an evidence-based approach that makes a proven impact on young people’s lives. Our Beyond Barriers strategy is focused on further scaling our work to substantially increase our impact across the country by 2030.

As the Trusts and Foundations Manager, you will have the opportunity to work with colleagues from across the organisation, from Progression Coaches who work directly in and with our school partners to members of the Senior Leadership Team and Trustees. You will be part of a small fundraising team so working well in a team, and being flexible to support others, is essential. You will build mutually trusting relationships with colleagues and funders and balance tenacity with empathy.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare and write compelling applications to charitable trusts and foundations who have the capacity to make five and six figure gifts towards the charity’s work.
• Prepare and submit scheduled applications and reports to current funders, ensuring that we hit deadlines and develop relationships with the trusts and foundations currently supporting Villiers Park.
• In collaboration with the Senior Leadership team, and colleagues in Fundraising and Communications, create engaging and accurate reports to current funders that share the impact of their support, including trusts, major donors and university partners.
• Work with colleagues in the Fundraising team to develop and implement targeted stewardship strategies that bring current donors closer to our work.
• Identify new prospects and propose engagement and cultivation strategies.
• With the Head of Fundraising and Chief Executive, develop the trusts and philanthropic strategy to support the organisation’s 'Beyond Barriers’ strategic growth plan.
• Work closely with the Fundraising Operations and Data Manager to prepare pipeline reports to inform budgeting and forecasting.
• Support the Head of Fundraising to identify and develop fundraising channels, including family trusts, corporate foundations and legacy giving.
• Ensure compliance with Villiers Park’s safeguarding and data protection policies, and with the charity’s gift acceptance and fundraising policies and processes.

This list is not exhaustive, and the post-holder may be required to undertake other tasks relevant to the role and within their capability.

Essential skills and experience:

• Passionate about supporting young people from under-represented backgrounds.
• Experience of successfully building relationships with charitable trusts and securing five and six figure gifts.
• Excellent written communication skills and attention to detail.
• Strong ability to cultivate relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and on own initiative.
• Good understanding of financial information and ability to communicate this effectively.
• A team player, who is personable, curious and empathetic.
• A commitment to learning and professional development.
• An understanding of current fundraising trends and connected with relevant fundraising networks.

Desirable skills and experience:

• Experience of fundraising for an educational or social mobility charity.
• Experience of securing multi-year six figure gifts.
• Interest in extending fundraising knowledge and experience, to include major donors, legacies and university partnerships.

Employee Benefits

• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rated) and additional leave over Christmas.
• A dedicated wellbeing day for you to take at any time and three days (pro-rated) paid leave for volunteering or study each year.
• Training and professional development, including termly staff development days.
• Support from our wellbeing working group and access to an employee assistance programme.
• Opportunity to join working groups with other colleagues from across the organisation as well as wider networks such as the Fair Education Alliance.
• Flexibility in working hours.
• Additional sick pay and compassionate leave policies.

Safeguarding:

Villiers Park Educational Trust is committed to safeguarding and to providing a safe and supportive environment, which secures the well-being and best outcomes for the young people with whom we work.

Safeguarding is embedded in all aspects of Villiers Park's work and integral to the commitment we make to our schools, partners and the young people and communities we serve and work with. All employees and volunteers are expected to share this commitment by adhering to our organisational safeguarding procedures, attending regular in-house training and keeping up to date with developments in policies and legislation. All employees and volunteers will also agree to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Services check and successfully complete our mandatory online training courses including NSPCC Safeguarding in Schools and PREVENT training.