Trust officer jobs in London, greater london
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Salary: £35,412 starting salary (salary range will increase to max £38,220 via the length of service) per annum. Plus £4,324 Inner London Weighting if applicable.
Contract: Permanent basis
Hours: Full-Time 35 hours per week (excluding lunch breaks)
Location: Any Refugee Action office (London, Manchester, Bradford). We will consider a UK-based hybrid working option.
About Refugee Action
Refugee Action exists to work with refugees and people seeking asylum who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes. We are a national charity with more than 40 years’ experience of empowering people who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes to secure the protection and support that they need to live with dignity and respect and build a new life in the UK. We do this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of partner organisations and campaigning on the policies that affect them.
About the Role
We are seeking a motivated and skilled Trusts and Foundations Officer to join our fundraising team and drive income growth from trusts and foundations. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident communicator who is passionate about making a meaningful impact, particularly in supporting refugees and people seeking asylum.
You will play a key role in identifying and securing new funding opportunities, building strong relationships with funders, and developing compelling proposals that secure support for our work.
To succeed in the role, you will need to demonstrate:
- Commitment to removing barriers to power for people with lived experience, and commitment to anti-racist practices.
- Understanding of how the UK’s hostile refugee protection and asylum system impacts those affected by it.
- Ability to develop new income generating opportunities through effective prospecting skills to build a robust prospect pipeline.
- Demonstrable experience in relationship development and account management of trusts and foundations, with the skills and ability to quickly build rapport with all levels of seniority through articulate and persuasive communication skills.
- Strong written communication skills with the ability to write compelling and inspirational funding bids to secure five/ six-figure gifts.
- Target driven with experience of securing new income and meeting KPIs.
- Excellent financial and budgetary skills with proven ability to develop budgets and understand funder finance reports.
- Ability to organise and plan own work, juggle competing demands, and establish clear timelines and priorities to meet deadlines.
- Passion and motivation to raise vital funds to support refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK.
- Commitment to positively contribute to Refugee Action’s work to become a truly anti racist organisation and remove barriers to power.
- Experience and understanding of cultural diversity and the ability to work with people from a range of different cultures.
Those with lived experience as a refugee are particularly encouraged to apply
Closing date: 23:59 on 31st May 2026
Interviews: 16th June 2026 (on Zoom)
Position: Senior Philanthropy Officer – Trusts and Foundations Maternity cover up to 1-year.
Salary: £36,000-38,000 per annum
Reports to: Senior Trusts & Foundations Manager
Location: Shoreditch, East London (Hybrid Model)
Key relationships: UK for UNHCR Head of Philanthropy and Philanthropy Team, Individual Giving Team, UNHCR Private Sector Partnerships division
JOB PURPOSE
UK for UNHCR is looking for an ambitious and proactive fundraiser to work in a Senior Philanthropy Officer role for up to one year’s maternity cover. This role will manage its own portfolio of low to mid-level trusts and foundations and will play a key role in supporting the Senior Trusts & Foundations Manager on the engagement and stewardship of our high-level partnerships, as well as supporting on the delivery of a high-quality supporter experience.
You will be joining the charity at an exciting moment, becoming part of a small but high performing team with big ambitions. This role is integral to the development of our Trusts and Foundations Programme.
We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic and determined and who enjoys working collaboratively within and across teams, building relationships and inspiring people to support UNHCR’s lifesaving work. You’ll have strong problem solving and communication skills, both written and oral. You’ll be passionate about the refugee cause and UK for UNHCR’s role in supporting refugees around the globe.
Working with our international colleagues, this role will gather information for reports, donor communications and proposals on UNHCR’s key areas of work.
This role will also work across the team to support on growing the trusts and foundations pipeline, through identifying and then building relationships with trusts and foundations aligned with our cause.
Some international travel may be required.
If you think you have the relevant skills and crucially, the passion to support the refugee cause, please apply.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
United Kingdom for UNHCR is the United Nations Refugee Agency’s national charity partner for the United Kingdom. We generate public awareness of the plight of refugees and raise funds to help protect them through UNHCR’s humanitarian operations across the world.
Our supporters include UK private individuals, communities, corporate partners, trusts and foundations. The funds we raise help UNHCR deliver emergency relief such as shelter, medical care and basic supplies to people fleeing conflict and persecution, as well as healthcare, education and livelihoods opportunities for those who remain displaced over the long term.
Nobody chooses to be a refugee, but we can all play a part in their protection, and we want those who work with us to share our values and passion for the cause.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING
We strongly value diversity and recognise that it is critical to our success and the cause that we serve. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all who work with us and strongly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of being a refugee, asylum seeker, internally displaced person, or a stateless person.
UK for UNHCR is proud to have Diversity & Inclusion Working Group. The Diversity & Inclusion Working Group is a group of colleagues focusing on tasks that drive action in the implementation of our D&I Approach. The group also works to create safe spaces that brings colleagues together for events, discussions and learning experiences that celebrate and support diversity and tackle barriers to inclusion.
We are also open to flexibility in many ways, including an element of working from home and flexible hours. Please don’t be afraid to speak to us about this at the interview stage, so we can explore what’s possible.
Role Responsibilities
- Work as part of the Private Partnerships and Philanthropy Team (PPH) to develop new opportunities with trusts and foundations in line with UK for UNHCR’s fundraising strategy. This will include supporting and leading initiatives to approach potential supporters.
- Support the development and management of a robust trusts & foundations pipeline and a calendar of opportunities for grant submissions to trusts and foundations.
- Undertake detailed prospect research and identify the most appropriate funding and fundraising opportunities for trusts and foundations.
- Support the development of high-quality concept notes, proposals, reports, and other fundraising products.
- Ensure current partners are stewarded to a high standard
- Support, and at times lead, on cultivation and stewardship events across the PPH team. This could be anything from a webinar to an in-person event for 50+ people.
- Support and lead on the development and execution of strong cultivation and stewardship plans, taking responsibility for keeping these updated and reviewed.
- Help establish an appropriate strategic and tactical response to trust and foundation prospects and supporters in the event of humanitarian emergencies.
- Maintain the Salesforce database with up-to-date and accurate information on trust and foundation prospects and partners.
- Help to raise awareness of, and build vital support for, UK for UNHCR’s unique position to protect refugees and displaced people.
- Work within UK for UNHCR’s due diligence and GDPR policies and processes.
- Ensure accurate income recording and earmarking procedures to facilitate financial reporting.
- Support the PPH team in other activities as requested.
- The above list is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to perform duties that are not detailed above.
Personal Attributes and Experience
Essential Experience
- Experience of working in a fundraising capacity with an NGO or INGO to identify, approach, secure and steward trusts & foundations and/or major donors.
- Experience of devising and delivering impactful and engaging proposals and communications to generate income and build relationships.
- Experience of working across a busy team and managing a busy workload.
Essential Skills/Knowledge
- Ability to analyse reports and communicate complex themes and subjects to a variety of audiences, written and verbal.
- Ability to act proactively to identify new prospects and fundraising opportunities.
- Ability to juggle and prioritise multiple tasks and meet deadlines within a collaborative team environment.
- Good attention to detail and ability to proof-read.
- Able to demonstrate flexibility, with a willingness to respond quickly, particularly at times of humanitarian crisis.
- Excellent stakeholder and relationship management skills.
- Proficient in using Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Working knowledge of fundraising databases.
Desirable Skills/Experience (not compulsory)
- Experience of working in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
- Experience of fundraising at an international development, human rights, or humanitarian NGO.
- Experience organising events
WHY JOIN UNITED KINGDOM FOR UNHCR?
You will be part of a high performing agile team of talented people; all committed to build solidarity and raise funds for refugees and displaced people worldwide. You will be working in a flexible, supportive, and inclusive environment, where your work will be recognised and appraised.
What else?
Wellbeing
- 28 days’ leave per annum plus bank holidays (pro-rata).
- Employee Assistance programme providing 24/7 access to online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing.
- Access to 100s of perks with discounts on everyday purchases.
- Office wellness perks.
- Discount on gym memberships.
- Hybrid and Flexible Working.
- Staff socials.
Financial
- Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8%.
- Non-contributory group life assurance scheme
- Non-contributory Income protection scheme.
- One-off contribution towards homeworking set up.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.
- Enhanced sick pay scheme.
Development
- Comprehensive training and continuing development opportunities.
- Individual training budget.
HOW TO APPLY
If you have the relevant skills and the passion to use them to support refugees, please apply by completing our application form which is available in the documents section.
Closing date: midday Monday 18th May
Interviews date: Weeks commencing 18th and 25th May
If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to the application or hiring process that may better facilitate your participation, please contact us. We will make every effort to respond to your request for assistance as soon as possible.
United Kingdom for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is registered with the Charity Commission (England & Wales), charity no. 1183415. It is the UK national partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency.
We stand with refugees – will you join us?
