Trusts and corporate fundraising officer jobs

Description 

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Head of Fundraising to lead and further develop our fundraising activity at a pivotal time for the Cathedral. This is a strategic and hands on role, working closely with the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Management Team to secure the resources needed to sustain and grow the Cathedral’s mission, ministry and buildings. 

You will take the lead on generating fundraising income, primarily through trusts and foundations, while also developing appeals, legacy giving, regular giving and new fundraising income streams. You will build on the strong foundations already in place, bringing creativity, rigour and collaboration to everything you do. 

The role 

As Head of Fundraising, you will: 

• Lead relationships with trusts and foundations, identifying opportunities, writing compelling applications and managing reporting and compliance 

• Drive major fundraising bids to support the Cathedral’s Estates Masterplan and strategic priorities 

• Develop and deliver fundraising appeals and pilot new initiatives to diversify income 

• Grow legacy and regular giving, building a sustainable pipeline of long-term supporters 

• Lead supporter care, engagement and fundraising events 

• Oversee fundraising communications and profile raising activity 

• Work collaboratively across the Cathedral to develop fundable projects and shared ownership of fundraising 

• Manage the fundraising budget and report progress to the Senior Management Team and Finance Committee 

• Act as Line Manager for the Development Officer 

This role combines strategic thinking with practical delivery and will suit someone who enjoys working in a small, committed team where no two days are the same. 

What we're looking for 

• Proven experience in fundraising, particularly trusts and foundations 

• A strong track record of writing successful funding applications generating over £250,000pa 

• Excellent relationship building and communication skills 

• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and external partners 

• Empathy with the values, mission and worshipping life of a Christian cathedral 

• A calm, organised and proactive approach, with strong attention to detail 

• A clear commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and best practice 

Experience in cathedral, church, heritage or charity settings is welcome but not essential — we are keen to hear from candidates with transferable skills from other sectors. 

Why join us? 

You will be part of a warm, committed community, working in a unique historic setting and helping ensure Portsmouth Cathedral continues to thrive for generations to come. 

 
Benefits 

• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days per annum (FTE) plus public holidays and 2 'given' days over Christmas. Pro rata for this part-time role. 

• Employer pension contributions of 7% plus 1% employee contribution. 

• Commitment to professional development and training 

• Cash health plan 

Portsmouth Cathedral is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a member of Inclusive Church.   

Interviews in person Tuesday 5 May 2026

Lead and Direct Income Generation and Future Fundraising for Swindon Food Collective

The role has key responsibility for all income generation activities at Swindon Food Collective. This includes high-profile networking with local businesses, corporations and the public sector, processing grant applications, growing and managing key corporate partnerships and significantly increasing fundraising activities. This is a senior role and the role-holder will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team. The work involves undertaking frequent travel to local corporations, businesses, and wider public sector stakeholders. 

Role Purpose
To design, deliver and secure a multi-stream recurring income generation strategy, manage charity-wide philanthropy, and strengthen long-term financial resilience.

Key responsibilities

Strategy and planning
• Develop and deliver a 12–24-month income generation plan aligned to SFC priorities and the Trustee Strategy & Fundraising Committee.
• Build a balanced income mix (corporate, philanthropy, trusts, community and digital where appropriate), with clear targets and resource assumptions.
• Produce compelling cases for support and pitch materials tailored to different audiences.

Corporate partnerships and sponsorship
• Identify, cultivate and secure corporate partnerships and sponsorships (including 'charity of the year' and payroll giving where feasible).
• Design partnership packages (benefits, brand alignment, staff engagement, volunteering) and manage delivery and stewardship.
• Work closely with the Brand Ambassador & Events Manager to convert event leads into partnership conversations. 

Philanthropy, major donors and relationship fundraising
• Build and steward relationships with high-value supporters, ensuring excellent donor care and personalised stewardship.
• Manage a prospect pipeline (research, cultivation plans, asks, stewardship and renewals).
• Coordinate CEO and trustee involvement in high-value relationships where appropriate. 

Trusts, foundations and grant fundraising
• Own the trusts and foundations pipeline, from identifying funders to writing compelling bids and submitting applications.
• Coordinate impact evidence and data collection across SFC to strengthen applications and reporting.
• Complete and undertake all funding and grant applications (corporate and public sector) in a timely fashion and ahead of relevant deadlines. Report funding progress to stakeholders. 
• Ensure timely and high-quality funder reporting and relationship management. 

Performance management, systems and compliance
• Manage income forecasting, budgeting and ROI tracking; set and monitor KPIs and provide clear reporting to CEO/Board.
• Maintain accurate records in the CRM (or agreed system), ensuring GDPR compliance and strong data quality.
• Ensure fundraising activity aligns with relevant fundraising standards and ethical practice. 

Leadership and organisational contribution
• Senior Leadership Team member: contribute to organisational planning, budgeting and risk management.
• Work collaboratively across operations and volunteering functions to ensure fundraising promises align with delivery capability and safeguarding requirements.
• Coach and support colleagues and volunteers who contribute to income generation activity. 
• Other tasks as relevant / determined by the CEO. 
 

Role description:

We are excited to be seeking a talented and motivated individual to join Southampton Hospitals Charity as a Community & Events Fundraising Officer, to help develop and grow this key area by engaging supporters, building strong relationships within the community, and maximising income through creative and impactful fundraising activities.

This opportunity comes at an exciting time within the Charity as we look to grow our team and reach. The post holder will require a good knowledge of fundraising and considerable energy and enthusiasm that will inspire patients, visitors, hospital staff and the local community to choose Southampton Hospitals Charity as their preferred charity.

We are looking for an individual who is as passionate about fundraising as the work we do as a Charity to join our team. This role will be key, as we look to embed our ambitious new strategy to grow our income, reach and impact.

Key tasks and responsibilities

Community & Events

• Working with the Fundraising Manager to develop and implement strategies to support the growth from community fundraising activities.
• Acting as a key point of contact for community fundraisers, providing guidance, resources, and support to help them achieve their goals.
• Develop an annual calendar of participation events, including leading on the creation and delivery of marketing activity for these initiatives to maximise promotion, engagement and income.
• To work closely with the Hospital Engagement team within the Charity Hub to help ensure good cross stewardship, maximise hospital staff participating in events and being on-hand to meet with potential donors.
• Planning, organising and delivering fundraising events, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and meet income targets.
• Support with the recruiting, training and managing event volunteers to ensure successful delivery of events and show them a high standard of care and support to retain them.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with supporters, ensuring excellent stewardship and engagement.
• Identify and develop opportunities to grow the Charity’s supporter base (including working collaboratively with other teams to integrate community and event fundraising with other areas of the organisation).
• Representing the Chairty at external functions, events, giving talks and presentations as required.
• Work closely with the marketing team on the planning and delivery of marketing activity for all fundraising events and initiatives, taking responsibility for generating content, scheduling activity and driving audience engagement.
• Build a robust fundraising pipeline across community and events, monitoring and evaluating the success of fundraising activities, producing regular reports and data analysis.
• Setting and manage income and expenditure for all fundraising initiatives, ensuring cost-effectiveness and profitability.
• Keeping accurate records of donor interactions, income, and expenditure on the charity’s database (Beacon).
• Performing other duties as reasonably required within the role.
• To liaise and manage relationships with external suppliers such as 3rd party event organisers, event companies and venues.

Knowledge and experience

• Experience of increasing income through successful community events, corporate or volunteer fundraising programmes or equivalent transferable experience from another sector.
• A proven track record of delivering an excellent customer/supporter stewardship experience.
• Experience of managing multiple projects and budgets.
• Demonstrable experience using data insight and analysis to inform decision making.
•  Excellent IT skills including using Excel, Word, Outlook and Power Point as well as experience of administering and maintaining dedicated supporter databases.
• Knowledge of a Fundraising Database and knowledge of fundraising regulations.

Skills, abilities, and behaviours

• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills with the ability to motivate and influence people.
• Ability to build personal, meaningful relationships with colleagues, customers, supporters and donors.
• Ability to adapt quickly and be solutions focussed.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a demanding workload and work on several priorities at once.
• Ability to work as part of team and to use own initiative.
• Knowledge and experience of using a CRM database (Beacon).
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to prepare and deliver compelling presentations and engage with a wide range of audiences.
• Good written skills with the ability to communicate with different stakeholders.
• Self-driven and results orientated with a positive outlook and clear focus on supporters.
•  Willingness to work hard and attend, where necessary commitments outside normal office hours.
• A Full UK driving license and access to a car.

The Abbey Centre is entering an exciting new chapter – and we’re looking for a Fundraising Manager who wants to help define it.

This is not a steady-state fundraising role. It’s an opportunity to lead income generation at a pivotal moment in our development and to shape how we fund our work in the years ahead.

We are a vibrant community charity based in south Westminster, working alongside local people to tackle inequality, reduce isolation and create opportunity. As we look ahead to the next phase of our growth, we want to strengthen, diversify and future-proof our income – and that’s where you come in.

The Role

As our Fundraising Manager, you will be both strategic and hands-on, leading income growth while helping us nurture and evolve our overall approach to fundraising.

You will:

• Develop and deliver an ambitious and adaptable fundraising strategy
• Build and shape a sustainable pipeline of income opportunities
• Strengthen existing funding relationships while developing new ones
• Grow unrestricted income and improve long-term financial resilience
• Work closely with the CEO and senior colleagues to align income with organisational priorities
• You’ll have real scope to influence direction, test new ideas, and identify where our systems, capacity and funding streams need to evolve.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is motivated by building and developing, not simply maintaining. You might already be operating at manager level, or you may be a high-performing fundraiser ready to step up. What matters most is that you can demonstrate results, ambition and strategic thinking.

You will bring:

• A track record of securing income (from trusts, statutory, corporate or individual sources)
• Strong bid-writing and proposal development skills
• Experience managing funder relationships and delivering impactful reporting
• Financial awareness
• Confidence to work both independently and collaboratively
• A proactive, solution-focused mindset

We value impact and potential as much as length of service. If you are hungry to grow something meaningful and excited by the opportunity to shape an evolving role, we would love to hear from you.

Staff benefits for working at The Abbey Centre:

• Subsidised lunch
• Interest-free season ticket loan/ bicycle loan scheme
• 23 days annual leave (plus public & statutory holidays) and 3 days off inbetween Christmas and New Year
• Contributions of 6% of salary into stakeholder pension scheme, when matched by 3% personal contributions.

Deadline to apply: 9am on Monday 20th April

Interviews: 30th April at the Abbey Centre, with the possibility of a second round of interviews on the 8th May at the Abbey Centre.

Temporary Fundraising & Sponsorship Advisor – Job Description

Introduction / Opportunity Framing

The Lit & Phil is entering a significant development phase through its “Lit & Phil Open” project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

We are seeking an experienced Fundraising and Sponsorship Advisor to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our fundraising strategy at a critical moment.

This is not a steady-state role. It is an opportunity to design and implement a fundraising approach that will support both immediate project needs and long-term financial sustainability.

About the Organisation

The Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne (“Lit & Phil”) is a historic charity established in 1793, dedicated to advancing education.

• Based in central Newcastle, operating from a Grade II* listed building
• Home to over 200,000 books and music items
• Delivers approximately 150 public events annually
• Serves thousands of visitors and members each year
• Supported by staff and a strong volunteer network

The organisation is embarking on a major heritage and engagement project to expand access, grow audiences, and secure long-term sustainability.

The Role

As our Fundraising and Sponsorship Advisor, you will provide expert strategic and delivery support across two key priorities:

1. Securing match funding for a major Heritage Fund Delivery Phase bid
2. Building sustainable income streams to improve long-term financial resilience

You will operate both strategically and hands-on, working alongside trustees and project advisors.

You will:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising and sponsorship strategy
• Design and execute a targeted fundraising campaign for “Lit & Phil Open”
• Build a pipeline of funding opportunities across individuals, trusts, and corporate sponsors
• Strengthen and manage relationships with donors and stakeholders
• Create compelling funding proposals, applications, and reporting materials
• Develop promotional materials for fundraising campaigns
• Organise and support fundraising events and donor engagement activity
• Monitor, evaluate, and refine fundraising performance

Key Deliverables (Development Phase – 6 Months)

• Months 1–2:
  • Deliver a review of current fundraising and sponsorship activity
  • Provide recommendations aligned to priority funding needs
  • Initiate early-stage fundraising actions
• By Month 4:
  • Produce a detailed Fundraising and Sponsorship Strategy
  • Include long-term sustainability planning beyond the project phase
  • Provide costings and resource considerations
• By Month 5:
  • Deliver a presentation of the strategy to trustees/stakeholders
• By Month 6 (September 2026):
  • Secure at least 3 grants totalling £10,000+
  • Secure sponsorship from at least 3 organisations

Key Deliverables (Strategic Priorities)

Priority 1: Capital / Project Funding

• Secure match funding to support a potential £4.5m Heritage Fund Delivery bid
• Develop funding streams across individuals, trusts, and corporate donors

Priority 2: Revenue Growth

• Develop fundraising approaches to increase annual income by ~40% by 2029
• Expand income across:
  • Subscriptions and membership
  • Sponsorship
  • Events and ticketing
  • Venue hire and commercial activity

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience developing and delivering fundraising strategies
• Strong track record in securing funding (trusts, grants, corporate, or individuals)
• Excellent bid writing and proposal development skills
• Experience in donor relationship management and reporting
• Ability to design and deliver fundraising campaigns
• Strategic thinking combined with delivery capability

Desirable

• Experience working with cultural, heritage, or educational organisations
• Experience with National Lottery Heritage Fund or similar funding bodies
• Experience in membership-based organisations

Personal Attributes

• Strategic and analytical thinker
• Proactive and solutions-focused
• Able to work independently while engaging stakeholders effectively
• Adaptable within a project-based and evolving environment
• Strong communication and influencing skills

Reporting Line

• Reports to: Trustee Board Member (Finance Lead)
• Works with: Project team, trustees, and external advisors

Contract & Timeline

• Contract Type: Consultancy / Fixed-term
• Duration: Approx. 6 months (Development Phase)
• Start Date: April 2026 (or as soon as possible)
• Potential Extension: Delivery Phase (Jan 2027 – 2029), subject to funding approval

Monitoring & Reporting

• Monthly progress reports (max. 3 pages + dashboard)
• Regular engagement with trustees and project leadership
• Flexibility to respond to stakeholder and funder queries

Closing Statement

This is an opportunity to play a central role in shaping the future of a historic institution, contributing to a major heritage project while building a sustainable fundraising model for the long term.

We welcome applications from experienced advisors who can bring both strategic insight and practical delivery to this ambitious programme.

Volunteer Centre Hackney is a thriving charity (annual income circa £1.1m, with 29 paid staff) providing volunteering infrastructure to the voluntary sector across the City of London and the London borough of Hackney. We support over 1500 residents a year to realise their skills and passions through volunteering and social action, and to share these for the benefit of others. We also provide volunteering resource, and advice and guidance on best practice in volunteer management, to hundreds of charities and community organisations.

Through our specialist programmes, our impact on the lives of residents is huge. We match volunteers to housebound residents to help them engage with communities and leave their homes; we provide long term personalised support to people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities to help them volunteer and find paid jobs; we support patients to deliver hundreds of their own activities and peer support groups at GP practices across City and Hackney; and in partnership with Public Health, we support over 250 Community Health Champions to share vital health messaging with their own diverse communities.  

This is a hands-on and strategic role for an experienced fundraiser who thrives in a small to medium sized charity environment. You will have autonomy to develop a whole new fundraising strategy, utilising diverse fundraising methods, and building and developing new project ideas and partnerships. You will lead on income generation primarily through sourcing and applying to multiple trusts and foundations, but diversified by building new corporate partnerships, community campaigns and individual giving. You will build authentic relationships with funders and supporters, and together with VCH colleagues, will identify new programme models as ways to generate income. You will contribute to the development and production of compelling stories, evidence and marketing and build and maintain the infrastructure needed to track and achieve progress against annual income targets.

Post holders need to have excellent communication skills, to represent the charity in writing and in person. You must be enthusiastic, self-motivating and confident to work primarily alone, but also able to engage and collaborate with staff from across the organisation to share information and impact evidence to support your role. If you are successful in securing funding there will be the potential to recruit additional support, and for you to become the Head of Fundraising of a small team.

Is this position right for you?
We’re seeking a Fundraising Officer to support the growth of all our programmes, services, and campaigns. Primarily working on a new area of trusts and foundations fundraising, including researching prospects. You will be responsible for making grant applications and updating funders, as well as providing overall support to the wider fundraising team at Humanists UK.

Are you an early-career fundraiser with some experience of working in the trusts and foundations sector, either for a charity or as a funder? Are you looking for your next big move and a new role that you can really get your teeth into? Do you want to grow your skillset while taking ownership of exciting projects? If so, this could be the role for you.

What you'll be doing

You'll be part of the Advancing Humanism Directorate. You'll work with our Head of Fundraising, Jess, as well as working closely with our Director of Advancing Humanism, Liam, and other members of the Communications and Marketing team.

The fundraising team is responsible for income generation including donors, campaigns, grants, and exploring new ways we can sustain and grow our fundraising. This includes planning and leading giving campaigns; donor and funder stewardship (working with the Chief Executive’s Office); developing and maintaining an income pipeline; and identifying new opportunities to diversify our income streams.

Key Tasks & Activities

Implementing and further developing Humanists UK’s grants, trusts, and foundations fundraising strategy, with key tasks including:

• Researching new funding prospects

• Maintaining and growing our funding pipeline.

• Supporting colleagues across the organisation to develop, bid for, and report on appropriate projects for funding

• Writing clear and compelling funding bids, proposals, and appeals, and produce timely, high-quality reports for funders

• Maintaining accurate records of applications, reporting schedules, project milestones, and grant income using the charity’s CRM system.

• Working with the finance team to make sure grants are administered efficiently and all income is accurately recorded

• Monitoring progress against targets, providing regular updates and income reports to the Head of Fundraising

• Supporting continuous improvement by maintaining effective systems for tracking and evaluating trust fundraising activity

• Keeping informed about developments and sector trends in fundraising

As a successful candidate

You will have strong organisational skills and be confident managing a varied workload, balancing application and reporting deadlines with funder stewardship and pipeline development needs.

You will also be a proactive and supportive team player and a self-starter. We are a small team who manage our own work, but value coming together to share ideas, support one another, and take creative risks.

The Stuart Low Trust (SLT) is a well-respected and award-winning charity based in Islington supporting people who experience mental health issues and socially isolated.SLT was created to be radically different from other mental health charities – uniquely accessible, inclusive and community-embedded. You will be joining a small friendly team, where we care about staff wellbeing.We believe in trusting the expertise of our staff and giving them the freedom to thrive with regular help on hand when needed. 

We support over 500 adults per year through social groups -creative arts, nature-based activities, wellbeing workshops and peer support.90% of participants report improved mental health and wellbeing. 

Why Join Us?  
This is an opportunity to play an important role in a small but impactful charity.  Your work will directly enable adults experiencing isolation to access safe, creative and life-affirming activities. Perfect for someone who thrives in a small charity where you can see the impact of your work every week. 

Who we are seeking 
We are seeking a Fundraising Manager, who enjoys writing grant applications and building strong relationships with supporters. Working closely with the Chief Executive, you will have a primary focus working on our trusts and foundations pipeline, while generating around 10% of total income from other sources. We are realistic what is possible in 21 hours per week! 

We are seeking a fundraiser who combines: 

• A strong track record securing trust and foundation income 
• Excellent bid-writing skills 
• Experience generating income beyond trusts (corporate, community or individual) 
• Comfortable working autonomously in a small team 
• Experience in a mental health organisation or small charity is desirable but not essential.

Summary role description 

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you will: 

Lead Trusts and Foundations Income 

• Develop a pipeline of grant funders to apply to. 
• Write compelling, high-quality applications.. 
• Deepen funder relationships to secure repeat grants. 

Raise income from other sources 

Work with the Chief Executive to generate income from other sources with a realistic and achievable target of 10% total income via:

• Corporate partnerships in Islington, King’s Cross tech, creative industries and the City. 
• Community and individual giving, especially among affluent local residents. 

Build sustainable systems to support fundraising 

• ​Strengthen stewardship journeys including donor tracking systems and explore use of AI tools. 
• Contribute to fundraising communications and our profile-building. 

Why this Role is Different 
You will be stepping into an organisation in a strong position to build on: 

• Multi-year funding security (63% of next year’s income already secured through multi-year grants, 4 months’ free reserves, annual income circa £250k). 
• Trusted funders include City Bridge Foundation, Garfield Weston, Sport England and leading City Livery Companies. 
• Strategic Plan 2024–28 with clear goals. 
• Excellent impact measurement systems. 
• A highly experienced Chief Executive with 30 years in the charity sector. 
• A collaborative and supportive team, who understand fundraising is everyone’s responsibility. 

What You’ll Gain 

• Real autonomy and ownership 
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Occupational pension scheme 
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
• Access to training and development opportunities 
• Supportive management culture 
• A genuinely collaborative, values-led culture 

Location
Based at Jean Stokes Community Centre, Islington (5 minutes by bus from King’s Cross) 

Application instructions
Please note, while we appreciate the value of AI tools, we strongly prefer that applicants prepare their supporting statements for this purpose with minimal use of AI.This helps us to better understand your authentic voice, skills and motivation for this role.Thank you. 

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and two satisfactory references. 

We are embrace diversity, equality of opportunity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team that represents are variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills.The more inclusive we are, the more we can achieve. 

Deadline for applications: Sunday, 5th April 2026 at 12midnight
Interviews: Monday, 20th April 2026 
Estimated Start:June/July 2026 

If you seek a fresh and rewarding challenge, look no further than Open Country! Seeking to help disabled people to access and enjoy the countryside, we embrace a wide range of fundraising methods, so this role could be adapted to suit either full-time or part-time work. We are also able to cater for your particular skill set, though core duties would likely include: 

• Researching and writing grant applications to charitable trusts, grant-making bodies and other funders.
• Developing and delivering new and imaginative community fundraising activities.
• Encouraging appropriate corporate sponsorship and fundraising.
• Developing and delivering Open Country fundraising events and third-party events.

This is a hands-on, dynamic role requiring creativity, insight and panache, coupled with great communication and relationship-building skills.

You will work collaboratively with our Finance and Fundraising Manager at our Head Office in Harrogate, though an element of home working can be considered.

Appointment to this post is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check. 

Head of Fundraising (Part-Time, 3 days/week)

Hybrid – Vauxhall, London | £47,342 (pro rata)

1-year FTC | Start ASAP

Join the UK’s leading personal safety charity and play a pivotal role in protecting lives.

Suzy Lamplugh Trust is looking for a strategic and relationship-driven Head of Fundraising to lead our income generation across trusts, foundations and statutory funders. This role is perfect for someone who wants autonomy, impact, and the chance to shape sustainable growth for a mission-driven organisation.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and deliver our fundraising strategy
• Build a strong pipeline of trusts, foundations & statutory funders
• Craft compelling bids
• Lead excellent stewardship and funder relationships
• Work across teams to align opportunities and organisational needs

What We’re Looking For

• Proven fundraising success, including significant grants
• Strong writing and relationship-building skills
• Experience managing fundraising pipelines and reporting
• Highly organised, collaborative and mission-aligned

Why Join Us?

Your work directly supports victims of stalking, advances national safety initiatives, and influences policy that protects millions.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the essential criteria.

The Trusts and Foundations (T&F) Officer is an integral part of the Philanthropy team, managing relationships with high value supporters. They are responsible for a portfolio of approximately 40-50 Trusts and Foundations donors, primarily giving between £25k-£100k, but also with the potential to include those giving below and above that level, to support with team capacity and best stewardship. The Trusts and Foundations (T&F) Officer will build strong and strategic relationships with donors, ensuring continued support of MSF.

They are also responsible for seeking and securing new funding from prospective trusts and foundations at the £25k-£100k level. Their overall focus is on delivering stable, new and increased income for MSF's work, and feeding into the  Philanthropy team strategy around the retention and acquisition of new trust donors. 

SMART CJS – Trust and Foundations Bid Writer

Role Overview

Are you committed to supporting people who are homeless or rough sleeping?

Are you proactive with a positive attitude?

Job Title: Trust and Foundations Bid Writer (with some responsibility for corporate fundraising)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Working from our office in central Bedford, with some provision for remote working.

About SMART CJS

Founded in 1997, we are a charity that provides safe spaces for people who are facing or experiencing homelessness, are rough sleeping or have fallen on tough times. As times have changed, our services have adapted and grown, but we’ve always kept the people we support at the centre of all that we do. We believe that everyone needs a little help sometimes and, with trust, respect and honesty, people can make incredible changes. Our vision is to transform communities so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential, participate in and contribute to all aspects of life. Our mission is to provide safe spaces to work with vulnerable people within our communities, empowering them to make positive changes and take control of their lives.

Why Join Us?

We believe in diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Benefits include:

• 27 days Annual Leave (rising to 30 after 3 years) + Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Generous Pension scheme (after successfully completing a probation period)
• Excellent Development and Growth Opportunities
• Access to a Charity Worker Discount scheme
• Access to the company health and wellbeing service including support with mental health, legal advice and more
• Access to an online GP service

We require all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This job description will be supplemented by annual objectives which will be developed in conjunction with the post holder.

The Role

SMART CJS is looking to recruit a Trusts and Foundations Bid Writer. The successful candidate will also have some responsibility for corporate fundraising with businesses based in Bedford and beyond; this responsibility will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

The main responsibility, though, will be to generate income by writing bids to charitable trusts and foundations, and to statutory funders.

The role will include researching and identifying charity trusts and similar bodies which are able to make an award to SMART. It will also include keeping abreast of developments in fundraising in the charity sector as a whole, especially in the field of grant awarding and, to a lesser extent, of corporate giving.

There will be a probationary period for the role. As it generally takes six months for a grant to be awarded (though some arrive more quickly), the probationary period will need to be for a minimum of seven months, though its precise duration can be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Training will be given; the scope of the training will depend on the candidate’s previous experience.

This is an exciting opportunity to join SMART’s friendly and dedicated team. You’ll need to be able to manage your time effectively; the role is primarily self-directed. We envisage that you’ll be working primarily from our offices in Prebend Street, Bedford, though you'll be able to work from home for some of the time as well. Given the nature of our work, personal resilience is important; some of the stories we use when applying for funding can be emotionally challenging.

Our fundraising comes from regular gifts, donations from the community (individuals and groups), and corporate bodies (businesses). The majority of our fundraising income comes from grants. There will be a realistic target for the amount you need to raise; this will reflect the performance for grant applications in the charity sector as a whole and it will not be unrealistic. Fundraising is not an exact science; the assessment of performance against the targets will be fair and reasonable. The final responsibility for SMART’s fundraising rests with the trustees; they appreciate and understand the complexity of the issues involved.

Main Purpose of the Role

You will work closely with the CEO, the Chair of Trustees, the Head of Business and the fundraising team. The post involves gathering information, writing the bids, tracking the progress of submissions, and reporting back to grant awarders on how their money has been spent, if they require this.

There will also be a responsibility for corporate fundraising. This will involve building relationships with businesses in and beyond the Bedford area. The responsibility for this will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising and Bid Writing

• Research and identify suitable grant and funding opportunities from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies.
• Write and submit high-quality funding applications and proposals in line with SMART’s strategic priorities.
• Work collaboratively with service leads and front line teams to gather accurate, up-to-date data and service information for applications.
• Tailor the applications to the funder’s criteria, using storytelling effectively.
• Manage a pipeline of applications and submissions, ensuring deadlines are met and income targets are tracked.
• Maintain and build relationships with key funders, providing timely reports and updates on grant-funded work.
• Work to realistic targets and be able to provide feedback on these.
• Organisational Development and Support
• Contribute to the strategic development of SMART’s income generation plans.
• Support development of strong internal bid and grant management systems.
• Monitor success rates and provide monthly reporting on funding performance to the Head of Business and to the Chair of Trustees.
• Represent SMART CJS at funding briefings, webinars, and networking opportunities where appropriate.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in SMART’s performance management and appraisal process.
• Attend the monthly meetings of the Fundraising Committee (a sub‑committee of the Board of Trustees).
• Comply with health and safety policies and procedures.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as required by the CEO, the Head of Business or the Chair of Trustees.

Person Specification

Whether you’re already an experienced bid-writer, or whether you think this is something that you could learn to do effectively, we’d like to hear from you. You need to have excellent skills in written English and be able to write in prose that’s clear and readily understandable to the general reader. The criteria for each grant awarder are different; you need to be able to match your bid to what they would like to fund (homelessness, mental health, relief of poverty, women’s issues and so on). You need, then, to tell SMART’s story in a way which appeals to each funder.

You need to have excellent inter-personal skills and be able to work as part of a team. While there is a strong element of self-direction in the role, you need to be able to work closely with senior management and also with the trustees; the trustees have the final responsibility for fundraising in the charity.

You will need, too, to have a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to have a genuine interest in homelessness and the work of the charity, and a commitment to improving our clients’ lives and wellbeing.

Does this sound like you?

If you love being outdoors, enjoy talking to people and have amazing organisation skills, then our Events Fundraising Officer role is for you. Each year, almost 1,000 people take part in a Youth Adventure Challenge Event. We are looking for a dynamic Events Fundraising Officer to help recruit and support our fundraisers, assist with the organisation of events and help us to develop this significant income stream.

Working alongside the Challenge Events Manager, the Events Fundraising Officer is instrumental in every step of delivering well-managed, fun and safe events for our corporate partners and event participants, as well as ensuring the fundraising success of each event.

Excellent communication and people skills will be essential as you will play a key role in building up relationships with the clients, the participants and their supporters. Furthermore, you will be involved in the whole process of event organisation, including developing the event, preparing the resources, helping with logistics, maintaining accurate records, reporting and banking and thanking. 

The Fundraising Officer must be self-motivated, well organised, able to multi-task, a strong administrator, a fantastic team player, have excellent inter-personal skills and enjoy being outdoors.  Paid or voluntary experience in a fundraising environment is essential.  This is a great opportunity for somebody looking to take the next step in their career, with plenty of scope to develop your skills and experience within a supportive team. Whilst the role is home-based you must live in the South West to ensure easy access for in-person meetings.

The Charity

At the Youth Adventure Trust, we use outdoor adventure to empower vulnerable young people from Swindon, Wiltshire and Somerset to fulfil their potential and lead positive lives in the future. We work with them to build resilience, develop confidence and learn skills that will last a lifetime, helping them to face the challenges in their lives. Dedicated support, guidance and mentoring from our staff and volunteers ensures young people receive the maximum benefit from our long-term intervention. Our aim is to make a lasting improvement to the lives of vulnerable young people. All our services are provided completely free of charge to the young people who are nominated by schools and other youth organisations to take part.

We’re proud to offer our programmes completely free of charge to participants which means the fundraising team is crucial. With ambitious plans to help more young people over the coming years, our Events Fundraising Officer role is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference. You’ll be well-supported as part of a small fundraising team with a big heart, with plenty of opportunities to visit our programmes and see the tangible impact of your work.

Safer Recruitment

The Youth Adventure Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and requires all employees to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance. 

Location: 89 Addison Road, London, W14 8BZ, and other Trust sites across London

Contract Type: Full time, all year round

Salary: £31,980-£33,870

Start Date: As soon as possible

About the Role

Working closely with the Development Manager and the Development Director, you will play a key role in strengthening relationships with the Trust’s communities, supporting fundraising initiatives and delivering engaging communications and events that foster lifelong connections with the Trust and its schools.

Key Responsibilities

• Build meaningful relationships across school communities and alumni networks, bringing people together and inspiring them to support the Trust’s vision
• Lead creative fundraising and engagement initiatives, from community campaigns to reunions and events, helping to drive a vibrant culture of giving
• Boost the Trust’s growth and sustainability by supporting data‑driven fundraising, managing donor stewardship, maintaining accurate customer relationship management (CRM) records, and contributing to strong grant proposals

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate will be:

• A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal and writing skills who can engage a vast range of stakeholders
• Experienced in relationship management, fundraising or engagement
• Organised, detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Skilled in using CRM systems and digital communication tools
• Passionate about education and community building
• A team player with a proactive and positive approach

About the Trust

The Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust is a growing family of Catholic schools (primary, secondary and post-16), a registered charity and a trading company committed to providing an outstanding education rooted in faith, aspiration and service.

Our Shared Services Team provides high-quality professional and operational support across the Trust, enabling schools to focus on teaching, learning and pastoral care.

What We Offer

• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• Opportunities for training and development to help you grow in your career
• The chance to contribute to a trust committed to delivering high-quality education and supporting staff wellbeing
• Hybrid working during school holidays
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme and generous holiday entitlement

How to Apply

For further details on the role, please view the Job Description and Person Specification or visit our website to find out more about us.

To apply for this role, please complete the application forms available on our Vacancies webpage. Applications should be sent via email.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for interview upon receipt of application, therefore we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

The Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All roles are subject to satisfactory vetting, including an Enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List.

The posts below are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended 2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs, certain spent convictions and cautions are protected and they do not need to be disclosed to employers. If they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account.  Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website and further information about filtering offences can be found in DBS filtering guide.

Join us in our mission to cultivate an educational environment that inspires growth, respect and academic achievement!