Trusts and foundations grants manager jobs

We are looking for a skilled and energetic Fundraiser to lead revenue generation at this outstanding, award-winning, international charity. Working alongside the Director, there is exceptional scope for securing the support of high net-worth individuals, regular givers and Trusts and Foundations. This is a new post and you will have an important role in shaping the future of HYT.

Please see attached the full job description below.

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

Role description:

The Senior Philanthropy Officer will play a key role in delivering ambitious income growth by securing philanthropic support from individuals, trusts and foundations, and corporate partners.

Managing a mixed portfolio of high-value prospects capable of making five-figure and above gifts and above, the postholder will cultivate, develop and steward long-term relationships as well as identify and secure new opportunities.

We are looking for a self-motivated and proactive Senior Philanthropy Officer who thrives on building strong, long-lasting relationships. You will be an excellent relationship builder, someone who is curious and able to identify opportunities to strengthen relationships, and who demonstrates resilience when working towards ambitious fundraising goals. You will convey a genuine passion for Southampton Hospitals Charity and feel confident sharing our vision and impact with others.

Main Responsibilities:

• Manage, grow and steward a mixed portfolio of individual major donors, trusts and foundations, and corporate partners capable of making five-figure gifts and above
• Identify and cultivate new high-value prospects, developing tailored engagement and solicitation strategies aligned to charity priorities
• Build strong, trusted relationships with donors, clinicians and senior hospital stakeholders to develop compelling philanthropic asks and stewardship reports
• Grow philanthropy pipeline, focusing on increasing multi-year support and improving the quality, volume and success rate of applications
• Support the Director of Income Generation and Marketing with the delivery of donor stewardship and cultivation events
• Work closely with colleagues across hospital engagement, community fundraising, legacy and in-memory giving and grants to ensure joined-up planning and delivery
• Maintain accurate records of donor engagement, pipeline activity and income forecasting using the CRM system
• Monitor trends in philanthropy, trusts and major giving, adapting approaches in response to changes in the external funding environment
• Act as a professional ambassador for Southampton Hospitals Charity, representing the organisation with credibility

Person Specification:

Knowledge and Experience

• Proven experience of securing philanthropic income at the five-figure level or above
• Experience working within a charity, NHS charity or not-for-profit organisation
• Demonstrable success in managing and developing relationships with major donors and/or trusts and foundations and/or corporate partners
• Experience of producing high-quality funding proposals, cases for support and impact reports
• Track record of managing fundraising portfolios and delivering income against targets

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate information clearly and compellingly
• Strong relationship-building skills, with confidence engaging clinicians, senior stakeholders and donors
• Outstanding organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• High attention to detail and strong project management capability
• Confident use of CRM systems and fundraising databases

Personal Qualities

• Self-motivated, proactive and able to work effectively on own initiative
• Collaborative and relationship-led, with a strong team ethos
• Professional, reliable and highly organised
• Resilient and adaptable
• Passionate about improving patient outcomes and supporting NHS staff

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.

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. 

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

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

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

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Trust and Foundation Funding Development

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

Programmes Liaison

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

Additional Responsibilities

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

Additional Information

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

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

Disability Confident Committed Employer

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

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

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

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We’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.

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.

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

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.

About us

Wood Street Mission is a children’s charity helping children and families impacted by poverty in Manchester and Salford. 

We provide practical help to help meet children’s day-to-day needs and improve their life chances. We give clothes, bedding and baby equipment to struggling families, along with toys and books which are important for children’s wellbeing and development.

We support engagement in education by helping families with the costs of school uniform and run Book Roadshow events in schools to promote reading and improve children’s literacy. We work to raise awareness about child poverty and help thousands of children and their families every year.

We are looking to recruit a Grants and Trusts Fundraiser to join our growing team, as we take Wood Street Mission to the next level. You will be responsible for managing and delivering our Grants and Trusts income stream, developing long-term relationships with funders, and building on our small but successful track record. The Grants and Trusts Fundraiser is a pivotal role in helping us to accelerate our growth even further so we can help more children to thrive free from poverty.

The role is flexible between the office in Manchester and working from home.

Purpose of post

As the Grants and Trusts Fundraiser, you will be responsible for securing grants of varying sizes, translating the charity’s work across our five projects into compelling, high-quality applications for a range of audiences. Working collaboratively with the wider charity team, you will have a hands-on role in understanding our projects to ensure you can authentically convey our mission and our impact to funders. 

You will provide excellent care to existing and new supporters, ensuring reporting requirements are met and that funders are kept informed of how their support has enabled the charity to continue its work.

A key responsibility will be to contribute to and develop the Grants and Trusts fundraising plan. You will work to identify, secure and develop a robust pipeline of grant funders to maximise income and enable continued growth and sustainability of Wood Street Mission’s work. 

Main duties and responsibilities

1. To contribute to and develop the Grants and Trusts fundraising plan as agreed with the Fundraising Lead, to support the charity’s strategy

2. Meet agreed key performance indicators and to monitor and report on these targets

3. To keep up to date with funding policies and grant giving organisation news to inform the fundraising plan

4. To work closely with the Fundraising Lead and other members of the team to ensure a coordinated approach and excellent level of care for supporters, through appropriate and engaging communication methods

5. To research and develop new funders to support the achievement of fundraising targets

6. Frequently report on progress of Grants and Trusts fundraising to the Fundraising Lead

7. Work with the wider charity team to build a bank of individual stories and information for each of the five projects, to develop a Case for Support which can be adapted to different audiences

8. To work with the Fundraising Lead and the charity team to carry out a Full Cost Recovery exercise across all five projects, to provide a clear overview of the charity’s income and expenditure budget

9. Write comprehensive and persuasive applications to funders and prepare tailored presentations for a range of supporters

10. Build, nurture and account manage relationships with grant giving organisations, providing impact assessments, case studies and progress reports as required

11. Implement an effective stewardship process to maximise income and encourage long-term support, so funders feel appreciated and understand how their support has made an impact

12. Ensure grants are acknowledged promptly and reporting requirements are met within agreed timescales

13. To work alongside colleagues within the charity to identify potential grant funding opportunities and potential cross team working opportunities to ensure the charity maximises income across all income streams

14. Maintain up-to-date and accurate funder and volunteer records on the Beacon database, and to input data, donations and consent preferences, ensuring all data processing is GDPR compliant

15. To provide general administrative support to the Fundraising team

16. To represent Wood Street Mission as required at special events, and to proactively seek out new funding prospects and networking opportunities

17. To act as an ambassador for Wood Street Mission and promote the charity

18. To champion the Fundraising Regulator Code of Fundraising Practice, upholding a high standard of fundraising that is legal, open, honest and respectful 

Other areas and general work duties:

1. Work collaboratively on a daily basis with the wider charity team, including the Finance, Marketing, Administration and Project Development/Worker team

2. To support a safe working environment

3. To attend and participate constructively in staff meetings, supervision and appraisal

4. To implement Wood Street Mission policies and guidelines as set out in the staff handbook

5. To undertake training to develop knowledge, skills and confidence as agreed with your manager

6. To work flexibly and undertake such other work appropriate to the post as may be assigned by your manager. If evening and weekend event work may be required TOIL can be taken.

7. Other tasks and duties relevant to the role as required by the organisation

Personal Specification

Experience:

· Experience working in a fundraising or customer care environment

· Experience of working towards targets and with a wide range of stakeholders

· Experience of writing and developing funding applications, proposals and budgets

· Experience of delivering presentations to different audiences in a variety of settings

· Experience of using a CRM for data analysis and reporting

· Success in securing high-value trust and grants (Desired)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· An excellent understanding of effective supporter care and stewardship

· A genuine interest in the issues of child poverty and an understanding of Wood Street Mission’s aims to tackle these issues

· Excellent interpersonal skills, capable of communicating with a diverse range of people with sensitivity, confidentiality and respect

· Excellent attention to detail, ability to keep clear and accurate records, and a desire to offer a high standard of service to our supporters

· Excellent organisation and time management skills, with an ability to work effectively under pressure and prioritise overlapping deadlines

· Excellent written and verbal skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with different audiences

· Excellent numeracy skills including the ability to track income, interpret accounts and present detailed financial information for supporters

· High IT proficiency with an excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Outlook and social media platforms

· Ability to work proactively and autonomously, using your own initiative to overcome challenges and problem-solve

· A good team player who can work collaboratively and alongside with the wider team and volunteers

· A self-motivated individual with a drive to achieve targets

· GCSE Level Education including Maths and English

· Excellent understanding of all aspects of fundraising and a commercial awareness of fundraising trends in the UK (Desired)

· Knowledge of charitable grant giving organisations, funding policies, data protection and fundraising best practice (Desired)

· A good working knowledge of the Code of Fundraising Practice and the Charities Act (Desired)