Institutional funding officer volunteer roles
About FirstGens
FirstGens is a UK-based startup social enterprise on a mission to reduce the educational outcomes gaps in higher education by providing information and guidance to undergraduates who are the first person in their family to pursue university. Supporting students to complete their education through our royal award-winning Navigating University Programme and staff training.
As we grow our impact, we seek to secure funding from trusts, foundations, philanthropists and private donors. To support efforts as a new organisation, we’re looking for a dedicated Grant & Application Review Advisor to strengthen our application review process and ensure strategic and compelling submissions.
Role Purpose
The Grant & Application Review Advisor will be responsible for reviewing written funding applications prior to submission on a monthly basis. This role ensures that all applications align with FirstGens’ strategic priorities, meet funder requirements and present a strong case for support. The individual will serve as a senior‐level reviewer, bringing social enterprise fundraising experience and constructive feedback, acting as a quality gate for our submissions.
Key Responsibilities
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On a monthly basis, review draft funding applications (typically trusts, foundations).
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Using Google Docs comment section to provide detailed feedback on content, structure, logic, alignment with funder criteria tone and clarity.
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Ensure each application:
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Reflects FirstGens’ mission, strategic model and impact evidence (e.g., our programmes and research on first-generation student success)
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Is tailored to the funder’s priorities and questions
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Presents a compelling and coherent narrative, with clear outcomes, activities, budget alignment and measurement of impact
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Is free of errors, is consistent in style and voice, and meets all submission guidelines (including deadlines, formats and attachments)
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Work collaboratively with the CEO and finance coordinator, to ensure alignment between narrative, budget and monitoring plans.
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Act as a senior quality assurance resource: challenging assumptions, raising questions, suggesting strengthening of logic or evidence and proposing ways to sharpen the “ask” and the case for support.
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Advise on any gaps in our fundraising process to help us strengthen operations. For exmaple, suggesting the creation of application templates, standard content libraries (e.g., organisational overview, impact statistics, case studies) and “lessons learnt” logs to improve future bids.
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Strategic oversight for quarterly grant applications. Checking in with CEO on a quarterly basis to discuss upcoming grants.
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Help CEO to build quarterly reports to Directors on the health of the application pipeline, quality issues identified and improvements made.
Essential Qualifications & Experience
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Proven senior experience (minimum 5 years) in reviewing or leading grant applications for non-profit organisations (preferably UK funders).
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Expertise in grant writing and submission processes, including trusts and foundations
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Strong demonstrable track record of successful funding applications or as reviewer of such.
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Strong organisational skills: able to manage multiple deadlines, work to a calendar of monthly reviews and ensure timely feedback loops.
Desirable Experience
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Experience in private donor and philanthropic giving (high-net-worth individuals, family offices) as well as institutional funders.
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Experience working with social-mobility, higher-education access, student support or widening participation organisations.
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Experience building standardised application toolkits, content libraries and “bid review” processes for an organisation.
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Experience in working with budget alignment, monitoring & evaluation logic and impact measurement frameworks within funding applications.
Working Arrangements
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Flexible, remote working
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This role will start immediately; initial period will involve review cycle for upcoming submissions, followed by ongoing monthly reviews.
Our Values/ Ways of working together
We strive for inclusivity, honesty, transparency and positive wellbeing to create an innovative and collaborative team environment.
Recruitment Process Options
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Interview formats include in-person for Bristol based applicants, video conferencing, phone interviews) to accommodate any needs.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV, a cover letter highlighting your relevant senior grant application experience, and one recent example of an application you have reviewed or led (or a summary thereof). In your cover letter, please outline your experience with monthly application review cycles (or equivalent) and any philanthropic/private donor experience.
Why join FirstGens?
Education has the power to transform people’s lives. You’ll join an innovative startup organisation, making real, measurable change for first-generation university students across the UK. You’ll be supporting young people to complete their education with confidence and turn their dreams into realities. Your role will be pivotal in securing the social funding that enables us to deliver on our first 3 year strategy.
Please submit your CV, a cover letter highlighting your relevant senior grant application experience, and one recent example of an application you have reviewed or led (or a summary thereof). In your cover letter, please outline your experience with monthly application review cycles (or equivalent) and any philanthropic/private donor experience.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
CAFOD Advisor Recruitment - Strategy Performance Committee (SPC)
Role
Committee member, providing expert fundraising expertise to this Committee of the Board, alongside Trustees and other expert advisors. The SPC exercises governance activities on behalf of the Board and provides recommendations to the Board. The remit of the SPC covers CAFOD’s strategy to recruit and engage donors and supporters, and its global programmatic work, so covers both CAFOD’s international activities as well as the work within the Catholic Community in England and Wales.
Essential Criteria
- Professional fundraising expert with experience in the Charity sector
- Experience of multiple income portfolio management and strategy - particularly fundraising from the public (individual giving, legacy fundraising, community fundraising, major donor engagement etc.)
- Respect for the goals, ethos and culture of CAFOD
Advantageous
- An understanding of fundraising in a faith context
- Familiarity with Fundraising Regulator best practice & or a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising
- Knowledge of fundraising for international causes
Time commitment
- Four half-day meetings a year, currently two at CAFOD HQ, Romero House, London and two online.
- Some preparatory reading time is required before meetings
- No specific minimum term but a commitment to give approximately 2-3 years would be preferable.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales tackling poverty and injustice across the world.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for a finance professional to join our engaged and friendly board as Treasurer, with specific oversight of the charity’s financial management. While day-to-day financial administration is carried out by employees or external providers, the Treasurer works closely with them and the Board to ensure sound financial governance. The Treasurer provides financial leadership, helps trustees understand the organisation’s finances, and ensures that the charity meets its financial and statutory obligations.
You will have a qualification in Financial Management, Accounting, or Audit, or perhaps be a senior Finance Manager or Director in a charity. We welcome applications from people for whom this is their first Treasurer role, but we are seeking candiates who have some understanding and/or experience of the charity sector. We are willing to provide access to training around the treasurer role, but a basic knowledge of charity accounting and financial management would be a strong advantage.
You will have the ability to communicate financial information clearly to those without financial expertise and be a strategic thinker, with the ability to balance financial scrutiny with broader trustee responsibilities.
Our board meet once a month (either virtually or in person in London) for around 90 minutes. We aim to have strategy days twice a year. You will meet with the CEO and Finance Manager once a month, and be available for ad hoc emails, advice. Trustees are usually appointed for a three-year term, which can usually be extended.
You will also bring a commitment to the values, aims, and objectives of the charity, and a desire to help children and young people who have experienced grief.
Registered Charity
1 - 5
Our mission is to provide early intervention to help young people everywhere feel less alone when their world is turned upside down.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.