Trust Fundraiser

ABOUT GROUNDSWELL

Groundswell started as a project within the National Homelessness Alliance and it has evolved into where it is now supporting people experiencing homelessness to address their healthcare needs.

Our story can be understood to have 4 ‘eras’ with our early days focusing on direct action and campaigning, moving to delivering Service User Involvement and Peer Research, becoming a support service provider ourselves and now growing our health focused research and services across the UK.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for an experienced Trust Fundraiser with a background in securing income from charitable trusts and foundations to join our team to help Groundswell continue to create positive change in the lives of people, services and systems on their mission to tackle homeless health inequalities.

Recently kicking off our new ‘Creating Positive Change’ strategy, co produced by over 130 staff, volunteers, clients and partners, we have ambitious plans and a compelling model which in its simplest form promotes healthier lives and a better future for anyone who has experienced homelessness.

The successful post holder will have experience in leading the development of well-written, compelling proposals and reports to charitable trusts and corporate foundations; demonstrating key relationship management skills to ensure all our funders feel part of Groundswell’s mission.

You will be a flexible worker with strong organisational, research and written communication skills. You will pride yourself in collaborative working to ensure the most successful chance of securing income, whilst being a self-starter who can manage their own workload effectively.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE

Income generation

• Generate voluntary income from charitable trusts and corporate foundations.
• Produce well-written, effective funding applications, tenders, proposals and cases for support to meet the relevant criteria.
• Use effective time-management to meet application deadlines.
• Attending meetings and pitches alone and/or with relevant colleagues.
• Provide ad-hoc advice/proofing to fellow colleagues generating income through commissioned sources (research, training, service delivery, consultancy).

Stewardship

• Write and keep updated a library of ‘cases for support’
• Produce well written and timely reports and updates to all funders.
• Act as the main point of contact for trust and foundation funders; offering opportunities for them to meet with us in person and attend events.

Prospecting

• Identify, research, evaluate and develop new business leads and be proactive in approaching potential new funders (predominantly trusts and foundations, but at times support with statutory research).
• To create and maintain an active process of reviewing opportunities for funding and being alert to new calls for applications.

Project management and administration

• Maintain the fundraising CRM system (Donorfy), recording all research, prospect management, approaches and communications in a timely and accurate manner.
• Work with relevant colleagues to define project need, objectives, outcomes and agree budgets.
• Work collaboratively with Groundswell colleagues to gather information (evidence, data, project plans and case studies) to inform funding applications and reports.
• Oversee the day-to-day trust fundraising administration. This includes but is not limited to recording and processing grants/donations, writing thank you letters, arranging grant agreements and liaising with finance colleagues.
• Play an active role in the monthly Development meeting, where necessary leading discussions on trust fundraising opportunities.

General

• Work with the wider fundraising and communications team to ensure all trust fundraising activity adheres to the fundraising code of practice; stay informed of updates and feed into our internal policy.
• Support the fundraising team in annual budgeting and reforecasting for trust income.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge and experience of generating income through charitable trusts and foundations.
• Demonstrable experience of writing engaging and high-quality applications, proposals and cases for support.
• Experience of securing ‘new business’ through trusts and foundations.
• Strong experience of using research to identify prospect funding sources (e.g. grant databases) to identify prospects and secure income.
• Experience of face-to-face meetings or pitches to potential funders.
• Understanding of monitoring and evaluation to drive understanding of impact and attract funding.
• Experience of defining objectives, setting outcomes and aligning with internal measurement tools.
• Excellent creative and persuasive writing skills.
• Excellent research skills with the ability to disseminate and record information.
• Exceptional organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise, work on your own initiative and to be self-motivated.
• Proactive, with the ability to seize and act on opportunities.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• A proven ability to work collaboratively within and contribute to a team.
• Experience of working with a fundraising/CRM database (Donorfy). (Desirable)
• Experience of working in a co-production and participatory environment. (Desirable)
• Strong numeracy skills, including the ability to interpret and present financial information. (Desitable)
• Personal experience of homelessness or other related issues (e.g., mental health, the criminal justice system). (Desirable)
• Good working knowledge of all Microsoft Office software including Outlook, Word, Excel and SharePoint. (Desirable)

To view the full job description, please click here –> Groundswell-Trust Fundraiser-Job Pack-April 2025

Interviews: Candidates will be notified if they have been invited to an interview by May 7th at the latest. If you have not been notified by this date, then please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Interviews will then be held online on 14th or 15th May 2025.

Location: This role can be delivered remotely, or from the office in Oval, London [or hybrid]. Travel to London will be required for meeting with current and potential funders.

Contract: Fixed term until 31st March 2026 with strong possibility of extension.