Fundraising & Grants Officer

Old House Project © Daniel Bridge

JOB DESCRIPTION

Fundraising & Grants Officer

Location: 37 Spital Square, London E1
(with some homeworking by agreement)

Hours: Full-time (1.FTE)

Term: Permanent

Salary: £30,000

Deadline: 5pm, Monday 9 March 2026

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
www.spab.org.uk | @spab1877

About Us

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)
gives old buildings a future.

We help people to look after old buildings, making them fit
for the future while keeping their historic character.  We
do this through casework, technical research and advice,
education and training, awards, outreach and events across
the UK and Ireland.

Our work is underpinned by a conservation philosophy
that encourages people to preserve historic fabric. The
SPAB Approach provides a well-tested basis for practical
decision-making in building conservation. We also
encourage excellence in new design to enrich and
complement the built historic environment.

Founded in 1877 by William Morris and his fellow
campaigners, the SPAB continues to advocate for old
buildings almost 150 years later.

Casework

Technical &
Research

Engagement

Trustees &
Guardians

Chief Executive
Officer

Education &
Training

Communications

Operations

Income
& Operations

Fundraising

SPAB Scotland

Membership

SPAB Ireland

Mills Section

About the Role

The Role

The Fundraising & Grants Officer is a key role within the
Society to deliver and grow income from trusts, foundations,
statutory funders, and legacies, playing a key operational role
to support the fundraising function.

The postholder will manage funding applications end-to-end,
administer legacy income sensitively and accurately, and
contribute to the charity’s overall fundraising activity.

The successful candidate will have previous experience
securing funds from multiple sources, as well as excellent
writing skills, and a keen interest in the heritage sector and
the Vision, Mission and Values of SPAB.

© SPAB

What You'll Do

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Trusts & Grants Fundraising

• Research, develop, and submit high-quality funding applications to trusts,

foundations, and statutory funders

Salary: £30,000
+ 5% employer’s pension contribution

Hours: 40 hours per week

Term: Permanent

Location: Spitalfields, London, E1,
with homeworking available

• Manage the full grants lifecycle, from prospect research through application,

Reports to: Income & Operations Director

reporting, and stewardship

• Maintain a clear pipeline of funding opportunities and deadlines
• Track and report on grant income, outcomes, and success rates.

Line management: None

Team: Income & Operations

Legacy Fundraising & Administration

• Act as the main contact for legacy enquiries and notifications, handling all

communications sensitively

• Administer legacy cases from notification to receipt, liaising with solicitors,

executors, and internal colleagues

• Maintain accurate records of legacy pledges, estates, and income
•

Ensure timely acknowledgements and appropriate stewardship of legacy
supporters
Support low-level legacy marketing activity (e.g. website content, leaflets, or
supporter communications), where appropriate

•

Equal Opportunities

We particularly welcome applications from people
with backgrounds underrepresented
in building conservation.

Anything we can do to make this role or application
process more accessible for you? Please email
recruitment@spab.org.uk.

What You'll Do

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Supporter & Funder Stewardship

• Build and maintain positive relationships with funders, legacy supporters,

and professional advisers

• Provide clear, timely updates and impact information
• Represent the charity professionally in meetings, calls, and

correspondence.

Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues/programme delivery staff to gather

information, budgets, and outcomes for funding applications and reports
Ensure accurate income recording and compliance

•
• Contribute to fundraising planning and income forecasting
• Provide occasional support to other fundraising activity as required.

Administration, Compliance & Systems

• Maintain accurate records on the CRM and legacy tracking systems
•
Ensure compliance with funding agreements, GDPR, and fundraising
regulations

• Contribute to internal reporting and audits as required.

© SPAB

What You'll Do

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Other duties

• Manage the centralised ‘Development’ email inbox
• Attend and contribute at staff meetings and Advocacy Committee

meetings
Ensure fundraising activity is aligned to the SPAB’s organisational strategy

•
• Maintain awareness of the built heritage sector
• Work in line with the Code of Fundraising Practise
• Undertake other duties as may from time-to-time be required as

requested by the Line Manager.

© SPAB

About You

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Experience

• Background of trusts and grants fundraising within the UK charity sector
•
•

Strong grant-writing skills
Experience in legacy fundraising and/or donor stewardship (or strong
transferable skills)

• High level of organisation and attention to detail.

Knowledge & Skills

• Understanding of fundraising legislation, GDPR, and ethical fundraising

•

standards (eg Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice).
Excellent written communication skills — ability to write persuasive
funding proposals and donor communications
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

•
• Confidence working independently and managing multiple priorities
• Competent in using CRM or fundraising databases.

© Rachel Stoplar

© Iain Boyd

About You

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Personal

• A collaborative team player with a positive, solution-focused attitude
• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Experience
•

Securing and managing legacy gifts, including writing legacy materials
and promoting gifts in wills.

• Working with corporate partners or major donors.

Knowledge & Skills

• Understanding of the UK charity sector and fundraising regulations
• Understanding of probate and legacy administration processes.
•
Strong data analysis and reporting skills (Excel, fundraising
dashboards).

© Hannah Bass

What We Offer

•

21 days annual leave per annum, plus a generous Christmas
closure period and UK bank holidays.

• A contributory pension scheme through the Pensions Trust,

with a contribution of 5% of gross salary for those that opt in.
• A flexible working policy, whereby you can work the hours that
suit you from a location that suits you, as agreed with your line
manager.

• A TOIL policy, whereby you can reclaim any additional hours for

•

occasional evening and weekend work.
Involvement in and attendance at SPAB events, including
Working Parties, and wider heritage sector events.

Get in Touch

Any questions about the role before you apply? Please email Richard Mullis, Director of
Income & Operations, at Richard.Mullis@spab.org.uk.

Need any adjustments in order to apply or attend an interview? Please email
recruitment@spab.org.uk.

How to Apply

Please submit a CV (maximum
two pages) and a covering
letter (maximum two
pages).Your covering letter
should clearly explain why you
believe you are well suited to
the role.

Send your application to
recruitment@spab.org.uk by
5pm, Monday 9 March 2026

Interviews will be held at
37 Spital Square, London E1 6DY

Provisional interview date:
Tuesday 17 March 2025