Trusts and Grants Officer

The need for our services is greater than ever, with unprecedented demand across Greater Manchester. As our charity continues to grow, we’re striving to become a leading force for change, creating real opportunities for people to improve their economic well-being.

Are you the person to help us secure more funding, to enable us to reach more people across Greater Manchester? If so, we are investing in our Fundraising Team with an exciting opportunity to build on our successful Trust and Grants portfolio. Role Purpose

You will be responsible for the development and management of our Trusts and Grants pipeline, overseeing our full portfolio of funding applications.
With a total target of £500,000 per year, you will manage existing grant partners and funding agreements, as well as proactively identifying and securing new funding opportunities.

This will involve researching and then preparing, writing, and submitting a range of application types, including expressions of interest, formal letters, online forms, and detailed long-form proposals to a variety of Grant Makers, Trusts, businesses and public sector organisations.

Through training, development, and experience, you will build your knowledge and understanding of Mustard Tree’s work, our data, our community, and the impact we have.

You will to be able to use this information, staff input, previous applications, and your own style to write tailored compelling, clear, emotive, evidence-backed applications.

You will work with the Fundraising Manager to establish a strong pipeline of forecast and committed income, through securing multi-year grants, and stewarding existing funders through high quality reporting.

Main Duties:Trusts & Grants Applications

• Research, write, and submit four bids per week, including reports. (Reasonable exceptions are made based on the value, length, and complexity of applications).
• Qualify prospects, understand application requirements, and build strong relationships with organisations to maximize the chances of success.
• Work closely with the Public Sector Team to stay updated on all contracts and council partnership work, being the main point of contact for all public sector work, grants, and contracts, unless otherwise stated.
• Work closely with a variety of teams and stakeholders to develop successful bids, for example, working with the Accounts Team for budgets and spending, the Support & Services team for case studies, and Data and Analysis.
• Maintain capacity for reactive applications, based on changing needs, e.g. a suitable fund with a short deadline, or funding for a specific, immediate need, e.g. a new van.
• Provide weekly updates on targets, workload and strategy, report on your pipeline, of expected income, and work to provide accurate forecasting.
• Build resilience in the role, with the understanding that rejections are a key part of bid writing.

Reporting & Stewardship

• Create and be accountable for an accurate and comprehensive calendar of reporting deadlines, updates, and reapplication dates.
• Use this calendar to plan in and write quality reports and submit them in good time.
• Update our Pipeline Spreadsheets and our CRM with all relevant data, and updating the ‘timeline’, following communication.
• Write thank you letters, updates, and additional communications where appropriate, for example, inviting key grant contacts to our events.
• Host key contacts for meetings, brews and tours, or Teams meetings where appropriate, and attend taster/information sessions for qualification purposes.

Fundraising Teamwork

• Supporting the Fundraising Team where required, including administration, cover, and events attendance.
• Host one ‘Corporate Volunteering Day’ a week, including a morning tour and afternoon debrief.
• Support the Fundraising & Finance Teams with data entry, CRM updates, and the creation of KPI data when required.

Role Specific Person Specification:

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

Experience with long-form essay writing, and/or bid writing.

Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage with a range of stakeholders such as corporate partners, volunteers, and donors.

Organisational skills to manage multiple tasks, such as email communications and CRM management. Ability to plan and coordinate own time, managing deadlines, reporting applications, and reactive charity needs.

Resilient, maintaining positivity in overcoming challenges and managing outcomes.

A willingness to be reactive, receive feedback, and adapt work to fit changing briefs.

Proficiency in using standard office software and email platforms, with the ability to adapt to new tools. Ability to work well with others, particularly in collaboration with Fundraising, Data, Accounts, and Communications teams.

Alignment with Mustard Tree’s core values of Belief, Dignity, Opportunity, Diversity, and Partnership.

Knowledge of Trusts and Grants fundraising, and proven experience writing applications and reports. Experience of stewardship and stakeholder management.

Experience in fundraising, sales, or account management.

Experience in supporting fundraising campaigns or initiatives.

Previous experience working in a charity setting, especially in roles involving donors, stakeholders, and supporters.

General Duties:

• Work within health & safety guidelines and Mustard Tree policies and procedures.
• Support other staff and departments, occasionally providing practical relief cover for work-streams, operational areas, classes and clubs.
• Take responsibility for professional development, attending training courses as required.
• Lead by example, embodying Mustard Tree values and representing the charity as required.
• Contribute towards being an environmentally responsible organisation as part of day-to-day activities, including recycling and supporting our ‘paper-light’ practices.
• Other tasks and duties relevant to the role as required by the organisation.

What we offer in return

• Real Living Wage employer.
• Learning and development.
• Free lunch, freshly prepared by our Kitchen Training Team.
• Wellbeing support package with Smart Clinic and PerkBox.
• 25 days holiday, not including Bank Holidays, plus an extra holiday on your birthday.
• Defined contribution pension scheme.

How to apply

We are asking new applicants to please submit a cover letter outlining why you are suitable for the role, and how you meet the Person Specification.

Please apply for the role and send your supporting cover letter – including full name and which vacancy you are applying for – to recruitment@mustardtree.org.uk, alongside your CV.

We will be considering applications as they are submitted and may recruit ahead of the deadline if the right candidate is identified. Therefore, we encourage the early submission of applications.

Due to the high volume of applications, we receive, if you have not heard from us within two weeks of submitting your application, unfortunately you have not been successful on this occasion.