[Hiring] Senior Trusts Officer @Action for Children

Role Description

Action for Children aims to deliver substantial growth from our high value audience over the next five years, with the Philanthropy and Trusts Team playing a vital role in achieving that ambition, working together with other teams across fundraising.

• Work to secure significant four to six figure and multi-year donations from trusts and foundations to deliver a wide range of organisational priority projects and services.
• Contribute to the development of the trusts pipeline to support the team's growth strategy.
• Collaboratively help deliver an annual 7-figure team income target, focusing on securing significant five- and six-figure donations and multi-year funding from charitable trusts and foundations.
• Manage and grow a portfolio of trusts and foundations, including identifying, researching, and prioritising new prospects and developing tailored cultivation plans.
• Lead on developing compelling proposals, applications, and budgets for new and renewed funding, collaborating with colleagues across teams like Children’s Services and Finance.
• Ensure effective and thoughtful stewardship, including meeting grant reporting commitments to existing supporters.
• Take responsibility for ensuring that all fundraising partnerships with charitable trusts achieve their potential.
• Line manage approximately 1 direct report, utilising Action for Children policies and procedures.
• Contribute to team planning, forecasting, and performance reporting, applying fundraising best practice, data protection requirements, and Action for Children’s policies throughout your work.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of trust fundraising with a track record of initiating new relationships and securing six-figure and multi-year gifts.
• Excellent proposal and report-writing skills, producing clear, compelling, and evidence-based cases for support.
• Able to understand and critique project budgets for prospective funders and for grant reporting.
• Experience of managing funded projects and competing priorities, ensuring grant conditions, reporting deadlines, and stewardship commitments are met.
• Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to work confidently and collaboratively with funders, senior stakeholders, and colleagues.
• Experience of researching, qualifying, and prioritising prospective funders, using Raiser’s Edge or a similar fundraising CRM to maintain accurate records.
• An understanding of charitable financial information and the current fundraising landscape, as well as fundraising best practice, data protection, and inclusive working.
• A proven ability to line manage, coach, or support colleagues, setting clear objectives and helping others develop.

Benefits

• Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave pro rata and the option to buy or sell leave.
• 1 well-being day per year.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Excellent training and the opportunity to undertake professional training for some roles.
• Flexible maternity, paternity, and adoption packages.
• Up to 7% employer pension contribution and life assurance cover.
• Blue Light Card eligibility with discounts at 15,000 national retailers.

Company Description

Every child should have a loving home, food, warmth, the chance to grow and learn - the support to cope with life’s challenges. But too many children don’t. By bringing your passion and unique skills and experience, you’ll help us change that where it really matters.

We've been driven by love to take action for children for over 150 years, giving them the protection and practical help they need. A lot’s changed since 1869. But what children really need, hasn’t. So as long as children need us, we’ll be here.

It's an exciting time to join the Trusts team at Action for Children, and we are looking for collaborative, energised, and forward-thinking individuals to join our ambitious team.