Grants Officer

Our client is an independent, Lambeth-based, grant-making foundation and charity with roots from the early 17th century.  Their work aims to break cycles of financial deprivation for people living in Lambeth by awarding grants to individuals, organisations and community groups.  The charity's grant-making is primarily focused on improving education and employment opportunities of young Lambeth residents from low-income backgrounds.  This is an exciting time to join the organisation which is in the early stages of an evolving strategic review.

Prospectus is delighted to be working with this foundation in their search for a Grants Officer, who will support the Head of Grants and the wider team in the development of a place-based grants strategy. This is a full-time, permanent position based in Lambeth, London (Hybrid working – 2 days from home 3 days in the office).

The role:

This role will work across all of the foundation's grant-making activities including assessing and administering grant applications from individuals, working with organisations to develop effective and appropriate reporting and supporting the development of new streams of work.  The role requires contact with applicants (initially via email and telephone) and will involve monitoring & evaluation, project development and administration process management, in addition to contributing ideas towards planning new initiatives and keeping abreast of trends and issues facing the voluntary sector, both nationally and in the Lambeth area.

The work requires outstanding attention to detail and effective time management. The post holder will also undertake assessments in relation to grants to organisations, and other grant-making duties and functions as required by the Head of Grants.  The post will sit alongside an existing team of three who also undertake multiple roles to ensure the foundation's grant-making is consistent, focussed and effective.

The person:

This person will have a high level of intellectual and analytical ability, this could be evidenced by having studied to degree level, a professional qualification of some kind or having worked at a comparable level of complexity in a professional office-based environment. They will have a solid understanding of the issues facing young people (18 to 30) from low-income backgrounds and will have the ability to present clear written assessment reports, making recommendations and decisions and the ability to think strategically as well as practically, to ensure the foundation is living its values.  They will have excellent attention to detail and will be an effective time manager.  Ideally, this person will have experience of Salesforce database or similar and possibly have a local knowledge of Lambeth and the surrounding areas.

IT competent, numerate, and highly organised, this person will have experience of grant-making or at least an understanding of its principles, hopefully a knowledge of the welfare and benefits framework and will be fully appreciative of the issues raised in a multi-cultural setting and an understanding of and a commitment to, issues of diversity and equality. Above all this person will recognise the importance and value of the work of the charity and will be fully committed to bringing everything they have to the table, in supporting and driving forward the charitable aims and objectives of the organisation, whilst contributing to a happy, proactive and collaborative team working environment.

This role represents a superb opportunity for someone with great experience of community based positions who would like to see the systems they’re working in from a different perspective or for someone who has been predominantly office based who would like to spend time with a wide range of different people in the community.