Trust and Grants Officer

The PKD Charity seeks a motivated and experienced grants fundraiser to drive our income growth from trusts, foundations, corporate partners, and other grant-making bodies. In this critical role, you will lead efforts to identify, research, and apply for grants, and will nurture ongoing relationships to ensure sustained and impactful support. With guidance from the CEO, you will play a key role in securing funding to expand the charity’s programs and increase our reach. 

Our mission is to improve the lives of those affected by polycystic kidney disease (PKD) through research, education, advocacy and support. PKD is one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases, affecting about 70,000 adults and children in the UK. It causes kidney failure, affects other organs, reduces life expectancy and there is currently no cure. We are dedicated to finding new treatments and helping everyone with PKD have the best life they can. 

As our Trusts and Grants Officer, you will join a dedicated team of five, working collaboratively to realise our ambitious goals. You will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a flexible, friendly, and supportive environment where teamwork and adaptability are highly valued. Working closely with the CEO, you’ll help PKD Charity achieve significant income growth through grants, fuelling the organisation’s impact. 

We value talented, enthusiastic individuals like yourself who want to be part of our mission. If you join us, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of PKD patients. This is an exciting time full of challenges and opportunities. If you're ready to join our team and help us accelerate research, provide compassionate support, and advocate for the PKD community, we encourage you to apply. Together, we can create a brighter future. 

This remote role can be worked from anywhere in the UK, ideally over 2 days Monday-Friday. The salary for the role is £29,000-£31,000 (pro rata £11,600- £12,400). 

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Identify Funding Opportunities: Research trusts, foundations, and other funding bodies whose criteria align with PKD Charity’s work. Build a robust pipeline of potential funders. 

Craft Compelling Applications: Prepare, write, and submit high-quality, persuasive funding applications. Tailor proposals to meet each funder’s specific guidelines and highlight the charity’s unique impact. 

Data-Driven Case Development: Gather and analyse relevant information to create compelling cases for support, backed by data that showcases the impact of our programs. 

Relationship Management: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective funders, ensuring consistent communication, appreciation, and donor care to foster long-term engagement. 

Expand Funding Pool: Utilise sector knowledge to identify and approach new funders, increasing the charity’s income streams and securing diverse funding sources. 

Progress Tracking and Reporting: Provide regular updates to the CEO on application progress, successful funding, and potential new opportunities. Develop and manage systems to monitor deadlines, submissions, income received, and application status. 

Donor Communication: Ensure funders are kept informed about the charity’s work, including submitting progress reports and impact updates that highlight the value of their contributions. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with other colleagues, especially service delivery and finance, to ensure that information sharing and reporting are aligned and effective. 

ABOUT YOU: 

Proven Experience: You have a strong background in fundraising, particularly in trust and foundation grants, and are comfortable working independently in a remote setting. 

Organised and Detail-Oriented: You excel at managing multiple projects, meeting deadlines, and paying close attention to detail. 

Collaborative Team Player: You are flexible and ready to contribute to various aspects of the charity's work, embracing a team spirit. 

Effective Communicator: You possess excellent writing skills for creating compelling grant applications and are skilled at nurturing funder relationships through clear and professional communication. 

Tech-Savvy: Familiarity with CRM systems and website management is a plus, as is a proactive approach to automating processes where possible. 

How to apply

Please submit your CV with a covering letter (which is no larger than two sides of A4 paper), addressing how you meet the above criteria.

Deadline for applications 14th December 2024. Interviews for the post will be held in the week beginning 13th January 2025.