Location: Hybrid – your time will be split between our office/venue on Bristol Harbourside, and your home or wherever you like to work, however we would like the successful candidate to be able to commit to at least two days a week in our Bristol office.
Report to: Gifts and Partnerships Manager
Salary: £40,000 per annum pro rata (£24,000 - £28,000 per annum dependent on whether contract is 0.6 or 0.7 FTE, see working hours below).
Contract: 18-month fixed-term contract
Working hours: Part-time, 22.5 hours a week (0.6 FTE) OR 26.25 hours a week (0.7 FTE), flexible over 3, 4 or 5 days. This may include attending events outside of normal working hours.
About the role
We The Curious is about to enter an exciting new phase in its mission to connect and empower everyone through shared creative science learning experiences. It is nearly a year since we reopened and as we enter our 25th Anniversary Year there is lots to celebrate and talk about with our new multi-year strategy, Plan 2030 which encompasses numerous major projects for which we must develop and cultivate support.
The Development Team is responsible for fundraising across the whole organisation and the stewardship and development of our donors and supporters. The other members of the team are the Development Manager, the Gifts and Partnerships Manager and Development Account Manager. We are looking for a Trusts and Foundations Manager who is collaborative, organised and an excellent communicator to join the team to help us maximise and unlock some very exciting fundraising opportunities.
As Trusts and Foundations Manager you will use your skills in research and persuasion to identify grants funding opportunities, establish new relationships and write and submit proposals to trusts, foundations, Lottery funders, the local authority, universities and research councils. Working closely with the rest of the team and project managers from other departments you will raise between six and seven figure sums for our programme of creative science learning and inclusion projects.
What will you do in this role?
_Identify new grants funding sources, including trusts and foundations, research councils and statutory/government funders.
_Prepare and submit high quality funding proposals, expressions of interest and budgets in accordance with strict deadlines and application criteria, to a diverse range of funders, for up to seven-figure sums.
_Work closely with internal departmental teams to develop We The Curious projects so that they are ready for fundraising and write detailed and compelling cases for support that include timelines, budgets and evaluation and reporting plans.
_Support the funding applications of other partner organisations by collaboratively drafting budgets, attending project development meetings and writing letters of support.
_Support the Development Account Manager to cultivate potential funders, including attending on-site visits and events, phone calls and delivering presentations to secure support.
_Support the Development Account Manager to manage a portfolio of funders including overseas relationships, fulfilling reporting and public recognition requirements, thank you letters, regular communications and other correspondence.
_Liaise with the finance team to record new income and report on expenditure in accordance with funder deadlines.
_Support the Gifts and Partnerships Manager and Development Manager in identifying new strategic opportunities and exploring new types of income stream. This may include presenting to the leadership team. Contribute to the delivery of the fundraising strategy, including proposing financial targets for grants, lottery and research income.
What we’re looking for from you
_You’ll have at least three years of fundraising experience, with success at delivering against financial targets and strict deadlines. You’ll have the ability to network, build and manage funding relationships with a wide range of funders and other stakeholders.
_You’ll be confident explaining and pitching ideas to internal and external stakeholders.
_You’ll have experience of working very closely with project delivery teams to develop projects, ensure they know what they need to deliver for funders and monitor their expenditure.
_You’ll have excellent budget management skills, the ability to work independently and effectively and will be confident reporting on six or seven figure budgets.
_You will have good understanding of the financial and regulatory environment charities operate within.
_You’ll have some technical knowledge and experience at using and developing fundraising databases.
_You’ll have experience and confidence in managing multiple projects simultaneously.
_You’ll have the ability to understand We The Curious’ broad-ranging project content and tailor it to appropriate style and content for target funders.
Application process
Deadline for applications: Friday 25th April at midnight.
Interview date and location: Wednesday 14th May 2025 at We The Curious.
Start date: Approximately 9th June 2024.
Application process:
If you would like to apply, please complete the application form. It contains questions designed to assess your interest in and suitability for the role.
Please don't send in CVs or cover letters as we don't review them.
We appreciate interviews can be stressful, so we try to make them more of a conversation and a chance for you to tell us about how your skills and interests make you the right person for the role.
If you are invited for an interview, we'll send you the questions that you'll be asked beforehand so that you have time to prepare.
If you have any particular needs or requirements, please do let us know so that we can make the required adjustments.
If you would like to talk about the role or the application process, please email people@wethecurious.org
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .