Trusts and Grants Fundraiser
0.5 FTE – 18.75 hours per week (flexible working)
Salary: £30,000-£32,000 FTE depending on experience
Location: Hybrid working with one regular day or half-day per week in Abingdon/Oxfordshire, alongside home working and occasional external meetings
About Quest for Learning
Quest for Learning is an education charity working to close the gap for primary school children in Oxfordshire who are falling behind due to disadvantage.
We work closely with schools to deliver targeted, evidence-led literacy and numeracy programmes that help children build the skills, confidence and foundations they need to thrive. Many of the children we support are growing up in poverty, facing barriers linked to low family literacy, unmet additional needs, unstable home circumstances, or limited access to wider opportunities.
Our programmes are delivered by experienced professional tutors and are built around structured interventions, strong school partnerships and measurable outcomes. On average, pupils supported through our small-group tutoring make around 13 months of progress in just 10 hours of support.
Quest for Learning is entering an important new stage of development. Following a period of organisational growth and strategic transition, we are investing in building a more sustainable and ambitious fundraising function that can deepen our impact and reach more children across Oxfordshire.
This is an opportunity to play a central role in shaping that journey.
Why join us?
This is a rare opportunity to join a small but ambitious charity at a genuinely exciting stage of development.
You’ll have:
- Real ownership and autonomy within your role
- The opportunity to help shape and build a growing fundraising function
- Close working relationships with the CEO and leadership team
- Flexibility and hybrid working arrangements
- The chance to make a direct and measurable difference to children facing disadvantage
- Opportunities for progression as the organisation grows
We are intentionally investing in fundraising and organisational growth, and this role offers the opportunity to help shape a developing fundraising function within an ambitious, evidence-led charity with strong foundations and significant future potential.
We are a collaborative, supportive and purpose-driven team that values initiative, professionalism, creativity and compassion.
Role purpose
We are seeking a proactive, highly organised and motivated fundraiser to lead and grow our trusts and grants fundraising activity.
This role will focus primarily on identifying funding opportunities, developing compelling applications, managing funder relationships and building a strong pipeline of income to support Quest for Learning’s future growth.
The successful candidate will play a key role in helping us develop a more strategic and sustainable fundraising approach. We are looking for someone who can combine strong written communication and attention to detail with initiative, pace and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
This role would suit someone with existing trusts fundraising experience, or someone with highly transferable skills who can learn quickly and thrive in a fast-moving environment.
You will work closely with the CEO, programme staff and trustees, with access to strong impact data, established programmes and a compelling case for support.
Alongside this role, Quest for Learning is also exploring the development of an additional partnerships-focused fundraising role. We are open-minded about how responsibilities are ultimately structured and welcome applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds, experiences and strengths.
Key responsibilities
Trusts and foundations fundraising
- Research and identify prospective trusts, foundations and grant opportunities
- Build and maintain a strong pipeline of funding prospects
- Develop and submit high-quality, tailored funding applications
- Manage multiple applications and deadlines simultaneously
- Produce timely and well-written monitoring reports and evaluations
- Work closely with programme staff to gather impact data, case studies and delivery information
- Maintain accurate records of applications, deadlines and funder communications within Beacon CRM
- Monitor fundraising performance and contribute to pipeline tracking and forecasting
- Support the development of longer-term funding strategies and priorities
Relationship management and stewardship
- Build positive and professional relationships with funders and supporters
- Arrange and attend occasional meetings with funders and partners where appropriate
- Ensure strong stewardship and communication throughout the funding lifecycle
- Support the CEO in managing strategic funding relationships
Organisational Contribution
- Contribute to the ongoing development of Quest for Learning’s fundraising function and systems
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation
- Represent Quest for Learning professionally and passionately to external audiences
- Contribute ideas and insight to support organisational growth and sustainability
Person specification
We recognise that strong fundraisers do not always come from traditional charity fundraising backgrounds. If you have transferable skills and experience in areas such as bid writing, partnerships, relationship management, education, sales, communications, account management or business development - and are excited by our mission - we would strongly encourage you to apply.
Essential
- Excellent written communication skills with strong attention to detail
- Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities
- Strong research and analytical skills
- Ability to work independently and proactively
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
- Confidence using databases, spreadsheets and digital systems
- Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively
- Commitment to the mission and values of Quest for Learning
- Experience of writing successful funding applications, bids, proposals or other persuasive written content
Desirable
- Experience in trusts and foundations fundraising within the charity sector
- Experience using Beacon CRM or similar fundraising databases
- Understanding of monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting
- Experience within education, children’s services or related sectors
- Knowledge of the Oxfordshire funding landscape
- Experience working within a small charity or growing organisation
What success looks like in this role
Successful performance in this role is likely to include:
- Building and maintaining a strong and active funding pipeline
- Producing a consistent volume of high-quality applications and reports
- Securing significant grant income for the charity
- Developing strong funder relationships and stewardship practices
- Contributing to the growth and professionalisation of Quest for Learning’s fundraising function
- Helping position Quest for Learning for sustainable long-term growth
As Quest for Learning grows, we expect this role to develop too, with opportunities to shape strategy and take on increasing responsibility over time.
Who thrives at Quest for Learning?
People who tend to thrive at Quest for Learning are:
- proactive and solutions-focused
- motivated by meaningful impact
- comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with others
- excited by helping build and improve systems and processes
- adaptable, thoughtful and motivated to grow professionally alongside the organisation
Working arrangements
- 0.5 FTE with flexible working arrangements
- Hybrid role combining home working with one regular day or half-day per week in Abingdon/Oxfordshire
- Occasional travel across Oxfordshire for meetings and events
- Flexible working patterns can be discussed
Benefits
- Flexible and hybrid working
- Pension contribution
- TOIL policy
- Supportive and collaborative working culture
- Professional development opportunities
- Opportunity to help shape a growing fundraising function within an ambitious charity
Application process
To apply, please submit:
- A CV
- A short statement explaining your interest in the role and how your experience meets the person specification
To: recruitment@questforlearning.org.uk
We encourage applications from candidates with both traditional and non-traditional fundraising backgrounds.
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Chris Higgins, CEO, at recruitment@questforlearning.org.uk
Closing date: midday, Tuesday 30 June
Interviews: Tuesday 14 July