Trusts and Foundations Manager

Overview

• Location: Oxford Office as required / flexibility to work from home. Must be able to travel on occasion to support meetings in various locations and attend two all staff meetings in Oxford per annum
• Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week, Mon - Friday (part time/flexible arrangements would be considered)
• Contract: Permanent
• Department: Fundraising and Communications
• Reports to: Director of Income Generation and Partnerships Development

Earthwatch Europe is looking for a passionate and ambitious Trusts & Foundations Manager to join our Fundraising team. This is a pivotal role focused on growing our income from trusts, foundations, philanthropic organisations, and major donors. You will lead on building high-value relationships, identifying new funding opportunities, and developing high-quality proposals that align with Earthwatch's strategic goals. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will play a key role in ensuring that funding proposals and reports are aligned with Earthwatch's programmes and objectives.

Who are we?

Earthwatch Europe connects people with nature and gives them the tools they need to protect our planet. From fighting for healthy freshwater, bringing greenspaces to our cities or putting nature back into farming, we support communities and organisations to build knowledge, create connections and motivate action.

Responsibilities

Role purpose: To play a pivotal role in growing funding from trusts, foundations, philanthropic organisations, and major donors by proactively identifying new opportunities, cultivating high-value relationships, and supporting the development of compelling, high-quality proposals that align with Earthwatch's strategic goals. This role will focus on building connections and opening doors, working closely with the Director to convert opportunities into secured funding.

Relationship Development and Management

• Identify and explore potential new partnerships and fundraising opportunities and establish relationships with potential partners at a senior level.
• Work on all aspects of the trust and foundation process including funder retention, growth, and long-term support.
• Maintain regular communication with funders, keeping them updated on the progress and impact of funded projects.
• Represent Earthwatch at donor and networking events.
• Lead the preparation of compelling funding proposals, tailored to meet the specific interests and priorities of trusts and foundations.
• Ensure proposals are timely, impactful, and demonstrate clear outcomes.
• Oversee the timely and accurate reporting of progress on funded projects to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of grants.
• Ensure that all financial and narrative reports are submitted on time and in accordance with funder requirements.

Data Management:

Research & Opportunity Identification:

• Proactively research new and emerging funding opportunities and trends in philanthropic giving, environmental funding, and new funding streams.
• Identify and approach new funding partners for Earthwatch Europe's work.
• Work closely with colleagues across the organisation, particularly the Income Generation, Programme, Communications, and Finance teams, to ensure that funding proposals and reports are aligned with Earthwatch's programs and objectives.

Budget Management:

• Work with the Finance team to develop accurate project budgets for grant proposals and ensure that funded projects are delivered within budget and in accordance with grant terms.

In undertaking these roles, the postholder should also have regard to:

• Acting as an ambassador for the work, vision and values of Earthwatch Europe.
• Ensuring continuous development of skills and knowledge required for the post, undergoing training and performance review as required.
• Working within all the policies and procedures of Earthwatch Europe, ensuring compliance with health & safety policies and all legal and contractual obligations associated with the post.
• Collaborating with other Earthwatch teams to ensure effective delivery of partnership programmes.
• Carrying out any other reasonable duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of the post, as requested by the post holders line manager.

The above list of job deliverables is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Requirements

Personal Specification:

Knowledge & Experience

• Proven experience of fundraising from trusts and foundations, with a strong understanding of the full grant cycle from research and proposal development to reporting and stewardship.
• Proven experience of securing six figure grants from trusts, lottery and statutory funds.
• Excellent numeracy skills and proven ability to develop budgets and understand funder finance reports.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to write clear, persuasive, and tailored proposals
• Ability to analyse complex programmatic information and distil it into compelling donor-facing content.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with a track record of engaging and managing high-value donors.
• Experience in managing and meeting deadlines for multiple projects simultaneously.
• Familiarity with key environmental trusts, foundations, and philanthropic networks.
• Experience in major donor fundraising and managing high-value individual relationships.

Personal characteristics

• Demonstrable passion for environmental issues and sustainability, with an understanding of the environmental sector.
• Commitment to Earthwatch Europe's mission and values.
• Highly organised, self-motivated, and able to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Creativity and drive to succeed, willing and able to take on exciting new challenges.
• Understanding of UK fundraising regulations and best practice.
• Experience of using fundraising databases.
• Experience of working within an environmental organisation.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; Earthwatch is unable to support visa applications.

Earthwatch is committed to making any adjustments we can for short-listed candidates, to facilitate participation in our interview process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a DBS check and other due diligence checks, given the nature of this position within the charity.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion

Earthwatch is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences. We welcome and encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply, and we will consider all applications fairly and consistently.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment - a place where individuality is embraced and everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We value the benefits that different backgrounds, working approaches and ways of thinking can bring.

If you require reasonable adjustments in making an application for the role of Trusts and Foundations Manager, please contact the HR team at ahead of the application deadline.

Earthwatch reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.