At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and expand a portfolio of Trusts to secure vital funding for lifesaving work.
- Company: Join the RNLI, a dedicated organisation saving lives at sea.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to saving lives and making an impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by supporting lifesavers and lifeguards in their mission.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing donor portfolios and crafting engaging proposals.
Salary: From £42,479 (dependent on experience)
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
Location description: Hybrid between home and Poole - minimum 2 days’ a week in Poole with regular (potentially monthly) travel to region
Interview date: 13th – 14th October 2026
Closing Date: 4th October 2026
Reference: 21883
About us
Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue. We're looking for an experienced and ambitious Trusts and Grants Manager to join our Trusts and Grants team to manage and expand a portfolio of prospects and Grantmakers to help raise funds for our lifesaving work. This will be a full-time, permanent post. Securing funds from Trusts and Grantmakers will help equip, train and protect our extraordinary voluntary lifesaving crews and lifeguards so that they can do what they need to do to save lives at sea.
Your role
You will work as part of a supportive and collaborative team to help develop and steward a portfolio of Trusts, largely in Wales, the West of the UK and Ireland, building sustainable long-term relationships with Trust supporters to help meet and exceed the team’s financial targets and deliver our Trust fundraising strategy.
- Provide excellent stewardship to the Trusts on your portfolio, carefully crafting ‘stand-out’ grant applications and impact reports with detailed budgets and timelines that clearly demonstrate to funders the impact of their donations.
- Through intelligent relationship management, develop an in-depth understanding of each of your Trusts, exploring their needs and motivation to ensure you build long-term, strategic relationships.
- Expand your portfolio of Trust supporters by carefully researching and identifying new funders and finding creative ways to make new approaches and open doors to new prospects.
- Develop excellent relationships with stakeholders across the RNLI, working collaboratively with project and finance managers to identify and package RNLI projects to find a creative best fit with Trust objectives.
- Use RNLI engagement opportunities, key anniversaries, station events and peer connections to find creative ways to keep funders engaged and excited about our work, inspiring them to continue to give.
- Develop excellent relationships with your regional colleagues and internal stakeholders to understand their needs, keep abreast of potential funding opportunities and ensure a collaborative, joined-up approach to your donor management.
- Share your networks, skills, knowledge and experience with your colleagues in the Trusts and Grants team and support your teammates by leading on specific project themes and areas of expertise.
- Maintain excellent record-keeping to ensure accurate and timely grant management and reporting in line with grant agreements, internal policies and processes, GDPR and Third Sector accounting good practice.
About you
We are looking for a passionate and resilient Trusts and Grants Manager with:
- Good experience of managing a donor portfolio including prospecting for six-figure gifts and managing large, complex donor relationships in a Trust fundraising environment or very similar discipline.
- Natural writing skills and an ability to craft and adapt creative, engaging and concise fundraising proposals and targeted impact reports.
- An unswerving attention to detail.
- An understanding of how to work with project managers to identify funding packages that will match your Trusts’ objectives and motivations, with a knack for simplifying complex project information and presenting it in accessible way in funding applications.
- High emotional intelligence and strong, confident communication skills with good experience in building internal and external relationships at all levels, including Directors, Trustees and high-level donors.
- Good personal resilience, with a positive, solution-focused attitude, confident to work both as part of a team or autonomously and a good understanding of when to escalate risk.
- An ability to think strategically with awareness of the challenges and opportunities in the current trust fundraising environment.
- Comfortable using a client database, spreadsheets, financial reporting and managing your own income pipeline.
- Excellent organisational skills with an understanding of the importance of good record-keeping.
If you are an ambitious and passionate Trust fundraiser who enjoys relationship building, writing persuasively and the challenge of prospecting for new business and would like to join us in our mission of saving lives at sea, we would love you to hear from you. Please apply via the button shown.
Safeguarding
The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role.
Diversity at the RNLI
Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.
Trusts and Grants Manager in Poole employer: RNLI
RNLI is an exceptional employer that values its team members and fosters a supportive work culture, offering flexible working arrangements from home while allowing for meaningful travel across Scotland. Employees benefit from comprehensive training and development opportunities, ensuring personal and professional growth, all while contributing to a vital cause that saves lives at sea. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to making a difference in the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Trusts and Grants Manager in Poole
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by RNLI.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like RNLI.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at RNLI.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at RNLI. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Trusts and Grants Manager in Poole
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of RNLI. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Trusts and Grants Manager, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at RNLI
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of RNLI. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
