Trustee – Grants and Fundraising - Volunteer in Northampton

Someone who can help develop and support the implementation of our fundraising strategy, including events and other suitable income-generating activities.

This role will make a significant difference to our organisation because grant funding is one of the main ways we sustain and grow our work. As our charity has grown, demand for our services has increased, and much of our work depends on securing external funding and building a stronger, more sustainable income base. At present, staff are focused on frontline delivery and direct community support, so there is limited time to manage the full grant application process in a consistent and strategic way. A trustee with expertise in this area would help strengthen our systems, improve how applications and results are tracked, and ensure funding activity is well planned, monitored and aligned with our priorities.

We are also looking for someone who can help develop and support the implementation of our fundraising strategy, including events and other suitable income-generating activities. This will help us diversify income, strengthen long-term resilience, and allow staff to focus on delivering vital support to the community. For the communities we serve, the impact is very real. Stronger fundraising means we can continue supporting families and individuals, reduce hardship, improve wellbeing, promote resilience and maintain trusted community support. For our organisation, this role will help turn growing need into a more sustainable, effective and better organised response.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a trustee with fundraising experience, a strong understanding of trustee governance, and a genuine commitment to the communities we support. The most important experience for this role is in grant fundraising. A large proportion of our income comes through grants, so we need someone who has experience of developing, writing or overseeing grant applications, ideally within a charity, community organisation or similar setting. This person should be able to support staff with the grant-writing process while also helping to supervise and strengthen the overall grant application system. This includes helping us identify opportunities, organise and track applications, monitor outcomes, and ensure the process is effective, strategic and accountable.

We would also value someone who can support wider fundraising efforts, including helping us develop and implement a fundraising strategy, and exploring practical ways to raise income through events and other suitable fundraising activities. We are looking for someone who can help us think longer term about sustainability as well as immediate funding opportunities. An understanding of how charities work in practice is also very important. This could come from previous experience as a trustee, in charity leadership, fundraising, programme management or a related role. We want someone who understands governance and can help the board and staff work in a more organised and effective way.

Just as important is the kind of person they are. We want someone who is passionate, thoughtful and community-minded, and who is sensitive to the challenges faced by ethnic minority communities, particularly African communities. Many of the people we support are migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and families facing hardship. We would welcome someone who understands the realities of adapting to life in the UK, integrating into a different culture, and navigating barriers such as poverty, isolation, discrimination, language barriers and limited access to services.

Overall, the most important qualities are:

• Experience in grant fundraising, grant writing and wider fundraising
• Ability to support staff and supervise the grant application process
• Understanding of trustee governance and charity operations
• Ability to improve structure, accountability and effectiveness
• Sensitivity to the experiences of African communities, migrants and ethnic minorities
• A genuine passion for helping communities grow stronger and more resilient

What will you be doing?

Our board currently consists of seven trustees. Five joined in 2023 and two more joined in January 2026. As our charity has grown significantly over the past few years, we are now looking to strengthen the board with additional support in a key area of organisational sustainability: grants and fundraising. A large proportion of our income comes from grant funding, but staff time is rightly focused on delivering frontline services and supporting families and individuals in need. We therefore need a trustee who can provide strategic oversight of our grant application process and help us improve how this work is planned, managed and monitored.

The trustee will work closely with staff and fellow trustees to help ensure our grant fundraising is clear, accountable, timely and effective. This will include overseeing how funding opportunities are identified, how applications are tracked, how results are reviewed, and how this work aligns with the charity’s priorities and growth. We are also looking for someone who can help develop and support the implementation of our fundraising strategy, including events and other suitable income-generating activities. This will help us diversify income and strengthen our long-term resilience.

Specific responsibilities may include helping to oversee or support a fundraising/grants sub-group of the board, and giving regular input on fundraising performance, priorities and progress. This role is especially important because successful fundraising directly affects our ability to continue and expand our work. The trustee’s input will help free up staff capacity, strengthen our systems, and increase our ability to secure the resources needed to support our community. For the right person, this is an opportunity to make a real difference by helping shape a stronger, more sustainable future for the organisation and the people it serves.