Partnerships Senior Officer

Line Manager: Head of Fundraising Direct reports: None Location: Nailsworth

Purpose of the role The Partnerships Senior Officer supports the charity’s income by securing mid-level grants from trusts and foundations (typically up to £25K), and companies. You will lead on your own pipeline of prospects and applications, conduct research to identify new funding opportunities, and contribute to the team’s collective knowledge and strategy. You’ll work closely with the Grants and Trusts Manager, the Fundraising Officer and the wider team, you will also help ensure quality and consistency across applications and reports, and support internal collaboration to strengthen our cases for support. This is a detail-oriented role that contributes significantly to sustaining and growing income to support Read for Good’s mission and delivery.

Key responsibilities

Income generation and relationship management: ● Manage and grow a personal portfolio of mid-level trusts and foundations, including warm and

cold contacts, aligned to the annual target ● Research, identify and cultivate new funding opportunities from companies ● Write compelling, tailored and persuasive applications for core and project work, including

unrestricted and multi-year funding ● Compile and deliver Charity of the Year and partnership pitches for corporate support ● Undertake due diligence and prospect research to identify and/or qualify new opportunities

aligned to our programmes ● Build strong, long-term relationships with funders through timely and engaging stewardship and

communications ● Prepare and submit engaging reports and updates to funders, sharing outcomes, impact

and financial information

Data and collaboration ● Maintain accurate records of activity including monitoring deadlines, using internal systems

and in line with fundraising best practice ● Provide regular reporting and updates on progress and delivery risks ● Share applications, reports, processes and learnings for efficiency and consistency across

the team, and seek support and feedback for continuous improvement

Decision-making and accountability You are accountable to the Grants and Trusts Manager and Head of Fundraising.

You make independent decisions on: ● Managing your monthly grants and corporate pipeline and prioritising applications ● Researching and stewarding your portfolio of funders, sending applications and maintaining

records ● Researching, identifying and initially qualifying new funding prospects for the team

You collaborate or escalate on: ● Additions, reallocations, risks to pipeline priorities and team-wide prospects

● Grant applications beyond the mid-level threshold or with strategic implications ● Day to day management of ongoing employee initiatives and Charity of the Year delivery ● Any due diligence, budget, reputational, safeguarding or high-risk concerns

What success looks like ● Meeting or exceeding your income target ● Submitting well-researched, high-quality applications in a timely and efficient way with a

strong success rate ● Securing new grants and corporate relationships and renewing existing funder relationships ● Well-stewarded relationships with clear, timely and engaging reporting ● Positive contribution to the organisation’s culture and impact

Person specification

Experience ● Experience in writing successful funding applications to trusts or foundations ● Track record in securing ‘new business’ and establishing corporate relationships ● Proven ability to manage a portfolio of mid-level prospects and secure grants ● A track record of prospect pipeline research and donor stewardship ● Experience of data gathering, evaluation or reporting on outcomes and impact ● Experience of CRM systems ● Knowledge of the UK charitable funding landscape and engagement in sector networking ● Competent IT user

Personal skills and qualities ● Excellent written communication, working to a high standard with good attention to detail ● Highly organised and self-motivated with the ability to manage deadlines and manage

changing priorities ● Good judgement in assessing opportunities and risks ● Collaborative, team player, willing to work closely and supportively with colleagues ● Curious, open to feedback and committed to developing your skills ● Proactive, adaptable and responsive, people-focused with the ability to work independently ● Interest in literacy, education or child health and wellbeing

"Read for Good operates a Safer Recruitment Policy to help deter, reject or identify people who

might abuse children. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and

expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS

check, online and employment history checks and satisfactory references."

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