Philanthropy Manager

About Smart Works 

Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses and coaches unemployed women for success at their job interview. We empower each woman by giving her the clothes and the confidence she needs to succeed. After visiting Smart Works, 69% of clients secure a job within a month, gaining financial independence and transforming their lives.

More information about who we are can be found on our website.

About the role 

Smart Works exists to empower all women who need help getting into work. We are currently in a significant growth phase, doubling the number of women we support to 10,000 women a year by 2025. As such, we require vital cornerstone funding from Trusts & Foundations and high-value donors to enable us to achieve our mission and help thousands of women to transform their lives.

As our charity grows, we are seeking a skilled Philanthropy Manager to join our ambitious and supportive Fundraising and Partnerships team of 9 people. The Philanthropy Manager will be an integral role within our team, working with and supported by the Head of Grants & Strategic Development to build a strong pipeline of five and six-figure gifts from Trusts & Foundations and Major Donors, including core funding and restricted funding.

This is a unique opportunity to work alongside senior members of staff to maximise funding opportunities, expand our portfolio of grant funders, and contribute to a growth in income from Trusts & Foundations and Major Donors. The successful candidate will be responsible for researching and identifying prospective funders, writing and submitting high-quality applications and proposals, and delivering excellent grant management and donor stewardship.

We are seeking a proactive self-starter, with experience in philanthropic fundraising, excellent written communication skills and demonstrable strong attention to detail. We would also love to hear if you have experience working with grant applications and/or funding proposals, and utilising a range of tools to identify new funding opportunities.

Smart Works is a collaborative environment, with dynamic teams and ambitious plans. It is also a rewarding place to work and a lot of fun, with valuable opportunities to attend nationwide fundraising events, expert leadership panel discussions, fashion sales and exclusive events.

The Fundraising and Partnerships team are based in London. This is a hybrid role, working from a London centre at least twice per week, with the opportunity to work across our North, West and South London centres. Some evening and weekend work is required to lead on philanthropic fundraising and support wider partnership team events.

If you are organised, enjoy writing, researching and communicating, and are passionate about supporting women into work, then this could be the ideal opportunity for you. We would love to hear from you.

Duties and responsibilities  

• Securing one-year and multi-year grants from a range of Trusts & Foundations and Major Donors, including traditional grant funders, family foundations and corporate foundations, to meet income targets.
• Researching and identifying prospective grant funders who could support Smart Works.
• Writing high-quality grant applications, working collaboratively across teams and functions to deliver creative and compelling proposals for both core and restricted funding.
• Preparing impact reports and sharing regular updates with funders, delivering excellent grant management and maintaining strong relationships with current and prospective funders.
• Supporting Smart Works’ local centres across the UK with insight and advice on how to grow their own income from Trusts & Foundations.
• Maintaining accurate data records of pledged, banked and prospective income.
• Representing Smart Works to a diverse range of stakeholders and audiences to generate income and raise brand awareness.
• Building strong internal working relationships and collaborating cross-organisationally to help deliver the charity’s core mission.

Personal Specification 

Essential Criteria

• Proven track record in securing five figure philanthropic income.
• Experience working with grant applications and/or funding proposals, and utilising a range of tools to identify new funding opportunities.
• Outstanding written communication skills and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to prepare high-quality funding proposals and reports, adapting the communication style for different audiences and stakeholders to maximise impact.
• Target driven with excellent organisation and time management capabilities, demonstrating an ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
• An understanding of the Trusts & Foundations and high-value fundraising landscape, such as the current challenges, opportunities and trends.
• Passionate and enthusiastic about the mission and vision of Smart Works, demonstrated through clear initial research and understanding in the written application.

Desirable Criteria

• Proven track record in securing six figure philanthropic income.
• Experience in cultivating strong and positive relationships, both internally and externally, with multiple and senior stakeholders.
• Interpersonal, verbal communication and presentation skills, in order to build strong working relationships with external stakeholders.

How to Apply 

As a proud member of EDAC, we welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates.

Please visit our website or click “Apply Now” to find out more information – we can’t wait to hear from you.