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Civic & Community · Fundraising & advocacy

Grants / trusts fundraiser

Grants fundraisers write the bids that unlock money from trusts, foundations and public funders. It suits careful writers who like research, evidence and a deadline, and who can tell a human story with numbers attached. Honest bits: rejection is routine even for good bids, deadlines cluster, and a small charity may hand you the whole pipeline alone. It is a smart route now because bid-writing is a scarce, respected skill and it travels across the whole sector.

A day in this job

Mornings tend to be deep work: researching funders and drafting a bid. Lunchtime might bring a call with a programme lead to gather stories and numbers. Afternoons go on tailoring applications, updating the funding tracker and reporting to funders who already said yes. Quiet, focused days are normal here.

How AI is changing it

AI now drafts bids, researches funders and assembles impact reports in a fraction of the time. That raises the bar rather than closing the door. What stays yours is the honest, human part: judging what to promise, and telling the charity's true story.

What you need to start

There are no formal entry requirements, though many entrants have A levels, a BTEC or a degree. Training is usually in-house, with short courses and professional qualifications available.

Typical pay: £730 a week (about £38,000 a year).
Official UK pay for "Advertising and marketing associate professionals" (ONS ASHE 2022, via LMI for All). A guide, not a promise.

The steps, in order

  1. Learn bid-writing Free short courses and sector guides teach the shape of a good bid before you write one.
  2. Write a real bid Offer to help a small charity apply for a grant. Small local funds are a kind starting point.
  3. Learn the data side Funders want evidence. Being able to present simple impact numbers clearly is what wins repeat funding.
  4. Use funded learning to go deeper Funded and part-time study options can support more formal learning once you know you like the work.
  5. Apply for trusts roles Trusts and grants fundraisers are in steady demand. Lead with bids you wrote and what they raised.
  6. Grow once you're in Build a track record, then move towards bigger funders, multi-year bids and leading a small pipeline.
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