About This Role
This role involves managing the entire grants cycle, from identifying opportunities to preparing applications, fostering funder relationships, and ensuring compliance with grant conditions. It is a hands-on position that combines strategic planning with detailed execution, focusing on securing institutional funding from various grant-making organizations.
Responsibilities
- Lead and continuously improve the Foundation's grants programme, strategy, and funding pipeline
- Review, grow, and optimize the grants portfolio, identifying opportunities to strengthen funding performance and sustainability
- Research and secure new grant funding from trusts, foundations, lottery funds, government agencies, and other funding sources aligned with the Foundation's priorities
- Develop compelling, evidence-based funding applications that clearly demonstrate impact and maximize funding success
- Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective funders, acting as a trusted representative of the Foundation
- Partner with colleagues across the organization to gather programme information, outcomes data, and evidence that support funding applications and reporting
- Manage grant reporting, acquittals, and funding obligations, ensuring commitments are met and funders receive high-quality stewardship
- Maintain accurate grants records, forecasts, and reporting, providing the Chief Executive and Board with visibility of funding opportunities, risks, and performance
Requirements
- Demonstrated experience preparing and managing successful grant applications in a not-for-profit, charitable, community, or related environment
- Ability to write clear, compelling, and evidence-based funding applications
- Experience managing the full grants cycle, including prospect research, applications, reporting, and acquittals
- A track record of securing grant funding and achieving agreed funding or income targets, or other measurable results
- Experience building and maintaining relationships with trusts, foundations, community funders, or government funding providers
- Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
- Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining accurate records
- Confidence working with budgets, forecasts, and programme data
- A collaborative approach and the ability to gather information from colleagues across the organization
- Confidence using Microsoft 365 and online grant portals
Nice to have:
- Experience in the disability, health, or community sector
- Knowledge of the New Zealand grants and funding environment
- Experience reviewing and improving a grants portfolio
