PJob Title: Grants & Trusts Manager
Salary: £32,000 per annum
Location: All Lakeland Arts sites and remotely following hybrid working guidance (min. 3 days in office)
Reporting to: Head of Development
Direct Reports: -
Working Pattern:: Full time (37.5 hours per week) Flexible working considered with occasional evenings, early mornings and weekends
Term: Fixed-term for 2 years
Purpose
To grow income from Charitable Trusts, Foundations, and statutory funders by identifying new funding opportunities, developing compelling, high-quality funding applications, and delivering excellent stewardship.
The role will support Lakeland Arts’ artistic, heritage, learning, and engagement programmes across its sites in the Lake District, Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts House, Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Windermere Jetty Museum. This role will collaborate with colleagues to develop strong, place-based cases for support aligned with the charity’s strategic priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Trusts, Foundations & Statutory Fundraising
- Identify, research, and qualify funding opportunities from trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies – including Arts Council England - to support the conservation of our artistic, heritage, learning, and engagement activity.
- Lead on writing and submitting high-quality funding applications, securing both unrestricted income and project-specific funding aligned with Lakeland Arts’ strategy.
- Develop compelling proposals that clearly articulate the significance of our extensive collections, the benefit of public access to these and the value of our heritage, and community impact, using evaluation data, audience insight, and partnership testimonials.
- Maintain ownership of a proactive and balanced funding pipeline, ensuring prospects are thoughtfully approached and progressed through the fundraising cycle.
Stewardship, Reporting & Relationship Management
- Steward a balanced portfolio of funders, building strong, long-term relationships through regular communication and engagement opportunities (including site visits where appropriate), while complying with funding agreements.
- Maintain a clear calendar of applications, reports, renewals, and deadlines, ensuring all funder requirements are met to a high standard and on time.
- Produce clear, engaging funder reports that demonstrate impact, successful financial management, and agreed outcomes.
Internal Collaboration & Funding Priorities
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across curatorial, participation & learning, conservation workshop, visitor experience, finance, and leadership teams to shape strong, well-informed funding bids.
- Proactively gather information to ensure funding proposals reflect current and emerging organisational priorities.
- Contribute to a positive, collaborative culture that values shared learning and cross-departmental working.
Data, Systems & Performance Management
- Use CRM systems to accurately record fundraising activity, funder communications, deadlines, and outcomes.
- Track and analyse fundraising performance against income targets and KPIs, contributing to internal reporting, forecasting, and strategy reviews.
- Ensure compliance with fundraising best practice, data protection, charity law, and internal policies and procedures.
Representation & Wider Development Activity
- Act as a confident and knowledgeable ambassador for Lakeland Arts, representing the charity at funder meetings, networking events, and sector committees.
- Support wider development activity, including campaigns, events, and partnership work as required.
- Provide administrative and project support to the Development team when needed.
Safeguarding, Equity & Organisational Values
- Embed safeguarding, health & safety, and duty of care into all aspects of work in line with Lakeland Arts’ policies.
- Promote inclusive, welcoming, and accessible arts and heritage spaces for all audiences.
- Actively promote Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging principles into day-to-day practice.
General:
· Ensure the highest level of donor care for sponsors and supporters
· Maintain a solid understanding of the external funding environment, keeping up to date with funding trends and developments in the sector
· Adhere to ethical and legal fundraising best practice keeping up to date with any changes in fundraising legislation
· Contribute to the overall success of the organisation by attracting new funders
This job description outlines the principal responsibilities and duties of the post holder. It isn’t meant to be, nor is it, an exhaustive list of specific responsibilities and duties. The post holder will be expected to undertake any other duties which could reasonably be expected as being within the remit of the post and which arise out of changes of legislation, regulations, orders, rules and working practices, methods and procedures and reviews, as directed from time to time.
Additional information
This is a full-time post, 37.5 hours per week, primarily working set days between Monday to Friday, but with the occasional need for evening, weekend or bank holiday working.
The post holder will be required to attend events, particularly those connected with responsibilities of the post.
Candidates must demonstrate that they can fulfil the requirements of the post.
The annual leave entitlement for this post is 33 working days (made up of 20 statutory days, 8 Public Bank Holidays and 5 contractual days) per annum.
Lakeland Arts offers an auto-enrolment pension scheme as well as a range of benefits including free entry into a range of partner venues in the UK, free entry into Lakeland Arts venues for immediate family, discounts in Lakeland Arts shops and cafes.
Lakeland Arts reimburses staff for travel and other expenses within agreed guidelines. The post holder will be expected to travel efficiently and in a timely manner between Lakeland Arts sites. Lakeland Arts welcomes applications from people with protected characteristics.
Lakeland Arts offers all employees access to an Employee Assistant Programme and Eye Tests for DSE users.
Health and Safety
The post holder is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Lakeland Arts Health and Safety policies and procedures.
Diversity
Lakeland Arts is committed to equality of opportunity and providing an inclusive working environment. The post holder will have due regard to equal opportunities, and to work in a fair and reasonable manner towards all people, ensuring service standards are maintained for all cultures.
Person Specification
Essential
Desirable
Experience
× Demonstrable experience of writing successful funding applications or proposals to trusts, foundations, and/or statutory funders.
× Experience managing a fundraising pipeline or prospect list, from research through to stewardship.
× Experience of collaborative working with non-fundraising colleagues to develop strong, delivery-led funding bids.
× Experience producing high-quality written communications, including applications and funder reports.
× Experience using a CRM or database to manage fundraising activity.
× Strong connection or interest in preserving the culture and heritage of the Lake District.
× Experience working in the arts, culture, heritage, or wider charity sector.
× Experience securing five-figure grants.
× Understanding of Trusts & Foundations and statutory funding for arts and heritage organisations.
× Knowledge of Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, or similar funders.
Skills
× Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to produce persuasive, well-structured proposals and reports.
× Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesise information clearly and effectively.
× Highly organised with excellent time management and the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
× Confident and empathetic communicator, able to build strong relationships with internal colleagues and external funders.
× Collaborative, proactive, and adaptable with a positive, can-do attitude.
× Ability to work independently and as part of a small, dynamic team.
× Commitment to equity, inclusion, accessibility, and safeguarding.
× Knowledge of the Lake District, Cumbria, or rural cultural settings.
× Passion for arts, heritage, museums, galleries, and public engagement.
× Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends to support events or funder engagement.
Qualifications
× Relevant professional experience
× Professional development in fundraising, arts management, safeguarding, or heritage practice.
× Proficiency in Office 365 and CRM systems.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £32,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
- Work from home
Experience:
- Fundraising: 1 year (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Windermere (Cumbria, North West Region)
