Trusts and Foundations Manager
| Posting date: | 19 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £38,784 to £46,049 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 21 March 2026 |
| Location: | Durham, County Durham, DH1 5LE |
| Company: | Durham University |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 26000065_1771500824 |
Summary
The Role and Department
The Trusts and Foundations Manager will take an active role in liaising with colleagues to establish funding needs, researching and cultivating funders new and old, submitting applications, administering gifts and stewarding donors.
They will collaborate with colleagues across the University in academic, college, professional services and leadership roles. They will represent the Institutional Funders Team in a positive supportive manner while balancing the need for the team to align with DARO's strategic priorities and fundraising campaign.
The Trusts and Foundations Manager will research funding opportunities and record information on DARO's Raiser's Edge database, providing a resource which can be regularly updated and interrogated as required.
They will develop and strengthen relationships with trusts and foundations by networking and making introductions to new funders where appropriate and keeping channels of communication open with existing partners. In addition to trusts and foundations, funders might include statutory funders and religious orders.
The Trusts and Foundations Manager will tailor their approach to each funder to ensure they are using the appropriate channels. They will take a lead on writing selected applications, drawing on colleagues' strengths, and be able to articulate the funding need in the context of the University's wider strategy. The value of applications may range from mid-level grants to £100,000 plus. As required, they will organise and host tailored funder visits to the University, working with colleagues including senior staff and providing briefings.
They will record the outcome of applications and any feedback. Where an application is successful, they will assist with gift administration. They will encourage ongoing dialogue with funders where possible and they will maintain funder records on Raiser's Edge by recording interactions and noting any requirements for future action.
They will work collaboratively and flexibly with all colleagues in the Institutional Funders Team to maximise income for the benefit of the University.
The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage: Boldon House - Durham University.
Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.
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