Fundraising & Grant Writing Manager

What will you be doing?

We are seeking an experienced Fundraising & Grant Writing Manager to support the sustainability of eduSOIL’s education, wellbeing and youth leadership programmes across South Africa, Sudan and Northern Ireland, and through India and global partnerships.

This is a delivery-aware, systems-focused senior leadership role. You will strengthen trusts, foundations and grant-based fundraising systems so that Programme Directors and delivery teams can focus on impact with children, young people and educators, while funding activity remains ethical, compliant and aligned to safeguarding and wellbeing standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and maintaining a coherent funding pipeline across programmes and countries
• Supporting the writing, review and submission of high-quality grant applications
• Strengthening reporting, monitoring and funder compliance systems
• Supporting alignment between programme delivery, outcomes and funding narratives
• Mentoring and coordinating fundraising research or bid-writing volunteers (where assigned)
• Working closely with the Founder & CEO and Programme Directors
   

This is a hands-on leadership role focused on funding quality, systems clarity and long-term sustainability — not ad hoc applications.

The role builds on confirmed programme funding and established partnerships, with a focus on strengthening coordination across countries and supporting responsible, values-led growth. You will work as part of a peer leadership group alongside Programme Directors and Assistants, helping bridge strategy and delivery and embedding wellbeing-centred youth leadership in practice.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a committed, values-led individual with significant professional experience in fundraising, grant writing or income generation, who is motivated by youth impact, equity and sustainability.

You should have:

• At least 3–5 years’ professional experience in fundraising, bid writing, income generation or a related field
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to translate delivery work into clear, compelling funding narratives
• Experience researching, developing or coordinating funding applications
• Understanding of compliance, reporting and funder requirements
• Strategic thinking combined with practical, delivery-aware judgement
• Confidence working in a collaborative, values-led organisation
• An interest in education, youth leadership, wellbeing or social impact

Experience in charities, CICs or social enterprises is highly valued but not essential.

You do not need prior experience with Design for Change. However, you should be open to learning and working within an established global methodology, and committed to engaging respectfully with underserved communities. A background specifically in education or the community sector is not required, provided you bring relevant transferable experience and a strong ethical orientation.

For this role specifically, it is helpful if you have experience in:

• Trusts and foundations fundraising
• Bid development, grant writing or proposal review
• Reporting against outcomes and budgets
• Working across multiple programmes, stakeholders or geographic contexts

We are particularly interested in applicants who:

• Are based in Northern Ireland (though this is not essential)
• Bring lived experience of migration, cultural transition or integration
• Have experience in arts, mindfulness, yoga or wellbeing practice alongside professional expertise
• Are motivated by equity, youth voice and ethical leadership

This role suits someone who enjoys strengthening systems, improving quality and enabling others to deliver well, and who is excited by working at both local and international levels.

What difference will you make?

Your contribution will directly strengthen eduSOIL’s sustainability, resilience and credibility across Northern Ireland, South Africa, Sudan, India and global partnerships.

By strengthening ethical, well-managed grant funding systems, you will:

• Reduce reliance on short-term or reactive funding
• Improve the quality, clarity and competitiveness of funding applications
• Strengthen compliance, reporting and funder confidence
• Enable Programme Directors and delivery teams to focus on youth impact
• Support long-term organisational stability across multiple contexts

With a dedicated Fundraising & Grant Writing Manager, eduSOIL can:

• Build a clearer, more strategic funding pipeline across countries
• Deliver funded programmes responsibly and in line with funder expectations
• Strengthen evidence, learning and reporting systems
• Better support volunteers and delivery teams through stable funding
• Sustain high-quality youth leadership and wellbeing programmes internationally

This role bridges strategy and delivery, ensuring that funding supports — rather than distorts — wellbeing-centred youth leadership practice. Your contribution helps ensure that ethical intent is matched by sustainable resources.

Please download and review the handbooks and frameworks provided for further information about eduSOIL, this role and how you can invest your skills, time and attention in deepening and widening our social impact.

Additional information

You can download the following documents:

Before you apply

Please apply through Reach with a short message outlining:

• Your interest in youth leadership and education
• Relevant experience or transferable skills
• What you hope to gain from this leadership role at our organisation

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted within 2 days of applying via Reach. They will be invited to complete an online application form, provide contact details for two referees and be invited to attend an online interview with the Founder/CEO within 5 days of our reply. 

The next stage involves background checks which will be carried out through Volunteer Now and consent sought for us to contact referees. This stage can take 1 - 2 weeks.

Agreement to participate in Mindfulness and safeguarding training, which are mandatory for this role must be provided prior contractual confirmation.

We aim to finalise placements on a first come first served basis, based on our organisational needs.