Grants Manager

Get Jobs; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Hybrid working

Employee perks package

Job summary

Wembley Stadium Foundation seeks a Grants Manager to lead its grants portfolio, from design and application assessment through due diligence, recommendations, monitoring and closure.

You will build trusted relationships with funded organisations, support their development and use learning to improve future grant-making, while contributing to the Foundation's strategic development.

Qualifications

• Experience in grant-making, philanthropy or funding programme management.
• Experience assessing funding applications, organisations or programmes.
• Understanding of due diligence, financial assessment, monitoring and risk management.
• Knowledge of charity governance, safeguarding and organisational risk.
• Experience developing relationships with charities, community organisations or partners.
• Experience preparing reports and recommendations for senior decision makers.
• Experience supervising or line managing others.

Responsibilities

• Manage grant programmes from development and launch through to funding decisions, including guidance and application processes.
• Promote funding opportunities and develop relationships across relevant communities and sectors.
• Assess applications, organisational finances and supporting information, undertaking proportionate due diligence and risk assessments.
• Prepare funding recommendations and decision papers for the Chief Executive, Trustees and funding panels.
• Maintain accurate records of grant decisions, approvals and conditions.
• Represent the Foundation on Brent Council's Love Where You Live grants panel.
• Oversee our grants portfolio, including the Targeted Fund and Communities Fund.
• Manage grant agreements, payments, monitoring requirements and grant closure.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with funded organisations through regular engagement and visits.
• Monitor delivery against agreed outcomes, identifying and responding to emerging issues.
• Support partners to meet grant requirements through a proportionate and supportive approach.
• Coordinate capacity building, learning and wider support opportunities for funded organisations.
• Oversee grant monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting, working with funded partners and external evaluators.
• Analyse programme outcomes and learning to strengthen future funding decisions.
• Provide clear impact reporting to the Chief Executive and Trustees.
• Bring funded partners together to share learning, develop networks and explore collaborative opportunities.
• Support the Chief Executive in developing funding programmes aligned with the Foundation's strategy.
• Identify emerging community needs, sector challenges and opportunities for collaboration.
• Represent the Foundation externally, developing relationships with charities, funders and statutory partners.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives, including activity connected to UEFA EURO 2028 UK and Ireland.
• Line manage the Partnerships Executive, providing objectives, support, feedback and development opportunities.
• Work closely with the Business Operations Manager on finance, governance, safeguarding, risk and organisational processes.
• Maintain accurate information within grant management and CRM systems.
• Support Board reporting, Foundation events and wider organisational priorities.

Skills

Grant-making

Relationship management

Analytical skills

Due diligence

Communication

Tools

CRM systems

MS Office

Grant management software

Monitoring & evaluation tools

Job description

Grants Manager

Wembley Stadium Foundation

Location: Hybrid (Wembley Stadium and remote), minimum 2 days per week at the stadium

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

Working hours: 9.15am to 5pm, with occasional evening and event work

Travel: Occasional travel across England

Benefits: Flexible hours, hybrid working and employee perks package

About Wembley Stadium Foundation

Wembley Stadium Foundation is a grant-making charity using the power of Wembley Stadium to inspire, transform and connect communities through sport, movement and the performing arts.

Funded through income generated by events at Wembley Stadium, we invest in charities and community organisations to remove barriers to participation and help communities thrive.

Our Anyone Can 2025 to 2028 strategy places Brent at the heart of our work, while extending our reach across England. We deliver community grants and strategic multi-year partnerships through a relational, trust-based approach.

We are a small, ambitious team based at Wembley Stadium. The Grants Manager will be one of two management roles reporting to the Chief Executive, working alongside the Business Operations Manager and line managing the Partnerships Executive.

Purpose of the Role

The Grants Manager will lead the management and development of the Foundation's grants portfolio, overseeing funding programmes from design and application assessment through to due diligence, recommendations, monitoring, impact and closure.

You will build trusted relationships with funded organisations, support their development and use learning from our programmes to strengthen future grant-making.

You will also contribute to the Foundation's wider strategic development as we look ahead to our next strategy.

The Candidate

We are seeking someone with experience in grant-making, philanthropy or funding programme management, alongside a strong understanding of the charity sector.

You will demonstrate sound judgement when assessing organisations, funding proposals, finances and risks, and be confident presenting clear recommendations to senior decision makers and Trustees.

You will be an effective relationship manager, comfortable working with organisations of different sizes and backgrounds, and able to balance competing priorities within a small team.

Importantly, you will recognise that effective grant-making is about more than administering funding. You will understand the challenges facing charities, be curious about what works and use evidence and learning to improve our approach.

Key Responsibilities

Grant-making

• Manage grant programmes from development and launch through to funding decisions, including guidance and application processes.

• Promote funding opportunities and develop relationships across relevant communities and sectors.

• Assess applications, organisational finances and supporting information, undertaking proportionate due diligence and risk assessments.

• Prepare funding recommendations and decision papers for the Chief Executive, Trustees and funding panels.

• Maintain accurate records of grant decisions, approvals and conditions.

• Represent the Foundation on Brent Council's Love Where You Live grants panel.

Portfolio Management

• Oversee our grants portfolio, including the Targeted Fund and Communities Fund.

• Manage grant agreements, payments, monitoring requirements and grant closure.

• Build strong, trusting relationships with funded organisations through regular engagement and visits.

• Monitor delivery against agreed outcomes, identifying and responding to emerging issues.

• Support partners to meet grant requirements through a proportionate and supportive approach.

• Coordinate capacity building, learning and wider support opportunities for funded organisations.

Impact and Learning

• Oversee grant monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting, working with funded partners and external evaluators.

• Analyse programme outcomes and learning to strengthen future funding decisions.

• Provide clear impact reporting to the Chief Executive and Trustees.

• Bring funded partners together to share learning, develop networks and explore collaborative opportunities.

Programme and Strategic Development

• Support the Chief Executive in developing funding programmes aligned with the Foundation's strategy.

• Identify emerging community needs, sector challenges and opportunities for collaboration.

• Represent the Foundation externally, developing relationships with charities, funders and statutory partners.

• Contribute to strategic initiatives, including activity connected to UEFA EURO 2028 UK and Ireland.

People and Wider Responsibilities

• Line manage the Partnerships Executive, providing objectives, support, feedback and development opportunities.

• Work closely with the Business Operations Manager on finance, governance, safeguarding, risk and organisational processes.

• Maintain accurate information within grant management and CRM systems.

• Support Board reporting, Foundation events and wider organisational priorities.

Person Specification

We are committed to building an inclusive team. If this opportunity excites you but you do not meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience in grant-making, philanthropy or funding programme management.

• Experience assessing funding applications, organisations or programmes.

• Understanding of due diligence, financial assessment, monitoring and risk management.

• Knowledge of charity governance, safeguarding and organisational risk.

• Experience developing relationships with charities, community organisations or partners.

• Experience preparing reports and recommendations for senior decision makers.

• Experience supervising or line managing others.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical skills and sound, proportionate judgement.

• Excellent written communication and reporting skills.

• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills.

• Excellent organisation, attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities.

• Ability to work independently, use initiative and take responsibility.

• Confidence using Microsoft Office 365, CRM and grant management systems.

• Collaborative, approachable and professional working style.

• Commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable

• Experience in monitoring, evaluation or impact measurement.

• Experience designing funding programmes or grant-making strategy.

• Knowledge of sport, movement, performing arts, youth or community development.

General

The successful candidate will demonstrate commitment to the Foundation's values and contribute positively to our small, collaborative team.

The role involves occasional travel and work outside normal hours to support events and partner activity.

This profile outlines the principal responsibilities and may evolve as the Foundation develops.

Interview Dates

• Friday 30 October: First-stage interviews, online.

• Thursday 5 November: Final interviews, in person at Wembley Stadium.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate changes to these interview dates or times. Final interviews must be attended in person.