Grants Officer
The Work
As a grants officer, you would assess applications for grants and funding from charitable
trusts, government or public bodies.
Depending n the grant-making organisation you worked for, you could assess applications
from individuals, charities, community groups or university research departments.
It might be your responsibility to decide to award funding, or you might refer the
applications to a senior grants officer, programme director or a committee for a final
decision.
Your duties would typically include:
checking that applications meet the funding criteria
advising people about how to apply
assessing applications against a strict set of rules
giving information and recommendations to the decision-making panel
keeping people informed about the progress of their application
administering grant payments
supporting a caseload of grant holders and monitoring their progress
keeping accurate records of applications and payments
giving presentations to publicise grant schemes.
Entry Requirements
You could come to grant-making from a variety of backgrounds. Whatever your
background, employers will usually expect you to gave skills and experience in areas such
as:
basic accounting and budget management
database administration
project management
information gathering.
Some organisations will prefer you to have experience in the type of projects that they
fund, for example, conservation, the arts or community work. Awarders of scientific
research grants may ask for a science degree. You should check exact entry
requirements with each employer.
You will also need to show an understanding of the voluntary and community sector, so
you will find it helpful to have paid or unpaid work experience in these areas.
If you want to gain experience in the voluntary sector, you can find out about local
opportunities from the do-it.org or (for Northern Ireland) the Volunteer Development
Agency websites. You could also contact Working for a Charity about their short courses
and work placement scheme.
do-it.org
Volunteer Development Agency
Hours
In a full-time job you would typically work standard office hours, Monday to Friday.
Part-time work may be available.
You would be office-based, but may also spend some of your time travelling to meet
applicants and consultants, visit projects and give presentations.
Skills and Knowledge
excellent written and spoken communication skills
the ability to analyse complex information and figures
fair and objective decision making ability
a willingness to work to strict guidelines
good organisational and planning skills
good computer and administrative skills
the ability to work well individually and as part of a team
tact and empathy
the confidence to give presentations.
For some jobs you will also need specialist knowledge, for example in science or the arts.
Training and Development
You will learn on the job from experienced grants officers and trustees. Your employer
may also arrange for you to take part in short courses and seminars such as the
Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) professional development programme. See
the ACF website for details.
You may find it useful to work towards a postgraduate qualification such as City University
in London's part-time Postgraduate Diploma or MSc in Grantmaking Management.
City University, Grantmaking Managemen PG Dip/MSc
Several other universities offer postgraduate courses in charity management, fundraising
and voluntary sector management, which you may find useful as your career progresses.
Courses are usually part-time or distance learning.
More Information
Working For A Charity
NCVO
Regent's Wharf
8 All Saints Street
London
N1 9RL
Tel: 020 7520 2512
www.wfac.org.uk
Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF)
Central House
14 Upper Woburn Place
London
WC1H 0AE
Tel: 020 7255 4499
www.acf.org.uk
Opportunities
You could work for grant-making trusts and charities, the Big Lottery Fund, local and
national government, arts councils, academic research foundations and large public
companies.
Competition for jobs can be strong because only a small proportion of the largest
grant-making trusts employ paid staff.
Jobs may be advertised in the local and national press, trusts' own websites (see the ACF
website for a list of charitable trusts) and some specialist charity recruitment agencies.
With experience, you could progress to senior grants officer, become a freelance grants
consultant, or move into charity management.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new
window):
Third Sector
ACF List of charitable trusts
Working for a Charity (recruitment links)
Society Guardian
Charity Finance
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
Income
Salaries are generally between £20,000 and £35,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
Related Profiles
Charity Fundraiser
Company Secretary