Fundraising (Grants) Research Volunteer - Short Term Project

CPRE Hertfordshire is a long-standing and well-regarded environmental charity dedicated to protecting, promoting and enhancing the Hertfordshire countryside, for everyone. By applying your skills and experience, you’ll be making a real difference and helping us find positive solutions for the issues facing the countryside and the environment.

You will be identifying and researching local foundations and trusts for relevant grant-funding opportunities, and identifying potential funding fairs in which CPRE Hertfordshire could participate during 2025.

In this role you will work independently and report directly to our Chief Executive. The role can be performed remotely but it will be helpful if you live in or are familiar with Hertfordshire, as many funding opportunities are local.

Time commitment is flexible, but we would like to have this research completed by late February. We estimate it would take the equivalent of 4-5 days’ time in total, but this can be spread out over several weeks, and can be done on evenings and weekends to suit your availability.

You will need to be available on a weekday for a briefing (video or phone call) at the start of the assignment and again at the conclusion.

What will you be doing?

You will use your fundraising and/or fundraising research experience to:

·        Identify potential funders – foundations, trusts and other grant-making organisations - from the annual reports of other charities in our sector. (We have a list that you can use as a starting point.)

·        Research those that offer environmental grants that may be relevant for CPRE Hertfordshire.

·        Document the required criteria for application. (A template will be supplied featuring the key criteria to include).

·        Identify potential national or local funding fairs that may be relevant for CPRE Hertfordshire and document dates, registration requirements, etc.

·        Compile all of the above into a document and create a schedule so that CPRE Hertfordshire can easily plan and manage our grant applications and funding event participation throughout 2025.

·        Optional: Depending upon your interest and availability for conducting follow-up research later on, you could refresh and update your findings on a quarterly or half-yearly basis, as new grant opportunities and funding events become publicised.

What are we looking for?

·        Several years’ previous experience of fundraising and/or fundraising research, preferably for a small or mid-sized organisation

·        Comfortable using search engines and social media for online research

·        Willingness to become familiar with our charity’s mission, aims and activities at the outset of the assignment

·        Strong attention to detail

·        Have your own computer hardware, software and internet access

·        Ideally, you will have an interest in the countryside and environmental issues

What difference will you make?

At CPRE Hertfordshire we want to encourage everyone to connect with the countryside and value and enjoy it. Your fundraising research will play a valuable part in helping us secure funding to expand our scope of activity and make even more of a difference for the countryside and the environment.

What’s in it for the volunteer?

·        Use your skills and experience to contribute to the success of our charity and make a positive difference to the countryside

·        Have some variety from your regular work or routine

·        Gain access to CPRE’s webinars / training

·        Have the opportunity to learn about various issues facing the countryside

·        Enhance your CV and gain valuable experience

·        We can give you a reference for your future work or volunteering