Grants Officer

About Dorset Community Foundation

Dorset Community Foundation partners with individuals, businesses, and organizations to support their charitable objectives by creating strategic giving programs. This collaboration enables the distribution of grant funding to community groups and charities based in Bournemouth, Poole, and the wider Dorset area, delivering vital services and support to local people.

Role Summary

The Grants Officer position is responsible for supporting the Foundation's grant-making initiatives targeted at charitable, voluntary, and community organizations throughout Dorset. This role involves managing end-to-end grant processes within delegated authorities, maintaining grant systems, and acting as the point of contact for applicants and beneficiaries.

Key Duties

• Administer the complete grant-making cycle for specific grant programs adhering to authority limits and established frameworks.
• Develop and maintain application and monitoring forms, as well as program details in the Foundation’s grant management software.
• Serve as the principal liaison for applicants and funded entities within assigned programs.
• Establish and foster strong partnerships with local charities and community organizations across Dorset.
• Oversee monitoring obligations of funded projects ensuring compliance with reporting deadlines.
• Evaluate monitoring reports to assess recipient progress against agreed objectives.
• Participate in site visits, community events, and meetings to observe project implementation and collect data on impact.
• Ensure all grant-making procedures comply with Foundation policies, donor expectations, and applicable laws.

Skills and Experience Requirements

• Proven background in grant-making, grant assessment, funding administration, or program management within voluntary, charitable, or public sector environments.
• Experience evaluating applications or proposals against predefined criteria.
• Competence in due diligence, compliance, or risk assessment processes.
• Strong analytical acumen with meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Capability to juggle various priorities and meet tight deadlines.

Additional Information

• Working hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week. Part-time options available for suitable candidates.
• Location: Hybrid work model requiring at least weekly presence at the Head Office in Poole, alongside active engagement across Dorset communities.
• Salary range: £34,000 to £36,000 annually.