ABOUT EQUAL
EQUAL is an IPC-registered charity that delivers equine-assisted and animal-assisted services to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of children, youth, seniors, families, and communities. Our work sits at the intersection of human wellbeing, animal welfare, and experiential learning, and is delivered through a multidisciplinary team of programme professionals, equine specialists, operations staff, and volunteers. Fundraising is mission-critical to EQUAL's ability to deliver safe, high-quality, and impactful programmes. As the organisation scales, EQUAL is strengthening its fundraising infrastructure, pipeline discipline, and stewardship capability to support sustainable growth.
ROLE SUMMARY
The Manager, Partnerships & Stewardship is the operational backbone of EQUAL's fundraising function, responsible for ensuring that all fundraising opportunities are tracked, progressed, and executed with discipline and professionalism. This role combines institutional funding development, donor stewardship, and fundraising operations, ensuring that no opportunity, deadline, or donor relationship is missed. The role leads the development of corporate-funded and philanthropic grant proposals, supports impact reporting and funder communications, and ensures CRM and pipeline discipline across all fundraising activities. The role sits within a lean three-person fundraising and communications team, comprising:
- Manager, Partnerships & Stewardship (this role)
- Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships & Fundraising
- Communications & Digital Marketing Specialist
- The Manager works closely with the Senior Manager and CEO to translate fundraising opportunities into structured proposals, timely submissions, and well-managed donor relationships, while enabling the team to operate with clarity and execution discipline.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Success in this role is measured through operational excellence, funding outcomes, and fundraising discipline.
Institutional Funding & Proposals
. Number and quality of corporate and philanthropic grant submissions completed on time
. Value of funding secured through proposals (in collaboration with Senior Manager and CEO)
Fundraising Operations & Pipeline Discipline
. 100% of active fundraising opportunities tracked in CRM with clear status and next steps
. Timely follow-up on donor meetings and actions (within agreed timelines)
. Zero missed grant deadlines, reporting obligations, or key follow-ups Confidential
Donor Stewardship & Reporting
. Timely delivery of high-quality donor reports, updates, and communications
. Strong renewal and continuation rates from existing funders and partners
Internal Effectiveness
. Reduction in administrative burden on CEO and Senior Manager
. Clear, accurate, and up-to-date fundraising pipeline visibility
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Institutional Funding & Philanthropic Grants (Primary Ownership)
- Identifying and researching corporate-funded grant opportunities and philanthropic funding sources
- Supporting early-stage engagement by preparing materials and coordinating outreach to prospective funders
- Drafting high-quality proposals, concept notes, and programme funding submissions
- Coordinating inputs from Programme, Finance, and leadership teams
- Managing submission timelines and ensuring all proposals are delivered on time
- Preparing progress reports, impact reports, and milestone updates for funders
- Developing clear, structured impact narratives and presentation decks to communicate programme outcomes
- Identifying renewal, extension, or upsizing opportunities
2. Fundraising Pipeline & CRM Management (Primary Ownership)
- Owning and maintaining EQUAL's CRM as the single source of truth
- Tracking all corporate, donor, and funding opportunities with clear status and next steps
- Recording meeting notes, actions, and follow-ups
- Ensuring timely follow-up after meetings and engagements
- Providing regular pipeline updates to the CEO and Senior Manager
- Supporting prioritisation by surfacing high-potential opportunities
3. Donor Stewardship & Reporting
- Preparing high-quality donor reports, impact updates, and programme summaries
- Developing milestone decks, achievements reports, and outcome narratives for funders
- Managing acknowledgement processes for donations and partnerships
- Tracking donor engagement timelines, renewals, and follow-ups
- Coordinating with Programme and Finance teams to compile accurate impact and financial data
- Supporting structured stewardship plans for key funders and partners
4. Proposal Development & Fundraising Support
- Supporting the Senior Manager and CEO in preparing for meetings and pitches
- Ensuring proposals are structured, clear, and aligned with funder expectations
- Coordinating internal inputs to ensure completeness and accuracy
5. Fundraising Operations & Coordination
- Supporting coordination of fundraising initiatives and campaigns
- Assisting with preparation for donor engagements and events
- Maintaining documentation of agreements, MoUs, and funding terms . Supporting post-engagement follow-up and documentation
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
- 5-8 years of experience in grants, fundraising operations, programme management, or related roles
- Proven experience drafting corporate or philanthropic funding proposals and reports
- Experience managing timelines, documentation, and multi-stakeholder coordination
- Familiarity with nonprofit or social service sector is an advantage
Core Competencies
- Strong structured writing for proposals, reports, and impact narratives
- Excellent organisational and project management skills
- High attention to detail and follow-through
- Ability to manage multiple timelines and workstreams
- Data-driven and process-oriented
Key Attributes
- Calm, dependable, and execution-focused
- Comfortable delivering outcomes without large teams or mature systems
- Proactive, accountable, and detailed oriented
- Motivated by impact, rather than ego
- Takes pride in closing loops and following through
WHY JOIN US
Make a tangible impact in a mission-driven team, grow across operations and systems, and work in a unique, nature-rich environment with meaningful outcomes.
HOW TO APPLY
Please email your updated CV and a short cover letter to [Confidential Information]with the subject line Partnership & Development - Your Name.
