Trusts Officer

Job title: Trusts Officer
Location: Hybrid or remote working - Cornwall based applicants preferred
Salary: £28,000 - £32,000 FTE
Working pattern: Part-time, 22.5 hours per week across 3 days
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: 28th August 2025 - we reserve the right to close sooner if we receive enough applications

About Cool Earth 

We back people to protect the rainforest and fight the climate crisis. 

We’re a climate charity that partners with Indigenous and local communities across the Amazon, Congo, and Papua New Guinea rainforests. By working in collaboration with these communities we help support their livelihoods, improve health, sanitation and education and provide tech to help monitor their rainforest. Our main programme involves giving direct unconditional cash to rainforest communities so that they can decide how best to use it in order to improve their quality of life. Rainforest communities can only defend their land from illegal loggers and greedy land grabbers when they themselves are resilient and strong. We help them get to that point.

About the role

As Trusts Officer at Cool Earth, you will play a pivotal role in accelerating income and engagement from trusts and foundations to help secure our ambitious long-term goals. Reporting to the Head of Fundraising and Development, you will be instrumental in building and nurturing relationships with funders who share our vision for climate action. This is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible impact, develop your fundraising expertise, and grow with a forward-thinking charity committed to innovation and bold change.

What you'll do

Fundraising & Proposal Development

• Proactively research and identify new trusts and foundations that align with Cool Earth’s mission and support our innovative programmes.
• Develop and help manage a pipeline of funding opportunities.
• Prepare high-quality, persuasive proposals, grant applications, and expressions of interest that inspire support.
• Adapt our case for support and other materials to each funder, making sure our messaging is always clear, compelling, and aligned.

Relationship Building & Stewardship

• Cultivate meaningful relationships with existing and potential funders, acting as a trusted point of contact.
• Coordinate timely, tailored reports that showcase the impact of funders’ support, both through stories and data (qualitative and quantitative).
• Ensure funders feel valued and appreciated, with appropriate recognition and thanks.
• Represent Cool Earth as needed in funder meetings, calls, or events.

Reporting, Grant Management & Internal Collaboration

• Support the monitoring and management of grants, keeping accurate records of communications and deadlines using Salesforce.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across programmes, finance, and comms to gather insights, data and stories for reports and applications.
• Assist in tracking income targets and reporting against key metrics.
• Stay informed about sector trends, funding policy changes, and legal compliance in fundraising and trust giving.

Who you are

• You bring at least 2 years’ experience in Trusts and Foundations fundraising, with a track record of securing five-figure grants.
• You’re a strong relationship-builder with excellent interpersonal skills and a knack for building trust and rapport.
• You’re a confident, persuasive writer who knows how to craft compelling grant applications and reports.
• You're a natural storyteller, able to bring projects to life and tailor narratives for different funder audiences.
• You’ve got experience in prospect research and developing a funding pipeline that supports long-term growth.
• You can manage multiple deadlines and moving parts without ease.
• You’re comfortable working with budgets and can translate them clearly in proposals and reports.
• You’ve used a CRM (ideally Salesforce) and understand the importance of keeping accurate records.
• You're fluent in spoken and written English, and highly competent with Google and Microsoft Office tools.
• You have a genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian and environmental principles of Cool Earth.
• You’re aligned with our values: “smart”, “driven”, “open”, and “locally-led”.
  

It would be great (but not essential) if you also have:

• Fluent written and spoken Spanish.
• Experience supporting or working with environmental, climate or international development programmes.

Equal Opportunities

At Cool Earth we are committed to equal opportunity and celebrate the unique backgrounds, identities, and experiences of all applicants and employees. We don't discriminate based on factors like gender, race, age, physical abilities, religion, or sexual orientation. Our application process is designed to be accessible and inclusive, and we value your contributions regardless of these characteristics. Frequently cited statistics show that women and underrepresented groups are more likely to only apply to jobs if they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We encourage you to apply even if you feel that you do not meet all of the above requirements.

Safeguarding

Cool Earth is committed to keeping the IPLCs we work and engage with safe from any harm that could be caused by coming into contact with our organisation. This includes potential harm arising from the conduct and behaviour of staff, partners, or affiliates of Cool Earth, or the design and implementation of our programmes and activities.

We maintain a strict zero-tolerance approach towards any attitudes, behaviours or actions that put others at risk of harm. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks as per the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. For more information see our Job Applicant Privacy Notice.

Benefits

Why work for us?

As well as using your career as a force for good, there are loads of reasons why Cool Earth is a great employer.

• Flexible Working – we work flexible hours with the opportunity to work from home, the office, or even overseas.
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24/7 helpline, counselling services, and self-guided mental health programmes for you and your family.
• Learning & Development – every employee has a £1,000 L&D budget, plus organisation-wide workshops and trainings.
• Time Off – generous and enhanced time off policies for holiday, family/parental leave, sickness and medical.
• Support Good Causes – you can take two extra days off per year to volunteer, and we have a workplace payroll giving scheme for tax-free donations to other charities.
• And more! As a global organisation we have additional benefits and perks which are country-specific.