Specialist trust fundraising support for small and mid-sized charities
I work with charity leaders who want to secure more grant funding and build stronger trust fundraising programmes — providing the hands-on support, strategic input, and training to make that happen.
Since 2013 I have supported 130+ charities, submitted more than 1,700 grant applications, and secured £30 million in funding for clients — including five individual grants over £1 million and 50+ grants of over £100k.
Current clients include Helpforce, Parent Infant Foundation, North East Young Dads and Lads, Food Bank Aid and the Batten Disease Family Association.
Embedded trust fundraising support
Most of my work involves becoming, in effect, a member of your team for a period of time — working alongside your staff and leadership to build and manage a trust fundraising programme that consistently secures grants.
This typically works as a few days per month on an ongoing basis, or a fixed number of days or deliverables over a defined period. It is well suited to charities that want active, hands-on support without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.
What this involves
- Prospect research to identify and prioritise the right funding opportunities
- Developing cases for support, including for projects and unrestricted funding
- Writing tailored applications to prioritised funders
- Managing funder relationships and reporting
- Planning and managing the trust fundraising pipeline
Strategic consulting
Some of my work involves helping charity leaders make better decisions about fundraising and organisational development — bringing an external perspective to questions that benefit from an independent view.
This includes fundraising strategy, income diversification, options appraisals, trust fundraising programme reviews, and wider organisational development work. Sometimes this is commissioned through funded programmes such as Lloyds Bank Foundation for their grantees, and sometimes directly by charities.
Other support
I am occasionally commissioned for work that sits outside the two main services above, including:
- Leading on major grant applications to the National Lottery Community Fund, government funders and large foundations
- Critical friend reviews of applications, cases for support and pipeline decisions
- Mentoring and advisory support for in-house trust fundraisers.
Trust Fundraising Training
I run a programme of practical online training sessions covering every aspect of trust fundraising — from finding the right funders through to building long-term funder relationships and running an effective programme. Sessions run from July to December 2026 and can be booked individually or as a complete programme of five.
What clients say
“Working with Alex has been a real pleasure. He’s incredibly efficient with his time and always keeps things focused and moving forward. He really understands what funders are looking for and knows how to shape content so it hits the mark. He’s thorough, detail-focused and strong on KPIs and specifications, which gives you confidence that everything stacks up properly. He doesn’t just tweak wording; he strengthens the overall approach and ensures the work is clear, strategic, and aligned with the brief. He’s easy to work with, responsive and reliable. I’d absolutely recommend Alex, and he’d be my go-to for any consulting support, whether it’s a large project or something smaller.”
Charlie Dixon-Prior
Deputy CEO, Caudwell Youth
“Working with Alex has been one of the most valuable forms of support I’ve ever had. Alex has an exceptional ability to quickly understand the situation, ask the right questions and provide expert guidance to ensure we take the best approach. The one-to-one advice gave me complete clarity at moments when I felt unsure how to move forward. Whether it’s a structured meeting or a quick ad hoc call, I always come away with a clear sense of direction and practical actions.”
Kev Stoodley
CEO, North East Young Dads and Lads
How I work
All of my work is conducted on a flexible basis. If your needs change, we agree on whatever fits best at the time. If you need more support, I always prioritise existing clients when availability allows. If you need to end our work early, a month’s notice is helpful but in practice we usually agree on whatever makes sense to complete before we wrap up.