Application Guide

How to Apply for Fund Director - FGM Global Action Fund

at Stichting Women Win

🏢 About Stichting Women Win

Stichting Women Win is a unique global women’s fund based in the Netherlands, fiscally hosting the FGM Global Action Fund—a pooled fund and movement support hub dedicated to eliminating FGM. Working here means joining a feminist, survivor-centered organization that prioritizes trauma-informed approaches and frontline activism, offering a rare opportunity to drive systemic change in a specialized, high-impact area.

About This Role

As Fund Director, you will lead the strategic vision, governance, and daily operations of the FGM Global Action Fund, overseeing grantmaking, financial management, and team building. Your leadership will directly support survivors and activists worldwide, making this role pivotal in the global movement to end FGM.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a check-in with the team on grantee support and operational updates, followed by a virtual meeting with a major donor to discuss funding priorities. Afternoon could involve reviewing grant proposals from frontline organizations, preparing a board report on financial performance, and ending with a strategy call with movement leaders in East Africa to align on advocacy efforts.

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Stichting Women Win Is Looking For

  • A seasoned leader with 10+ years of progressive experience, including at least 7 years in a senior executive role within non-profit, NGO, social impact, or public sector organizations.
  • Proven track record in fundraising and donor relationship management, ideally with experience managing pooled funds or multi-donor grants.
  • Deep knowledge of girls/women’s rights, international development, global health, gender-based violence, or SRHR, with a commitment to feminist and survivor-centered principles.
  • Experience in grantmaking and fund management, including financial oversight, strategic allocation, and impact reporting.

📝 Tips for Applying to Stichting Women Win

1

Tailor your CV to highlight leadership of pooled funds or multi-stakeholder initiatives, quantifying fundraising success and grantmaking impact.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your experience to the FGM context—mention any work with women’s funds, gender-based violence, or survivor-led movements.

3

Demonstrate understanding of trauma-informed and care-centered approaches by referencing specific practices or training you have implemented.

4

Research Women Win’s current partners and grantees, and mention how your network or expertise aligns with their existing ecosystem.

5

Prepare a brief outline of how you would approach the first 90 days, focusing on team building, donor relations, and strategic prioritization.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your leadership philosophy: emphasize feminist, collaborative, and survivor-centered values.', 'Specific fundraising achievements: mention dollar amounts raised, donor types, and relationship cultivation strategies.', 'Experience with grantmaking: describe your approach to equitable, transparent, and impact-driven fund distribution.', 'Your commitment to the FGM elimination movement: share any personal or professional connection to the cause.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Women Win’s website and annual reports to understand their theory of change, current initiatives, and funding partners.
  • → Study the FGM Global Action Fund’s specific goals, recent grants, and any publicly available impact reports.
  • → Familiarize yourself with key stakeholders in the FGM elimination space, such as The Girl Generation, Equality Now, and UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme.
  • → Understand the Dutch NGO landscape and any relevant legal or fiscal hosting frameworks for pooled funds.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you balance the strategic vision of the fund with day-to-day operational demands?
2 Describe a time you managed a complex donor relationship or navigated a funding challenge.
3 What is your approach to ensuring trauma-informed practices in grantmaking and team management?
4 How would you engage with frontline activists and survivors to ensure their voices guide the fund’s priorities?
5 Given the fund’s global scope, how would you adapt strategies to different cultural and regional contexts?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application that does not reference FGM or the fund’s specific mission.
  • Overlooking the trauma-informed focus—avoid language that is overly clinical or detached from survivor experiences.
  • Failing to demonstrate senior executive leadership experience with concrete examples of managing teams, budgets, and strategy.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Stichting Women Win!

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