Application Guide

How to Apply for Trust and Grants Fundraiser

at Women In Prison

🏢 About Women In Prison

Women in Prison is a unique national, women-led feminist organization that combines frontline support for women harmed by the criminal justice system with systemic advocacy for alternatives to imprisonment. Unlike many charities, they work both inside prisons and 'through the gate' during resettlement, creating a holistic approach to supporting women. Working here means contributing to a feminist mission that addresses root causes of offending while providing direct support to vulnerable women.

About This Role

As the Trust and Grants Fundraiser, you'll lead efforts to secure funding from charitable trusts and foundations, identifying new opportunities and managing existing grants for Women in Prison's ambitious growth plans. You'll collaborate with the Trusts and Foundations Manager and other team members to build the foundations for sustainable funding. This role directly impacts the organization's ability to expand its frontline support services and advocacy work for women affected by the criminal justice system.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve researching new trust funding opportunities aligned with WiP's programs, drafting sections of a grant application for prison-based support services, and coordinating with program staff to gather impact data for a grant report. You'd likely participate in virtual team meetings to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities and update the grants pipeline database while maintaining relationships with existing foundation contacts.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Women In Prison Is Looking For

  • Has 2+ years of proven trust and grants fundraising experience with a track record of securing five-figure grants from UK charitable trusts and foundations
  • Demonstrates strong alignment with feminist values and understanding of women's issues within the criminal justice system
  • Possesses excellent grant management skills including monitoring, reporting, and relationship stewardship with funders
  • Can work collaboratively in a small, remote team while taking initiative in identifying new funding opportunities

📝 Tips for Applying to Women In Prison

1

Quantify your trust fundraising achievements - mention specific grant amounts secured and success rates rather than just listing responsibilities

2

Demonstrate your understanding of feminist approaches to criminal justice reform by referencing WiP's specific campaigns or reports in your application

3

Highlight experience working in part-time or job-share arrangements, as this role requires coordination with the existing Trusts and Foundations Manager

4

Show how you've managed the full grant cycle from identification to reporting, emphasizing your organizational skills for remote work

5

Include examples of how you've collaborated with program staff to develop compelling funding proposals that align with organizational priorities

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with trust and grants fundraising in the UK charity sector, including examples of successful applications', "Alignment with WiP's feminist values and understanding of women's issues in the criminal justice system", 'Ability to work effectively in a remote, part-time capacity while coordinating with existing team members', "How your skills will contribute to building the foundations for WiP's ambitious fundraising plans"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → WiP's current campaigns and policy positions on women in the criminal justice system
  • → Their recent annual reports to understand current funding sources and organizational priorities
  • → The specific services they provide - prison support, community work, and resettlement programs
  • → Key staff members in the fundraising team and their backgrounds

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your process for identifying and prioritizing trust and foundation funding opportunities for a women's rights organization
2 How would you approach developing a funding proposal for WiP's 'through the gate' resettlement services?
3 Discuss your experience managing multiple grants simultaneously, including reporting requirements and relationship management
4 How do you ensure your fundraising work aligns with and supports feminist organizational values?
5 What strategies would you use to collaborate effectively with program staff in a remote working environment?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic applications that don't reference WiP's specific feminist mission or work with women in the criminal justice system
  • Focusing only on corporate or individual donor experience without emphasizing trust and grants fundraising expertise
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of how remote part-time work requires strong communication and self-management skills

📅 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 Women In Prison!

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