Application Guide

How to Apply for Trust & Grants Fundraiser

at The Wave Project

🏢 About The Wave Project

The Wave Project is a unique charity that uses surfing and coastal activities to improve young people's mental health and wellbeing. They stand out for their innovative approach to youth support through outdoor therapy, making a tangible difference in communities across the UK. Working here means contributing to a mission that literally changes lives through the power of the ocean.

About This Role

This Trust & Grants Fundraiser role involves securing funding from charitable trusts and foundations to support The Wave Project's youth mental health programs. You'll be responsible for managing relationships with existing funders while identifying new opportunities, with grants ranging from small awards to six-figure gifts. Your work directly enables more young people to access life-changing surf therapy sessions.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve researching new trust opportunities aligned with youth mental health funding, drafting a compelling grant application that connects surf therapy outcomes to a foundation's priorities, and preparing impact reports for existing funders showing how their support has transformed young lives. You'll balance prospecting activities with relationship management, using digital tools to identify opportunities while maintaining the human connections that secure ongoing support.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who The Wave Project Is Looking For

  • Has specific experience writing successful grant applications for youth mental health, outdoor therapy, or similar charitable causes
  • Demonstrates proven ability to manage funder relationships and secure repeat funding through compelling impact reporting
  • Shows expertise using digital research tools like Trustfunding, Funds Online, or Charity Commission databases to identify new trust prospects
  • Can provide concrete examples of securing grants at different scales, from smaller awards to significant multi-year funding

📝 Tips for Applying to The Wave Project

1

Quantify your past fundraising achievements specifically for youth mental health or outdoor therapy programs, not just general fundraising numbers

2

Include a writing sample or portfolio link showing grant applications you've written for similar causes (with sensitive information redacted)

3

Demonstrate your understanding of The Wave Project's specific impact metrics - how many young people they serve, their locations, and their therapeutic approach

4

Show how you've used digital research platforms to identify trust opportunities relevant to mental health and youth development funding

5

Tailor your application to show you understand the difference between securing funding for operational costs versus program expansion for this specific charity

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with trust fundraising for youth mental health or outdoor activity charities', "Examples of how you've developed compelling narratives that connect funder priorities to program impact", 'Your approach to managing a portfolio that includes both maintaining existing relationships and building new prospects', 'How your research skills have successfully identified trust opportunities aligned with specific charitable causes']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → The Wave Project's annual reports and impact measurements - understand exactly how they quantify their success with young people
  • → Their current funders and partners listed on their website to understand their existing trust relationships
  • → The specific programs they run in different locations and how these might appeal to different types of trusts
  • → Recent news or campaigns about The Wave Project to understand their current priorities and challenges

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would research and approach a trust that funds youth mental health initiatives in coastal communities
2 How would you demonstrate the impact of surf therapy to a foundation that typically funds traditional mental health services?
3 Describe your process for managing relationships with existing funders to secure repeat grants for ongoing programs
4 What metrics would you track and report to show The Wave Project's effectiveness to trust funders?
5 How would you prioritize your time between maintaining existing relationships and prospecting for new trust opportunities?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using generic fundraising language without connecting it specifically to youth mental health or outdoor therapy outcomes
  • Focusing only on large grants when the role explicitly mentions managing a range from smaller awards to six-figure gifts
  • Not demonstrating understanding of how digital research platforms are specifically used in trust fundraising for charitable causes

📅 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 The Wave Project!

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