Grants Manager – Smart Works Charity

About Smart Works

Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses and coaches unemployed women for success at their job interview. We empower each woman by giving her the clothes and the confidence she needs to succeed. After visiting Smart Works, 69% of clients secure a job within a month, gaining financial independence and transforming their lives.

More information about who we are can be found on our website.

About the role

Smart Works exists to empower all women who need help getting into work. As such, we require vital funding from high-value donors to enable us to achieve this mission.

The Grants Manager is an integral role within the Fundraising and Partnerships team, working with the Head of Grants & Strategic Development, to build a strong pipeline of five and six-figure gifts from Trusts & Foundations.

The role will be varied with responsibility for managing key stakeholders from existing relationships held in the portfolio.

We are seeking a proactive self-starter, with experience in philanthropic fundraising and excellent written communication. Good attention to detail, managing multiple priorities and the ability to build strong working relationships would also be advantageous.

It is an exciting time to join Smart Works as we are in a significant growth phase, aiming to double the number of unemployed women per year we support to 10,000 by 2025.

Smart Works is a fast-paced collaborative environment with dynamic teams and ambitious plans. It is also a lot of fun, with opportunities to attend nationwide fundraising events, expert leadership panel discussions and designer fashion sales.

The Fundraising and Partnerships team are based in London, operating out of our North London centre in Islington. This is a hybrid role, working from our North London centre twice per week, with the opportunity to work the remaining from home, or from our West or South London centres. Some evening and weekend work is required to lead on philanthropic fundraising and support wider partnership team events.

If you’re passionate about supporting women and thrive in a fast-paced environment, then this is an ideal opportunity for you.

Duties and responsibilities

• Progressing the team’s grant funding pipeline, including identifying prospects, packaging up Smart Works’ assets and drafting funding applications.

• Managing existing grant funders, including the creation of impact reports and external stakeholder management.

• Supporting Smart Works’ local centres nationwide with insight and advice to grow their own regional grants funding.

• Maintaining accurate data records of pledged, banked and prospective income, in addition to supporting the Head of Grants with future forecasts provided to the Board of Trustees.

• Representing Smart Works to a diverse range of stakeholders and audiences to generate income and raise brand awareness.

• Building strong internal working relationships and collaborating cross-organisationally to help deliver the charity’s core mission.

• Attending external appropriate networking and stakeholder events.

Personal Specification

Essential Criteria

• Proven track record in securing five figure philanthropic income.

• Ability to exceed income targets as set by the Head of Grants & Strategic Development, and the Director of Partnerships.

• Experience of cultivating relationships with multiple and senior stakeholders.

• Demonstrable experience of strong written communication and of working with funding grant applications.

• Ability to prepare engaging and inspiring proposals, plans and reports.

• An understanding of the high-value fundraising landscape, its current challenges, opportunities and trends.

• Target driven with excellent organisation and time management capabilities.

• Passionate and enthusiastic about the mission and vision of Smart Works, demonstrated through clear initial research and understanding in the written application.

Desirable Criteria

• Proven track record in securing six figure philanthropic income.

• Good attention to detail, especially where completing contractual arrangements.

• Strong prioritisation and ability to manage a varied workload.

• Outstanding interpersonal, verbal communication and presentation skills, in order to build strong working relationships.

How to Apply

Please visit our website or click “Apply Now” to find out more information – we can’t wait to hear from you.