At Stepping Stone House, we truly believe in inspiring youth to build their future and be the very best they can be!

We are seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Grants Writer who will be responsible for applying for and securing funds through grants for Stepping Stone House. This is a part-time (three days per week) role based in Sydney CBD/Inner West with flexible working arrangements, where YOU can grow and make a difference.

About Stepping Stone House

Stepping Stone House (SSH) is a not-for-profit charity that provides accommodation and personal development for children and young people aged 12-24 years old who, through no fault of their own, find themselves homeless, at risk of homelessness or unable to live at home. We have a foundation of building resilience through outdoor education and activities.

SSH offers:

• Learning and Development – at SSH we extensively invest in the learning and development of our team members so they can become the very best they can be.
• Cultural Diversity – 48% of SSH team members were born overseas or their parents were.
• Gender Leadership diversity – females make up 80% of the SSH operational leadership team and 66% of the SSH Board of directors.
• Motivation – 96% of our staff team strongly believe in the Vision, Mission, and Values of SSH.
• Family – 96% of our staff team strongly agree that SSH support and respect family responsibilities outside of work.
• Career opportunities – 36% of our SSH staff team have been promoted internally.

To be successful in this role – you will need to be hard working, have a sense of humour, be flexible in your approach, be enthusiastic, resilient and show empathy and respect for the people you work with. You will need to be a self-starter, be honest in your approach and have passion for working with young adults.

About the Role

Reporting to the Grants, Partnerships & Research Coordinator, the Grants Writer plays a key role in applying for and securing funds through grants for SSH. As SSH is a not-for-profit/for-purpose charity, we rely heavily on funding through grants as well as various fundraising events and donations. The purpose of the Grants Writer position is to help research and author grant proposals for projects within SSH, provide relevant acquittal reports for successful grants, form and/or maintain relations with new and known funding organisations, as well as work cohesively and collaboratively within a tight Fundraising and Marketing team.

What you will be doing - Key Responsibilities

• Author succinct, persuasive and professional grant proposals that align with the values and projects of SSH
• Provide accurate and timely acquittal reports and evaluations to funders in line with the grant agreement
• Proactively meet and forge relations with potential funders for upcoming grants as well as strengthening relationships with existing funders
• Collaborate with a tight Fundraising & Marketing team
• Write copy for the Stepping Stone House CEO and the broader Fundraising & Marketing team

About You – Selection Criteria

Essential criteria:

• Demonstrated written communication skills, including persuasiveness and grammar/spelling.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to write in different styles for varying audiences.
• Ability to write, edit, and review documents for internal and external audiences.
• Proven decision-making skills.
• Time-management skills and demonstrated ability to manage competing deadlines.
• High level of administrative and organisational qualities with attention to detail.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Windows based computer applications.
• Sound understanding of (or willingness to learn) Microsoft Excel and Excel formulas.

Desirable criteria:

• Preference to grant writing experience, but not essential as training will be included as part of this job.
• Experience writing various forms of copy, but not essential as training will be included as part of this job.
• Preference to degree in a relevant field (e.g. Journalism, Social Work, Psychology, Arts, Business, Marketing, Communications, Social Sciences).

Person Specifications:

• Professionalism and a passion for working within the homelessness sector.
• Creative and analytical thinker.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively under pressure with minimal supervision.
• Honest and trustworthy.
• Evidence of collaborative working style and ability to build good working relationships.
• Adaptable.
• A willingness to align with SSH vision, mission and values.

Work with us and you will enjoy:

• Salary Packaging benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time off in lieu
• Flexible work arrangements (role dependent)
• Training, development and succession planning

Stepping Stone House is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applicants who have an Indigenous and / or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background. 

Stepping Stone House provides regular supervision and support for all staff and opportunities for professional development.  Salary, Conditions of employment are based on the Social, Community, Home Care, and Disability Services Award. Salary packaging is available. 

Please note: Child Safety is at the forefront of all work completed at Stepping Stone House. If your application is successful, you will be required to obtain a Working with Children Check, a Criminal History Check and provide consent to be registered on the OCG’s residential youth workers registry.