Senior Grant Writer

Over the last sixty years, the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) has evolved into New York City’s premier interactive museum; a global leader in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education; and a research hub and laboratory for new forms of learning. Today, NYSCI is recognized for our groundbreaking exhibitions, innovative educational and career exploration programs, arts and cultural offerings, and large-scale events that draw children and adults into experiential STEM learning.

The Senior Grant Writer is a critical member of NYSCI’s Institutional Advancement team (8.0 FTE) that overall raises $6–$7 million annually to support this work from private and public funders such as foundations, corporations, and government agencies. NYSCI is seeking a highly motivated, self-directed professional with superior communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills. This position is ideal for an experienced grant writer who is interested in taking on additional responsibilities—such as strategic planning—in close collaboration with NYSCI’s Vice President of Institutional Giving, Chief Advancement Officer, and other members of the Institutional Advancement team.

The role is designed for a hybrid work schedule, typically involving attendance 2-3 days per week on-site at NYSCI’s museum in Corona, Queens for team meetings, site visits, and special events. However, NYSCI is willing to consider fully remote / out-of-state candidates with a strong background in institutional fundraising, as well as the ability to attend an initial orientation and occasional events in person.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Write and edit letters of inquiry and grant proposals that build a compelling case for institutional funders to support NYSCI.
• Manage the full-cycle process for grant awards, including the internal tracking of program deliverables and reporting deadlines; coordinate with other teams as necessary to ensure that funder requirements are met.
• Assist in generating grant budgets and expenditure reports, in partnership with program and finance staff.
• Build strong working relationships with other teams to collaboratively shape individual grant requests, as well as NYSCI’s overall programmatic fundraising strategy.
• Prospect for new foundation, corporate, and government grant opportunities through regular online research; present recommendations for approaching strong prospects to NYSCI’s leadership.
• Use a CRM database (Raiser’s Edge) to track past submissions and upcoming deadlines, and to assess year-over-year trends in NYSCI’s institutional fundraising.
• Steward relationships with institutional funders through ongoing correspondence, meetings, event attendance, and/or site visits.
• Collaborate with the Chief Advancement Officer and the Vice President of Institutional Advancement to design and implement a strategic fundraising plan, focused on expanding institutional support for NYSCI.
• Stay informed of trends in philanthropy that may influence NYSCI’s approach to institutional fundraising.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, English, Museum Studies, Non-Profit Management, a related field of study, and/or its work experience equivalent
• 3+ years of foundation, corporate, and/or government fundraising experience, with an emphasis on grant writing, record keeping and stewardship systems, and experience working within a complex organization.
• Commitment to the philosophy and mission of the New York Hall of Science.
• Experience in building a foundation and/or corporate relations program and proven ability to effectively inspire others.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and close grants from foundations, corporations, and/or government agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct in-depth donor research with familiarity and/or experience utilizing RelPro, RelSci, iWave, Candid’s Foundation Directory, Foundation Search, and/or other prospecting tools.
• Experience collaborating with diverse teams (within department, cross departmental, and with external partners) including the ability to effectively lead and manage projects as well as harness team creativity and translate it into effective fundraising.
• Experience fundraising for a science center/natural history museum/children’s museum or STEM education institution is preferred but not required.

REQUIREMENTS

• Superior writing skills and demonstrated ability to develop original proposals, reports, and accompanying financial materials. Strong ability to express ideas clearly both in written and oral communications.
• Highly developed project management skills and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks as needed based on deadlines and workflow.
• Sophisticated understanding of record keeping and stewardship systems to support and grow a successful donor relations program (Raiser’s Edge, MS Excel, Word & PowerPoint, Google Docs & Sheets, etc.).
• Occasional evening and weekend availability to participate in events outside the workday schedule.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Stationary workstation: The employee must be able to remain in a stationary sitting position for up to 8 hours a day with appropriate breaks.
• Manual dexterity: The role requires the frequent use of hands for typing, writing, and handling office equipment.
• Visual acuity: The employee must have the visual ability to perform extensive computer work for long periods, including reading and analyzing data on a computer screen.
• Communication: The role requires the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and verbal forms.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree preferred

HOW TO APPLY

Please upload your resume and cover letter through our online careers portal. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Please note that while careful consideration will be given to each submission, the Museum will only be able to contact those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and work experience best fit the requirements of the position.

Interview Process

1. Introductory video interview
2. On-site panel interview
3. Successful candidates will be asked to submit a professional writing sample and references

Application Deadline: November 20, 2024

No phone calls or faxes please.

The New York Hall of Science is an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and innovative environment with the best employees. We provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military service, marital status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. We support a drug-free workplace.

If there are preparations, we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.

Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that an applicant meets 100% of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if much of this job description describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply for this role.