Job Description

Wonder Works is a joyful children’s museum located in Oak Park, IL where children and their caregivers learn and create through the power of play. Our mission is to spark curiosity and creativity in all young children through positive, play based learning experiences. As a non-profit children’s museum, Wonder Works Children’s Museum relies on philanthropic support to provide engaging exhibits, educational programming, community outreach, and providing accessibility to the museum by offering deeply discounted and free admission. We are seeking a skilled and passionate grant writer and manager to help secure funding. The ideal candidate is a strategic, detail oriented professional who can take over management of existing funding sources, and find new funding opportunities in the form of grants, foundations, and donors. This candidate can also write compelling proposals and narratives, and oversee the full cycle of grants for the museum’s initiatives and growth. Essential Job Functions Collaborate with the Executive Director, Development team, and leadership staff to understand and articulate impact and funding needs in funding narratives and to potential grantors. Research, identify and evaluate new and existing grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, community, and federal, state, and city government agency funding sources. Maintain a grants calendar to track funding, deadlines, reporting requirements, and any other grant information. Track all submitted, pending, and awarded grants. Familiarity with development/grant management software preferred. Recommend strategies that align with our mission, goals, and programs and stay informed about trends in philanthropy, grantmaking, and nonprofit funding. Write compelling narratives/proposals, letters of inquiry, and applications with supporting materials. Gather and utilize data necessary for proposals. Ensure that proposals are accurate, on time, and aligned with museum and funder priorities. Help cultivate and maintain positive relationships with foundations, corporate partners, grantors, and their organizations. Participate in development planning and contribute as needed to broader fundraising initiatives. Support communications with donor/funder visits and stewardship activities/events. Serve as an enthusiastic ambassador for Wonder Works, its mission, and the power of play! Fulfill other related and similar tasks and duties as assigned. Qualifications, Education Considerations, and Experience Minimum 1-3 years experience of successful grant writing and grant management experience at a non-profit organization required. Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, creative writing or a related area preferred. Documented track record of securing grants; government, foundation, and corporate grants. Exceptional writing, editing, and narrative skills. Strong research, organizational, and management skills, including managing multiple deadlines. Proficiency in Google workspace and familiarity with Little Green Light or other development software. The person in this role is expected to have availability several days each weekday during daytime business hours for meetings and collaboration. Availability to work daytime hours, some evenings, weekends, or during special events is required. There is flexibility, including work from home opportunities. Physical Demands & Work Environment The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Physical requirements include working for an extended amount of time at a computer. This position also may require extended periods spent standing and walking, stooping, kneeling, bending, squatting/crouching, crawling, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching above the shoulders and lifting moderately heavy objects, such as boxes or bins. To Apply Please submit a one-page cover letter, résumé, a portfolio or marketing and communications samples, and three references to humanresources@wonder-works.org #J-18808-Ljbffr

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