Grants Manager/Sr. Grants Officer

Midwest Museums; Dubuque (IA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation time

Sick time

Paid holidays

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Flex plan

403b retirement plan

Job summary

The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, IA, seeks a Grants Manager / Sr. Grants Officer to lead the grants strategy, prospect research, proposal development, and award management.

You will partner with the VP of Development & Advancement to expand support from foundations, corporations, and government agencies. This full-time role emphasizes grant lifecycle management, data-driven fundraising, and strong cross-department collaboration to meet organizational funding goals and

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in grant writing, grants management, and securing funding from foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to cultivate a broad portfolio of grant prospects.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Experience using donors databases or CRM systems for fundraising and reporting.
• Must read, write, and speak English fluently.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement strategies to generate financial support from foundations, corporations, and government sources.
• Lead the grant application process including proposal development, budgeting, timelines, and submission.
• Analyze and oversee grant agreements, ensure compliance, and support award management with Finance and project teams.
• Collaborate across departments to gather data, craft objectives, and prepare compelling proposals and reports.
• Oversee grant lifecycle activities: LOIs, deadlines, stewardship, reporting, and renewals.
• Develop foundation relations strategy and manage a portfolio of funders with leadership.

Skills

Grant writing

Proposal development

Communication skills

Project management

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Grants management software

Job description

The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is an outgrowth of the Dubuque County Historical Society, which also operates the Mathias Ham Historic Site. Its mission is to inspire stewardship through educational experiences where history and rivers come alive.

The Grants Manager / Sr. Grants Officer will lead the development and execution of a comprehensive grants strategy, overseeing prospect research, proposal development, submission, award management, compliance, and reporting. Working in partnership with the Vice President of Development & Advancement, this position will expand support from foundations, corporations, and government agencies through strategic relationship-building, institutional funding initiatives, and effective grants management systems that support long-term organizational growth and impact.

This is a full-time, permanent position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits include vacation time, sick time, paid holidays, medical, dental, flex plan, and 403b retirement plan.

Grant Cultivation, Administration, and Advocacy

• Plan and implement strategies to generate financial support through the identification, research, cultivation, and solicitation of foundation, corporate, local, state, and federal funding sources.
• Lead the grant application process, including proposal development, budget creation, project coordination, timeline management, and submission.
• Analyze, administer, and oversee all grant agreements and contracts, working closely with project managers and the Finance department to support award management, compliance, and implementation.
• Collaborate with departments across the organization to gather data, develop objectives and outcomes, and prepare compelling proposals and reports aligned with DCHS strategic priorities and funder requirements.
• Maintain and manage all grant lifecycle activities, including letters of inquiry, application deadlines, stewardship activities, award monitoring, and interim, annual, and final reporting.
• Partner with organizational leadership to develop grant revenue goals and operating budgets while analyzing funding data and project outcomes to measure impact and identify growth opportunities.
• Lead implementation, onboarding, and ongoing management of the organization’s grants management software system, including process design, data migration, workflow development, staff training, and reporting.
• Communicate grant awards and recognition requirements to the Marketing department and other stakeholders to ensure appropriate public acknowledgment and compliance with funder expectations.

Funder Relationships and Growth

• Develop and implement a comprehensive foundation relations strategy to increase philanthropic support from local, regional, and national foundations, including the cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewal of foundation partnerships.
• Build, manage, and grow a portfolio of foundation funders in partnership with the Vice President of Development & Advancement, identifying opportunities for multi-year funding, strategic partnerships, and alignment with organizational priorities and future capital initiatives.
• Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with foundation leaders, program officers, legislators, grant partners, consultants, funding agencies, and other stakeholders to advance funding opportunities and organizational goals.
• Engage community partners and collaborative organizations in developing and strengthening funding opportunities that support the mission and strategic priorities of DCHS.
• Advocate for continued and expanded support of local, state, and federal grant programs and funding initiatives.
• Collaborate with leadership team members to cultivate external partnerships for grant funded projects related to all areas of the DCHS mission.

Other Skills and Responsibilities

• Incorporate the core values of DCHS into daily work, with commitment to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion efforts.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development to stay abreast of industry trends, news, and developments; a passion for continual learning.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in grant writing, grants management, and securing funding from foundations, corporations, and local, state, and federal agencies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to proactively identify and cultivate a broad portfolio of grant prospects.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively across departments.
• Experience implementing, managing, or utilizing grants management software, donor databases, or CRM systems preferred.
• Four-year college degree required.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language.
• Must be able to perform any physical demands of job duties, either with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Final candidates will be subject to a reference and background check.

The Dubuque County Historical Society and its properties, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and Mathias Ham Historic Site, are committed to embracing diversity, practicing equity, and ensuring accessibility and inclusion. We continually strive to achieve a welcoming environment in all our spaces, where our staff and community feel reflected and valued for their unique perspectives and backgrounds. DEAI values guide and impact all the decisions the museum makes, both internal and external.

We recognize that it is highly unlikely that any applicant is able to meet all of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if you are drawn to this position and feel your strengths would be an asset to the organization, we highly encourage you to apply.