Senior Grants Officer

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium; Dubuque (IA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium seeks a Grants Manager / Senior Grants Officer to lead the development and execution of a comprehensive grants strategy. You will oversee prospect research, proposal development, submission, award management, compliance, and reporting in partnership with the Vice President of Development & Advancement.

*Note: Title and final compensation will be determined by depth of fundraising experience, commensurate with qualifications.*

Qualifications

• Experience in developing and executing grant strategies.
• Ability to manage the full grant lifecycle from LOI to final reporting.
• Strong collaboration with leadership and finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement strategies to generate financial support from foundations, corporations, local, state, and federal 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, supporting award management, compliance, and implementation.
• Collaborate with departments to gather data, develop objectives and outcomes, and prepare proposals and reports aligned with funder requirements.
• Maintain grant lifecycle activities: letters of inquiry, deadlines, stewardship, and reporting.
• Develop foundation relations strategy to increase philanthropic support from local to national foundations.
• Build and manage a portfolio of foundation funders and advocate for continued support.
• Engage partners to develop funding opportunities and align with organizational priorities.

Skills

Grant writing

Fundraising strategy

Prospect research

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Tools

Grants management software

Job description

The Grants Manager / Senior 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.

*Note: The internal title and final compensation for this role will be determined as either Grants Manager or Senior Grants Officer, commensurate with the selected candidate’s depth of experience in public/private institutional fundraising.

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 acknowledgement 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