Bell Museum Advancement Communications Specialist

Position Title: Bell Museum Advancement Communication Specialist                         
Working hours: Monday- Friday, with some weekends and evenings.

Working location:  In person, based out of Bell Museum, St Paul Campus. This position is in-person 3 days per week. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities: 

As an Advancement Communications Specialist, you will serve as a lead storyteller and grant writer, translating the Bell Museum’s impact into compelling narratives that inspire philanthropic support. Reporting to the Director of Advancement, you will work within a collaborative team alongside the Donor and Member Relations Manager and Associate Development Officer, as well as across teams both at the Bell Museum and the University of Minnesota Foundation, to write grant proposals, donor stewardship stories, and multi-channel communications (including the Bell’s Report to the Community and monthly donor newsletter). This role will support development of evaluation best practices to measure program success and create innovative ways to share impact.  This is a dynamic opportunity for a versatile writer to grow a successful grant program, while also enhancing the overall communication strategy of the Bell advancement department. 

Job Duties:

Prospect Research and Cultivation - 30%

• Researching corporate and foundation grant and sponsorship opportunities
• Maintaining a comprehensive funding calendar, ensuring a steady stream of applications across various museum departments.
• Identifying trends in corporate and foundation philanthropy and staying up to date on the local philanthropic landscape.
• Engaging foundation and corporate prospects with unique engagement strategies and in collaboration with University of Minnesota Foundation colleagues. 
   

Proposal Development and Management - 30%

• Securing Bell Museum grants: writing, developing and submitting proposals and grant related correspondence, writing and reporting on grant deliverables, and developing research driven impact statements. 
• Communication with foundation funders to insure application compliance and strengthen relationships. 
• Facilitating team meetings and collecting/interpreting data that assists in the development of goals, objectives, and activities for inclusion in proposals. 
• Working with the Director of Advancement and potential funders to determine appropriate requests/solicitations.
• Developing  and drafting proposals, budgets, and accompanying materials for grant requests.
• Coordinating documentation, funding records and database entries.
• Maintaining regular correspondence with program officers and providing necessary stewardship.

Donor and Member Communication - 30%

• Identifying content and drafting stories for Bell Museum’s donor stewardship communication suite: monthly email, annual newsletter, and program specific communications. 
• Writing/editing of the annual Report to the Community.
• Support in creation of direct mail appeals and website copy.
• Developing data driven case statements for the Bell Museum overall and for individual programs and departments, based on up to date research and statistics. 

Data Collection and Reporting - 10%

• Developing and maintaining documentation, tracking tools, evaluation systems and procedures.
• Collecting program data, and preparing reports for funders, in partnership and collaboration with diverse departments within the museum (Statewide Engagement, Public Education and Statewide Learning, Operations, etc.)
• Monitoring grant expenditures and submitting budget amendments.
   

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal six years (related experience in grant writing, corporate sponsorship development, and/or general fundraising).
• Experience in all aspects of the grant application process, including: research, prospecting, writing grants, submitting proposals, managing applications and funding cycles, understanding guidelines and budgets, and reporting on grant deliverables.
• Ability to clearly articulate organizational goals in written proposals and collaborate effectively with diverse internal and external partners.  
• Strong organizational skills and extreme attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience responding to internal and external constituents, establishing positive working relationships, and responding with a sense of urgency to each specific audience.
• Experience handling confidential materials and information with sensitivity and discretion.
• Demonstrating ability to work independently and part of a team.
• Desired proficiency in database management systems for tracking donor relationships, deadlines, and track budgets.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Grant writing experience in cultural or nature/environment/science-based institutions.
• Master storyteller - excellent written communication skills.
• Thrives in a collaborative environment.

How to Apply

In addition to a resume, please include a cover letter explaining how you feel your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. Please highlight any experience you have in grant proposal writing and submission. 

Those that move forward for the interview will be requested to submit a writing sample. 

Application deadline: 11:59pm on July 26, 2026

For questions about the position please contact Kate Sigurdson, ksigurds@umn.edu