Media Relations Apprentice, Communications

Mellon Foundation

Media Relations Apprentice

The Mellon Foundation (“Foundation”) is a not-for-profit, grant making organization that believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and we believe that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. The Foundation makes grants in four core program areas - Higher Learning, Arts and Culture, Public Knowledge, and Humanities in Place - and through its signature Presidential Initiatives. The Foundation seeks an apprentice for our Media Relations Communications team.

Team/ Program Overview:

The Mellon Foundation's team of communications professionals are responsible for building and stewarding the Foundation brand, telling its story, and driving outreach and engagement efforts both internally and externally. Our work strives to:

• Build broad brand affinity and connection with the Mellon Foundation's work
• Encourage appreciation, understanding of, and engagement with the work of our grantees
• Broadly advocate for the centrality of the arts and humanities in culture

Position Summary:

This position, reporting to the Media Relations Senior Associate with oversight from the Director of Media & Public Relations, will support a wide range of media relations efforts within the Foundation’s New York-based Communications department. Responsibilities include administrative and organizational duties, research support, media monitoring, drafting materials, and outreach.

This is a 12-month, full-time position with a start date of early June 2026.

Position Description:

• Responsibilities may include, but will not be limited to the following: 
• Support media and public relations efforts through a variety of projects, both internal and external facing.
• Provide support in developing press materials, including press releases, media alerts, pitches, bios, media and speaking engagement briefing documents, recap reports, and media analysis/reporting.
• Assist with prep documents, including talking points and messaging to prepare Mellon spokespeople for external speaking engagements and interviews.
• Review and respond to inbound telephone calls and e-mail correspondence in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Track media coverage, reporters, industry news, and peer organization activities.
• Maintain up-to-date media contact lists and editorial calendars.
• Contribute to PR planning and strategy ideation.
• Help maintain an organized system of tracking, monitoring, and prioritizing tasks using the Foundation’s primary project management tools: Monday.com and Box.com.
• Oversee confidential and non-routine information with sensitivity.

Qualifications:

• Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, or: within one year of graduation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with an interest in honing an ability to think about media relations from a strategic and creative perspective.
• Familiarity with Monday.com, Cision, LexisNexis and/or PR Newswire.
• Media pitching experience, especially on topics of arts, culture, and the humanities.
• Strong interest in learning about communications and media relations in a nonprofit setting; demonstrated interest, through work history or career objectives, in developing hands-on experience with media and public relations.
• Dedicated follower of news of the day, current events, and current trends in the arts, culture, and humanities spaces.
• Flexible, highly organized, and able to juggle multiple and competing tasks with exceptional follow-up and attention to detail.
• Work history demonstrates an ability to anticipate next steps, take initiative, exercise discretion, and apply sound judgment.
• High level of interpersonal skills and discretion to manage sensitive and confidential situations.
• Ability to be highly productive working independently and as a member of a team.

The Mellon Foundation is committed to building an inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Employment opportunities are based on individual qualifications, merit, and organizational need, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds.

Mellon is committed to access and inclusion for our applicants. If you have accessibility requests to support your participation in the hiring process, please let us know at your earliest convenience.

Mellon offers a generous total reward package that includes base salary and a comprehensive benefits program, as well as an excellent working environment. Mellon is committed to providing compensation that is competitive and equitable within the philanthropic sector. The estimated hourly salary range for this role is $27 - $30. The amount of pay offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to qualifications, unique skills, credentials, or experience that is expected to impact the candidate’s contribution to the role. We will also consider market data as well as the Foundation’s internal pay equity framework.

Please note that Mellon maintains a hybrid work schedule, with three days per week in person at the Foundation’s Manhattan offices.

Candidates should apply by submitting a cover letter describing fit for the position, a resume, and a writing sample by March 16th, 2026. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered. We want to hear about your interest in your own words; accordingly, we ask that all candidates refrain from using artificial intelligence to produce application materials.

The Foundation will consider each complete application carefully but only contact those individuals it believes are most qualified for the position.

Mellon offers a generous total reward package that includes base salary and a comprehensive benefits program, as well as an excellent working environment. Mellon is committed to providing compensation that is competitive and equitable within the philanthropic sector. The estimated hourly salary range for this role is $27 - $30. The amount of pay offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to qualifications, unique skills, credentials, or experience that is expected to impact the candidate’s contribution to the role. We will also consider market data as well as the Foundation’s internal pay equity framework.

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