Grant Writer

The Grant Writer will work directly with members of the Board of Directors to research, draft, and support grant applications that help sustain and expand the Museum’s educational programs, collections preservation, exhibitions, outreach initiatives, and community partnerships.

This is an excellent opportunity for a student, emerging nonprofit professional, career changer, retiree, or anyone interested in gaining experience in nonprofit development, public history, museums, archives, arts and culture, or philanthropy.

Responsibilities

The Grant Writer may assist with:

• Researching prospective grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, and public agencies
• Drafting grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and supporting narratives
• Assisting with grant reporting and tracking deadlines
• Gathering organizational information, statistics, and program data for applications
• Supporting fundraising strategy discussions with Board members
• Helping maintain a grants calendar and submission records
• Assisting with donor and institutional prospect research
• Collaborating with Museum leadership to articulate program impact and organizational priorities

Potential grant focus areas may include:

• Collections preservation and cataloging
• Educational programming and school outreach
• Public exhibitions and interpretive projects
• Community engagement initiatives
• Digital access and archival projects
• Historic preservation
• Equity and bilingual accessibility initiatives

Desired Qualifications

Ideal candidates may possess:

• Strong writing, research, and organizational skills
• Interest in nonprofit work, museums, public history, archives, arts administration, or fundraising
• Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Familiarity with Google Workspace
• Previous writing or nonprofit experience is helpful but not required

The Marin History Museum welcomes applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and career stages.

Learning Opportunities

The Grant Writer will gain exposure to:

• Nonprofit fundraising and development strategy
• Grant writing and institutional advancement
• Museum operations and cultural nonprofit management
• Board governance and nonprofit leadership
• Community-based historical and educational programming

To Apply

Please submit:

• A resume
• A brief statement of interest
• A short writing sample (academic, professional, or creative)

About the Marin History Museum

The Marin History Museum has preserved and shared the rich history of Marin County for more than 90 years. The Museum stewards the largest historical collection in Marin County, including more than 20,000 artifacts and 200,000 photographs housed at the Craemer Family Collection Facility in Novato.

The Museum operates the historic Boyd Gate House in San Rafael, presents exhibits and educational programming throughout Marin County, publishes local history content, and collaborates with historical organizations countywide through the Marin Archival Collaborative (MAC).

By the Numbers:

• 90+ years preserving Marin’s history
• 20,000 artifacts and 200,000 photographs in the collection
• 224 members and growing
• 42 board and emeritus leaders, 23 volunteers, and 3 part-time staff
• 8,000+ Facebook followers and 3,500+ Instagram followers

Programs and initiatives include:

• Monthly speaker series
• Educational Trunk Program for schools and community groups
• Annual exhibits at the Boyd Gate House
• Pop-up exhibits throughout Marin County
• Public tours and “Coffee with a Curator” events
• A bilingual self-guided downtown San Rafael walking tour
• Ongoing collections preservation and archival access projects

The Marin History Museum values diverse perspectives and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply.