Grant Writing Intern - Summer 2026

OVERVIEW:

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis seeks a Grant Writing Intern to join the Advancement (fundraising) team. This intern will research and draft written proposals to donor prospects in support of the Museum’s Centennial Capital Campaign, requesting funding for new programs and exhibits. The intern will contribute to real, active fundraising efforts while building a portfolio of professional writing samples. The Advancement team provides personalized, project-based internships that align with students’ interests and strengthen their preparation for future careers.

The Children's Museum is building and sustaining an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates differences. Successful candidates will demonstrate the desire and ability to make positive contributions to our growth. We believe that collaboration and open dialogue among persons with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives best support our vision and mission. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Research potential new funders, including foundation, corporate, and government sources, to identify opportunities that align with the Museum’s mission and upcoming projects.
• Write first drafts of letters of intent and full grant proposals to potential donors, utilizing strong research and persuasive or argumentative writing skills.
• Write first drafts of grant reports by partnering with various museum departments, such as Exhibit Development, School Programming, or Community Initiatives, to collect information and evaluation data demonstrating project success.
• When on-site, provide occasional administrative assistance to the Advancement team, including data management, donor event correspondence, and event preparation, setup, and stewardship.

REQUIREMENTS:

This internship can be a great learning experience for students in almost any field of study. The main requirement is to have solid writing skills. In addition, candidates should:

• Be actively pursuing a Bachelor’s degree (relevant fields include but are not limited to English, Professional Writing, Communications, Journalism, Nonprofit Management, Museum Studies, Marketing, Liberal Arts, etc.)
• Be available to work at least 20 hours per week in a flexible weekday schedule, Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
•  Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
•  Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Prioritize diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) and represent general museum culture throughout all communication with donors, staff, and visitors.
• Hold previous Experience (if any): Grant writing, nonprofit writing, and/or communications experience preferred but not required.
• We strongly encourage applicants to submit a writing sample.

ADA REQUIREMENTS:

• Read and analyze written materials

• Write and edit documents on a computer

• Communicate with staff (email, meetings)

• Sit or remain at a workstation for extended periods