The Climate Museum, a non-profit organization, is seeking college or graduate student volunteers/interns to join our team of climate ambassadors for spring semester 2024. The Museum’s mission is to inspire action on the climate crisis with programming across the arts and sciences that deepens understanding, builds connections, and advances just solutions. 

Since the start of its public programming in late 2017, the Museum has created an activist, cultural approach to community engagement with climate, recognizing that most Americans are worried about the climate crisis but are unsure how to take meaningful action. The Museum’s free, accessible exhibitions, art installations, public and youth programs, advocacy tools, and more have broadened the climate movement, introducing an interdisciplinary approach to climate with an emphasis on community, justice, equity, and inclusion. Programs have been presented at the Climate Museum Pop-Up in Soho, on Governors Island, and in galleries and public spaces citywide. The Museum is currently scaling out to a permanent, year-round presence in New York City. Additional information is available at www.climatemuseum.org or on all social media platforms: @climatemuseum. 

These volunteer opportunities/internships present the opportunity to play a generative role in a fast-paced, evolving organization. Volunteers/interns will carry out tasks in an intellectually vibrant and supportive environment within a culture centered around respect and inclusion. 

These volunteer opportunities/internships are unpaid, with an option for college credit if your school allows it. Some colleges offer stipends for nonprofit internships or volunteer opportunities. We are able to work with you and your school’s office to submit all relevant documentation if you are receiving a stipend. 

Volunteers/interns will work with the Museum team at their office in Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan and occasionally at the exhibition in Soho. In-person presence is required. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting immediately, with a final deadline of Sunday, December  10, 2023 at 11:59pm. Virtual interviews will take place starting in early December. Spring semester volunteer opportunities/internships have a target start date during the week of January 15 and end date in May 2024 (exact dates are flexible depending on the applicant's spring semester dates.) 

Volunteer Opportunity/Internship descriptions: 

The Museum is offering three volunteer/intern tracks: Development/Fundraising, Digital Design, and Communications/PR. 

Volunteers/interns will largely focus on the following tasks with additional opportunities that will vary depending on the immediate activities of the Climate Museum. 

Development/Fundraising:

• Support the execution of development and fundraising tasks, including stewardship of current and prospective donors by conducting donor prospect research, background research, and philanthropic trends research. 
• Assist with preparation of fundraising materials including but not limited to applications, agendas, notes and summaries. 
• Join Development and other strategic team meetings. 
• Support administrative processes, including utilization of Salesforce CRM (no prior experience required). 

Digital Design: 

• Create graphics using the Climate Museum’s visual identity for program materials, social media, digital & print marketing. 
• Manage website updates. 
• Assist with digital communications. 
• Attend weekly social media team meetings to participate in integrated communications planning, including social media, website, etc. 

Communications/PR:

• Draft content to promote Museum programs and events to the media.
• Assist with media inquiries, including research on journalists and media outlets. 
• Participate in communications team meetings to strategize on integrated communications plans including PR, advertising, marketing, and social media (in coordination with social media intern). 
• Join communications team brainstorms about story ideas to pitch to journalists, bloggers, and influencers. 
• Track media coverage.
• Monitor climate news.
• Maintain media list.
   

Qualifications: 

All volunteers/interns: 

• Ability to volunteer (unpaid) for approximately 15 hours/week, which will typically be during the hours of 10am – 6 pm Eastern time. Occasional weekend days or evenings will be requested. *Students who have an interest in an expanded schedule should indicate their availability in their cover letters. 
• College (sophomores and above) and graduate students only. Students must be taking courses leading to a degree, certificate, or diploma. 
• Self-starter able to attend in-person in Manhattan within the hours of 10am – 6pm Eastern time.
• If selected, the candidate must provide proof that they have been fully vaccinated and have received boosters, in accordance with CDC and other applicable government guidelines, against the COVID-19 (or SARS-CoV-2) virus, subject to any accommodation or other exceptions required by law. In addition, and subject to changing public health conditions, masks may be required of both Museum team members and visitors at events that do not include food and drink, subject to any accommodation or other exemptions required by law. 
• Demonstrated passion for climate issues, social justice, and/or museums. 
• Exceptional research and writing skills and generally strong academic qualifications. 
• Enterprising and ambitious mindset balanced with outstanding adaptability, collaborative skills, and ability to work independently. 
• Ability to interact with Museum visitors at public programs in an ambassadorial role.  
• Proficiency in Google Drive preferred, as well as the ability to learn new software. 
• Ability to maintain a flexible and positive attitude in a fast-paced environment.
• If selected, volunteers/interns are requested to bring their own laptops to the office, if they have one, or to request technology access accommodations. 

Development/fundraising volunteer/intern additional skills: 

• A keen interest in development, fundraising, or community engagement preferred. 
• Experience with Salesforce CRM preferred but not required. 

Digital Design volunteer/intern additional skills: 

• Graphic design skills with Adobe platforms — InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator (skills with at least one are required). 
• Experience with SquareSpace (preferred, not required). 
• Experience using HTML and CSS (preferred, not required). 
• Attention to detail. 

Communications/ PR volunteer/ intern additional skills:

• Creativity
• Interest in climate news 
• Experienced writer
• Academic focus on communications, PR, journalism preferred

To apply: 

Submit your resume, cover letter, and the names and contact information for two references (i.e., former work supervisor or faculty member) through this portal. In your letter, please note your preferred volunteer/internship track, as well as your available start and end dates. 

If you are applying for the Digital Design track, please provide two work samples. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the volunteer opportunity/internship will begin in January 2024 and end in May 2024. Start and end dates are flexible depending on the applicant’s spring semester dates. Volunteers/interns selected will not be entitled to employment with the Museum upon the conclusion of the volunteer opportunity/internship.  

The Climate Museum highly values diversity and views the climate crisis as, among other things, a multilateral, social justice crisis. Our aspiration is for our team to represent NYC both demographically and through a multitude of experiences and viewpoints. The Climate Museum is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals where required, in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Applicants may request a reasonable accommodation for interviews and to satisfy the essential functions of the job.

About the organization 

Contending with the climate crisis at scale requires a transformation of our public culture. The Climate Museum, the first museum in the U.S. dedicated to climate change, mobilizes the power of arts and cultural programming to accelerate this crucial shift toward climate dialogue and action, empowering visitors with the understanding that they can take meaningful action for climate justice, creating community for collective action, and popularizing solutions that emphasize justice and equity. The public trust held by museums situates them as unparalleled spaces for bringing people together to join the fight for a brighter future. 

In its public programming to date, the Museum has pioneered an activist cultural approach to community engagement with climate, recognizing that most Americans are worried about the climate crisis but unsure how to take meaningful action. The Museum’s free, accessible exhibitions, art installations, advocacy tools, events, and youth programs have received wide recognition in the cultural sector and beyond, and empowered hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and visitors to exercise their agency in the global climate movement. 

Building on its record of success, the Museum has launched an initiative to scale up to year-round space to make its pathbreaking work accessible to more people. This vision is being implemented through a series of transit-accessible exhibitions in various locations. 

About the role 

This full-time challenging and wide-ranging role presents the opportunity to learn about museum operations and planning and to play a central role in a formative period of growth of a nonprofit organization. Jump headfirst into justice-centered, cultural work on the climate emergency with a close-knit team of driven, passionate, and kind individuals. Work closely with the Museum’s Director as an executive assistant; lead operational projects; and be immersed in the high-level strategy and planning for the Climate Museum’s horizon, including upcoming programs, with room for growth through both your own initiative and special projects. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We are looking to fill this position quickly before the winter holiday, for a start date at the beginning of 2024. This will allow time for training before the current team member departs for graduate school. 

Responsibilities: 

• Assist the Director in managing their day-to-day activities, including development, programming, outreach, scheduling, note-taking/transcription, and research. 
• Plan, develop, implement, and manage organizational operations and protocols.
• Participate in strategy and planning meetings. 
• Assist with fundraising and development responsibilities, including outreach, logistics, research, grant writing, and data management.
• Coordinate the preparation of Board of Trustee reports and meetings and related tasks alongside the Director. 
• Manage IT systems and software, including Google Workspace, Salesforce, Slack, Paychex and more. 
• Manage payroll, compliance, insurance, and additional HR tasks. 
• Act as office manager and as the internal point person on bookkeeping and accounting. This position includes substantial lifts and learning opportunities in labor contracting, vendor interactions, budgeting, nonprofit governance of accounting, and recordkeeping. 
• Support the preparation and production of public programs and events. 
• Manage the Museum’s general inbox to field, direct, and handle various inquiries and collaboration and development opportunities. 
• Oversee intern recruitment, onboarding, and project assignments. 
• Execute special projects and research, collaborating across departments. 
• Troubleshoot complex problems. 

Qualifications: 

Job fundamentals:      

• Commitment to supporting, extending, and improving the work of the Director across development, strategy, program, and operations. 
• Enthusiasm for mastering basic accounting and other operational/technical skills. ○ Passion for climate issues, social justice, and/or museums. 
• Regular in-person office hours are Monday - Thursday, 10am - 6pm. Fridays are remote. Additional hours (including some weekend time) are often necessary. 

Organizational culture fundamentals:                          

• Kindness and humor under pressure. 
• Independent thinking and assertiveness. 
• Flexible, enterprising, and ambitious mindset. 
• Strong orientation toward collaboration and the success of the team.

 Essential job skills:

• Highly organized and detail-oriented habits with excellent time-management skills; ability to be a “steel trap.” 
• Sound judgment, since the role will be entrusted with exercising that judgment in important and significant matters. 
• Exceptional research and writing skills. 
• Consistent attention to excellent email and phone manners. 
• Comfort with error and adjustment in a highly dynamic work environment; a growth mindset.
• Comfort with learning new technology. 

  Experience level:

• Candidates with 0-2 years of pertinent experience will be considered.

Salary and benefits 

The salary range for this position is $65,000-$67,500. The Museum also offers an excellent benefits package, including health, dental, and vision, as well as a retirement savings account without matching. 

To apply: 

Please submit a resume and cover letter detailing why you are a strong candidate and why you would be a good fit with the Museum as well as a two to three page writing sample from previous work. We are requesting something you have already written, not something new. It may be an excerpt from a longer work or be complete. 

Apply via our Submittable page. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; we are looking to complete this hire before the winter holiday for a start date at the beginning of the new year. 

The Climate Museum highly values diversity and views the climate crisis as, among other things, a social justice crisis. People of color, people with disabilities, and people who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community are encouraged to apply. The Climate Museum is an equal opportunity employer.