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Come join a dedicated and creative team at Smithsonian Associates, an organization that leverages the vast resources of the Smithsonian Institution and produces a broad array of education programs both in-person around the Washington DC area and online for Smithsonian members and the public. Associates curates and produces informative, enlightening, entertaining, and insightful programs inspired by and amplifying the full character of the Smithsonian’s collections, exhibitions, and research. Audiences of all ages explore topics in scientific, historic, artistic, and cultural expression. Through their participation, members and the public become involved in the Institution’s work, creating broad interest and support for the Smithsonian. Smithsonian Associates is a financially independent educational non-profit business activity within the Smithsonian: funding is derived entirely from ticket sales, tuition, membership fees and fundraising.
Applicants who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review the Smithsonian’s EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo.
SI
Advancement Assistant, IS-1001-07
Smithsonian Institution
$57,736 - $61,586 / year
Washington, DCFull-timeOn-siteIntermediate
Need a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview? Contact us.
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Description
OPEN DATE: October 14, 2026
CLOSING DATE: October 28, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC *This is an in-person with 5 days a week expected in the office. *
Position sensitivity and risk:
Low Risk Non-Sensitive
Open to all qualified applicants
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
CLOSING DATE: October 28, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC *This is an in-person with 5 days a week expected in the office. *
Position sensitivity and risk:
Low Risk Non-Sensitive
Open to all qualified applicants
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
- Complete a Probationary Period.
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
Key Responsibilities
Come join a team of dedicated staff at an exceptional time in the Smithsonian’s history during the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future. The Smithsonian has surpassed its $2.5 billion fundraising goal one full year ahead of schedule, a milestone that comes as the nation prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary in 2026. This achievement marks the largest fundraising effort in the history of any cultural organization and represents a defining moment for the Institution and the country it serves. The Our Shared Future campaign has advanced the Smithsonian’s reach and impact, empowering the institution to find solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. The Smithsonian has built a model fundraising organization, driven by talented staff across our many museums, research centers and cultural centers. This position offers exciting opportunities for the successful candidate to make a significant impact on the future of the Smithsonian. There is no better time to join this amazing Institution.
Come join a dedicated and creative team at Smithsonian Associates, an organization that leverages the vast resources of the Smithsonian Institution and produces a broad array of education programs both in-person around the Washington DC area and online for Smithsonian members and the public. Associates curates and produces informative, enlightening, entertaining, and insightful programs inspired by and amplifying the full character of the Smithsonian’s collections, exhibitions, and research. Audiences of all ages explore topics in scientific, historic, artistic, and cultural expression. Through their participation, members and the public become involved in the Institution’s work, creating broad interest and support for the Smithsonian. Smithsonian Associates is a financially independent educational non-profit business activity within the Smithsonian: funding is derived entirely from ticket sales, tuition, membership fees and fundraising.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Smithsonian Associates seeks an enthusiastic and detail-focused Advancement Assistant to provide technical and administrative support to the Advancement team and assist with aspects of Associates donor relations, communication, and events and major gifts stewardship including:
- Processes membership payments and donations in Tessitura and Salesforce (if appropriate) with collaboration from Finance and Advancement colleagues
- Prepares and sends timely and accurate acknowledgements to members and donors
- Prepares and reviews new gifts/payments/pledges recorded by the Office of Advancement and determines when corrective action may be necessary.
- Works cooperatively with advancement staff in overseeing layout and copies prior to submitting mailings for invitations, solicitation packages and correspondence.
- Reviews and edits materials, correspondence, presentations, and brochures with current and accurate updates.
- Assists with logistical preparations for in-person special events and programs as assigned; assists with escorting guests as assigned.
- Establishes and maintains database records of incoming and outstanding gifts/payments/pledges and relevant donor and prospective donor files.
- Creates research profiles on donors and prospects in collaboration with the Office of Advancement
- Compiles data for stewardship reports for donors with responsibility for drafting text, recommending graphic design and providing statistical tables.
- In coordination with staff or supervisor, arranges for meetings, contacts participants, assembles correspondence, records, reports and other materials.
- Prepares correspondence, reports and materials needed for donor engagement, solicitation and stewardship in consultation with supervisor.
Benefits
Candidates may qualify for this position through a combination of education, demonstrated knowledge, and related professional experience.
- Knowledge of the fundraising program for responding timely and appropriately to requests for information concerning agency programs and services.
- Skill in producing written information so that the intended audience (i.e.donor, prospect, etc.) understands the material.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with people of different backgrounds and interests.
- Knowledge of administrative and management principles and procedures, and evaluative techniques to coordinate functional operations.
- Knowledge of donor database CRM systems and online fundraising marketing tools.
Applicants who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter by October 28, 2026. Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review the Smithsonian’s EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo.
Benefits
- Candidates may qualify for this position through a combination of education, demonstrated knowledge, and related professional experience. Knowledge of the fundraising program for responding timely and appropriately to requests for information concerning agency programs and services. Skill in producing written information so that the intended audience (i.e.donor, prospect, etc.) understands the material. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with people of different backgrounds and interests. Knowledge of administrative and management principles and procedures, and evaluative techniques to coordinate functional operations. Knowledge of donor database CRM systems and online fundraising marketing tools. Applicants who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package. Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery." APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter by October 28, 2026. Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week. Relocation expenses are not paid. What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures. The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review the Smithsonian’s EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo.
About this role
Supporting the Smithsonian's record-breaking fundraising campaign, this role sits at the intersection of donor relations and program administration within Smithsonian Associates. You'd handle the technical backbone of advancement work—processing gifts and memberships in Tessitura and Salesforce, maintaining donor records, preparing acknowledgments, and ensuring data accuracy across the pipeline. The position also involves tangible stewardship tasks: drafting donor reports, coordinating event logistics, editing solicitation materials, and creating prospect research profiles in collaboration with the advancement team.
This is a detail-oriented administrative role that requires comfort with database systems and donor management software, strong writing skills for correspondence and reports, and the ability to work cooperatively across teams. You'd need to balance competing priorities—from processing transactions to preparing materials for major gift solicitations—while maintaining accuracy and timeliness. The role suits someone who finds satisfaction in supporting others' work rather than leading it, and who can manage both routine administrative tasks and occasional event support.
The position is full-time, in-person in Washington, DC, with a salary of $57,736–$61,586. As a trust fund position at the Smithsonian, it offers a benefits package including health and dental insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan, transit benefits, and access to Smithsonian perks, though it does not lead to federal employment status. The application window closes October 28, 2026.
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