Gift Officer, IS-1001-13

Smithsonian Institution

$121,785 - $158,322 / year

Washington, DCFull-timeOn-siteIntermediate

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Description

OPEN DATE: October 19, 2026
CLOSING DATE: November 22, 2026
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent
SCHEDULE: Full Time *This is an in-person with 5 days a week expected in the office. *
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC

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.

Join a team of dedicated staff at Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (SLA). This position is located in the Office of the Director, Office of Advancement, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, Smithsonian Institution (SI). The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum and research complex, consisting of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, nine research facilities, and the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (SLA) with locations in Washington, D.C., New York City, Edgewater and Suitland, Maryland, and the Republic of Panama.

The Smithsonian has built a model fundraising organization, driven by talented staff across our many museums, research centers and cultural centers. The Advancement program was established to engage individuals, foundations, corporations and other organizations in furthering the Smithsonian’s mission through philanthropic support. 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 Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

The selected candidate will serve as the principal Gift Officer, partnering closely with the Director of Smithsonian Libraries and Archives to advance fundraising initiatives, cultivate major donor relationships, support Board engagement, and help shape departmental development strategies. This role provides expert leadership in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospective and current donors, managing a portfolio of high-capacity individuals and organizations to secure sustainable philanthropic support and achieve fundraising goals.

Program Management (60%)

Secures contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations, and other organizations by discovering and cultivating a productive relationship with prospective donors.
Manages relationships with current and prospective donors, including identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors.
Develops and executes strategies for engagement, presents opportunities for giving and negotiation, and completes solicitation efforts.
Ensures adherence to policies, guidelines, and regulations. Evaluates and addresses challenges encountered with projects and plans and determines engagement of appropriate staff and supervisor as part of resolution. Engages staff, volunteers and leadership in cultivation and solicitation of donors in addition to soliciting gifts personally.

Prospect Management (20%)

Secures contributions Develops and manages prospect activity for the portfolio of prospects ranging from major gifts to principal giving.
Seeks opportunities to expand the portfolio and increase giving from current donors. Develops individual strategies and execution activities to increase giving and expand portfolio.
Executes prospect management practices in accordance with established guidelines and seeks to maximize the opportunities for prospects and donors. Ensures activity and information is recorded accurately, timely, to identify and engage the appropriate stakeholders. The position works collaboratively with and in support of the Advancement staff and others as needed.

Supervision (20%)

Provides overall leadership and management of the Advancement program and staff, exercising the full range of supervisory responsibilities, including assigning and prioritizing work, coordinating activities with internal and external stakeholders, providing management guidance and technical direction, establishing performance standards, evaluating employee performance, making selections for supervisory and non-supervisory positions, resolving employee issues, administering disciplinary actions, identifying training and development needs, recommending awards and recognition, and implementing strategies to enhance staff productivity and organizational effectiveness.
Stays abreast of, supports, and communicates equal opportunity policies, plans, and programs.
Monitors compliance with professional, ethical, and administrative policies and practices as governed by the Smithsonian Institution.

Benefits

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the role.

Requires mastery of professional fundraising techniques and understanding of the current philanthropic market to develop strategies for raising funds from a variety of prospects.
Strong oral presentation skills to engage and inform donors and donor prospects and negotiate significant gifts on behalf of the Smithsonian or unit.
Skill in developing written materials designed to recognize and encourage the organization's donors where their funding has benefited the unit programs.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of individual or institutional donors of diverse backgrounds and interests.
Skill in analyzing individuals and institutions to develop prospect portfolio and prospect donors in achieving fundraising goals.

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 November 22, 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.

Benefits

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the role. Requires mastery of professional fundraising techniques and understanding of the current philanthropic market to develop strategies for raising funds from a variety of prospects. Strong oral presentation skills to engage and inform donors and donor prospects and negotiate significant gifts on behalf of the Smithsonian or unit. Skill in developing written materials designed to recognize and encourage the organization's donors where their funding has benefited the unit programs. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of individual or institutional donors of diverse backgrounds and interests. Skill in analyzing individuals and institutions to develop prospect portfolio and prospect donors in achieving fundraising goals. 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 November 22, 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.

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About this role

The Smithsonian Institution is seeking a Gift Officer to lead fundraising efforts for Smithsonian Libraries and Archives at a pivotal moment—the institution has just surpassed its $2.5 billion campaign goal ahead of schedule. You would serve as the principal gift officer, working directly with the Director to identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors while managing a portfolio of high-capacity prospects. The role centers on building and maintaining relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporations, developing engagement strategies, and closing gifts to support the Libraries and Archives' mission.

The position divides roughly between program management (60%) and prospect management (20%), with the remainder devoted to coordination and strategy. You'll be responsible for discovering prospective donors, executing solicitation campaigns, stewarding current donors, and ensuring all activity is accurately tracked. This is hands-on work that requires both personal solicitation skills and the ability to mobilize staff, volunteers, and leadership around cultivation efforts. You'll also manage your own portfolio of prospects, identifying opportunities to deepen relationships and increase giving over time.

This is a full-time, in-office role in Washington, DC, offered as a trust fund position (not federal civil service) with a salary of $121,785–$158,322. The Smithsonian offers a benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan, transit benefits, and access to employee discounts. You'll need to pass a background check and complete a probationary period. The role suits someone with proven major gift fundraising experience who thrives on relationship-building and can operate strategically within a complex cultural institution.

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