Advancement Specialist, IS-1001-11

Smithsonian Institution; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 85,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & Vision

Transit/Commuter Benefits

Retirement Plan

Job summary

Smithsonian Advancement Office in Washington, DC, seeks an Advancement Specialist (IS-1001-11) to support fundraising and donor engagement for the Archives of American Art. This full-time, in-person role requires managing gifts, coordinating communications, and planning cultivation events in a Trust Fund context.

Open to qualified applicants, the position emphasizes annual giving, donor stewardship, and collaborating with the Advancement team to meet fundraising goals.

Qualifications

• Four years of donor relations and event management experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willing to travel locally and nationally, and work evenings/weekends when required.

Responsibilities

• Manage a donor portfolio and cultivate relationships to increase engagement.
• Coordinate donor communications and track annual giving performance.
• Prepare materials to support donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Plan donor events, including the annual fundraising gala.
• Maintain donor records and evaluate fundraising initiatives.
• Support planned giving strategies to sustain long-term goals.

Skills

Donor relations

Event management

Job description

Advancement Specialist, IS-1001-11

Application Deadline: 20 November 2026

Department: Archives of American Art

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $85,447 - $111,087 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: November 5, 2026

CLOSING DATE: November 20,2026

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.

OVERVIEW

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 surpassed its $2.5 billion fundraising goal one year ahead of schedule, an achievement that 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 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.

This position is located in the Advancement Office at the Archives of American Art, part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture. The Archives collects, preserves, and makes available primary source materials documenting the history of American art and artists. With a collection of more than 30 million items, the Archives is the largest and most widely used resource in the world on the history of American art.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Advancement Specialist supports the Archives of American Art’s fundraising and donor engagement efforts, helping to advance the institution’s mission through comprehensive annual giving and membership programs.

• Manages a portfolio of donors and members, cultivating relationships, identifying opportunities for increased engagement, and soliciting new gifts to support the Archives’ priorities.
• Developing and coordinating donor communications, including solicitations, renewal appeals, acknowledgments, marketing materials, and constituent e-newsletters, as well as tracking and reporting on annual giving performance.
• Prepares correspondence, reports, and other materials to support donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship in collaboration with the Advancement team.
• Plans and executes donor cultivation and stewardship events, including supporting the Archives’ annual fundraising gala, and coordinates opportunities to strengthen donor and member relationships.
• Contributes to the evaluation of fundraising initiatives by developing performance metrics, monitoring advancement activities, and maintaining accurate donor records in the database.
• Supports planned giving initiatives, helping to identify prospective planned giving donors, cultivate philanthropic relationships, and advance strategies that sustain the Archives of American Art’s long-term fundraising goals.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

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.

• Possess at least four years of experience in donor relations and event management, preferably within a nonprofit organization, art museum, or cultural institution.
• Demonstrate exceptional written and verbal communication skills, the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and deadlines, strong organizational abilities, and a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.
• Must be available for occasional local and national travel and willing to work evenings and weekends when required to meet operational and event-related needs

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."

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.