Gift Officer, IS-1001-13

Smithsonian Institution; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 122,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

Smithsonian Institution seeks a Principal Gift Officer to advance fundraising efforts within the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. You will cultivate high-capacity donors, collaborate with leadership, and drive strategies for major gifts, annual giving, and stewardship to meet ambitious campaign goals.

Based in Washington, DC, this permanent, full-time role requires deep fundraising expertise, exceptional relationship-building, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams while ensuring

Qualifications

• Requires mastery of professional fundraising techniques and understanding of the current philanthropic market.
• Strong oral presentation skills to engage donors and negotiate significant gifts.
• Skill in developing written materials to recognize and encourage the organization's donors.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with diverse donors.
• Skill in analyzing individuals and institutions to develop prospect portfolios and achieve goals.

Responsibilities

• Program Management: secures contributions by cultivating productive relationships with donors and managing the portfolio.
• Prospect Management: manages activity for the portfolio to increase giving and expand donor base.
• Supervision: provides leadership and supervision of the Advancement program and staff, with performance guidance.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Prospect management

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Department: Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $121,785 - $158,322 / year

Application Deadline: 22 November 2026

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.

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 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.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• 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.

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.

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.