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Gift Officer (Foundations)

Employer
Smithsonian Institution (HQ)
Location
Washington D.C.
Salary
$101,401 - $131,826
Posted Date
Jan 24, 2025
View more categoriesView less categories
Position Type
Fundraising
Fields
Museum
Employment Type
Full Time

Come join a team of dedicated staff at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian. In 2024, we launched the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future, the largest fundraising campaign in the institution’s history. The campaign, which runs through 2026, aims to raise $2.5 billion to support all Smithsonian museums and centers—each with a vision to achieve a better future for all. The Smithsonian is also raising support for a series of signature programs, events, and exhibitions to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. 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.

 

The National Portrait Gallery was authorized and founded by Congress in 1962 with the mission to acquire and display portraits of "men and women who have made significant contributions to the history, development, and culture of the people of the United States." Today, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery attracts over 2 million visitors onsite and 4 million online and continues to narrate the multi-faceted and ever-changing story of America through the individuals who have shaped its culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts, and new media, the Portrait Gallery presents poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors, and activists whose lives form our national identity.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) seeks an enthusiastic and detail-focused Major Gifts Officer to fundraise for general operating and project specific support primarily from foundations, but also from individuals or corporations as needed performing duties including:

 

 

 

  • Discovering and cultivating relationships with prospective donors and providing stewardship for existing donors. Developing and executing strategies for engagement, cultivation, solicitation, negotiation, and stewardship for portfolio entities. Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with high-capacity individuals, corporate executives, foundation officers, as well as museum leadership, including executive team members. Drafts donor correspondence, proposals, stewardship reports, and other written communications in a professional manner. Responsible for management of portfolio entities.

Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise

 

  • Knowledge of fundraising and marketing methods, techniques, and practices to develop new concepts and approaches. Skill in making oral presentations to various internal and external groups to inform about the unit’s programs, objectives and activities. Skill in applying a variety of analytical techniques in gathering and evaluating complex data to developing appropriate recommendations for consideration. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with groups of diverse levels of understanding and backgrounds. Skill in written communication to convey information and clarify operations and activities.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Application Instructions

 

The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery." Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter using this link by January 24, 2025. 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.

 

Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins. 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.

 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact oastaffing@si.edu. 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. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.

 

 

 

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