Gift Officer

Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time
for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the
future: to build a better tomorrow for all. Smithsonian Secretary
Lonnie G. Bunch III and the institution’s leadership are launching
a campaign to support this vision. The Smithsonian Campaign for Our
Shared Future will secure funds for all Smithsonian museums and
centers as the institution reimagines its mission to find solutions
for collective challenges in a rapidly changing world. The campaign
will provide a foundation for critical research to ensure people
and nature thrive together, build unparalleled education programs
with families and partners, collect the world’s most precious
objects, document the present while reflecting on the past, and
reimagine the visitor experience both in-person and online. We are
bringing the Smithsonian off the National Mall and across the
country through dynamic programming and affiliate partnerships,
creating access for all. The Smithsonian is also developing two new
museums—the National Museum of the American Latino and the
Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. These museums will
share the experiences and perspectives of Latinos and women across
history and deepen our shared understanding of what it means to be
American.

 The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of
the Smithsonian Institution’s unique complex of 21 museums and
galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research centers.
The NMNH mission is to promote understanding of the natural world
and our place in it, thus inspiring curiosity, discovery, and
learning about the natural world through its unparalleled research,
collection, exhibitions, and education and outreach programs. The
museum’s collections tell the history of the planet and are a
record of human interaction with the environment and one another.
Because of the boundless curiosity of NMNH researchers, the breadth
and depth of the collection, and the ability to inspire future
generation of scientists, the museum has a vital role to play. In
the next decade, the museum will welcome 60 million people through
its doors and engage millions more digitally. Through NMNH, people
can both discover the world and learn to become better stewards of
it.

 Key Responsibilities

NMNH seeks experienced and dynamic gift officers to serve as
members of its successful fundraising team, supporting the museum’s
mission and strategic plan as it heads into a capital campaign.
This is an exceptional opportunity for an energetic professional
with strong frontline fundraising skills to play an important role
in building private support for the exhibitions, educational and
outreach activities, research, and endowment needs of the Museum.
The incumbent will assist the advancement office with prospect
identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
activities. The Gift Officer will work creatively to match donor
interest with unit priorities, develop funding proposals, and
negotiate complex gifts.

 The Museum seeks to achieve and sustain total
philanthropic support of $20 million on an annual basis as we enter
the comprehensive phase of our fundraising campaign and
beyond.  Buoyed by an extremely powerful institutional brand,
an expansive base of volunteers, and substantial support from a
small group of lead donors, our challenge now is to leverage the
extraordinary strength of the higher levels of the donor pyramid.
We are growing the museum’s donor base at the five-, six- and
seven-figure levels, acquiring new donors through annual giving,
and moving funders through the giving cycle.  Identifying,
cultivating, and soliciting new donors at all levels will be
critical to the success of the Museum’s future fundraising
efforts. 

 Skills, Knowledge, and
Expertise

Successful candidates will possess strong leadership and
communications skills, and a track record in building philanthropic
relationships with individual donors and prospects to achieve
aggressive fundraising goals. Progressive fundraising experience,
experience with diverse constituents, a drive to succeed, and
ability to close major gifts should be demonstrated in your
application. Candidates must have strong organizational skills, and
the initiative and ability to work independently. Experience with
complex higher education or a large cultural organization is
preferred. The position is based in Washington, DC and reports to
the Chief Advancement Officer.  Travel of up to 25% of the
time is required.

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

 Benefits and 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 to this
link by July 26, 2024. 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.

 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.

 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: www.si.edu/oeema.