Description
Come join a team of dedicated staff at an exceptional time in the Smithsonian’s history as we prepare for the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future. This ambitious fundraising campaign’s public phase will run from 2024 to 2026, culminating with the nation’s 250th anniversary. It will expand 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 an exciting opportunity 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 Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and branch museum, the Renwick Gallery, is the nation’s first collection of American art and craft. The two museums offer an unparalleled record of the American experience as displayed in two national historic landmark buildings. The collection of 48,000 artworks captures the aspirations, character, and imagination of the American people throughout three centuries. SAAM’s mission is to share the stories of our nation through American art and craft to inspire reflection, spark dialogue, and build connection. To learn more about the museum, visit www.americanart.si.edu.
Requirements
The Museum seeks a creative and energetic relationship builder with a demonstrated record of success with major gift fundraising to join a mission-focused and collaborative advancement team that raises support for the Museum’s exhibitions, education, public programs, collections care, and endowment needs. The Gift Officer will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals for major and leadership gifts. Duties include expanding the Museum’s donor community across the country; creating and implementing innovative strategies for securing major gifts; managing a portfolio of 125 prospects; organizing cultivation events; and preparing proposals and other donor communications.
Qualifications
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; the ability to meet frequent deadlines; and arts and humanities knowledge and experience at a major cultural or national organization desired. Progressive frontline fundraising experience with a track record of achieving revenue targets required. The candidate must have the ability to staff evening and weekend events and travel across the U.S. approximately once a month.
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.
Application Instructions
Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter by November 26, 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. 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
