Gift Officer, IS-1001-14
Department: National Museum of Natural History
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Compensation: $143,913 - $187,093 / year
Description
OPEN DATE: August 24, 2026
CLOSING DATE: September 8, 2026 (This job will close when the first 200 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date)
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: IS-14
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Position sensitivity and risk
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 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’s unique complex and is one of the most visited museums in the United States. Its mission is to promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it. NMNH has a collection of 148 million specimens and artifacts. Each one reflects a moment in space and time and in these moments, we find Earth’s story.
The National Museum of Natural History is seeking an experienced candidate for a Senior Major Gift Officer position to support our Museum’s efforts to raise $20 million annually in philanthropic support through thoughtful engagement of donors and prospects.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Major Gift Fundraising & Portfolio Management
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 80-100 major gift prospects and donors with the capacity to make gifts of $100,000 and above, developing and executing comprehensive strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, close, and steward philanthropic gifts.
- Develop long-term engagement strategies that align donor interests with the Museum's highest fundraising priorities, including exhibitions, scientific research, collections stewardship education, capital initiatives, and endowment support.
- Independently manage complex major gift relationships, employing sophisticated cultivation and solicitation strategies that result in significant philanthropic support.
- Identify and cultivate donors with the capacity for transformational giving, partnering with Chief Advancement Officer and the Principal Gifts Officer to transition appropriate prospects for principal gift engagement when warranted.
- Maintain a robust pipeline of qualified prospects while consistently meeting or exceeding annual fundraising, donor engagement, solicitation, and revenue goals.
Donor Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship
- Build enduring relationships with major donors through personalized engagement, exceptional stewardship, and strategic communications.
- Personally solicit and close gifts of $100,000 and above, while partnering with the Director, senior leadership, curators, scientists, and volunteer leaders on complex gift opportunities.
- Serve as a strategic partner to Museum leadership in advancing fundraising priorities and identifying philanthropic opportunities including developing high level engagement opportunities, regional strategies and collaboration with other Smithsonian units and partners
- Collaborate with curators, scientists, educators, and program leaders to develop compelling funding opportunities that resonate with donor interests.
- Prepare Museum leadership and key volunteers for donor meetings and solicitations by developing strategic briefings, talking points, and engagement plans.
- Represent the Museum at donor events, exhibitions, lectures, and community engagements, strengthening relationships with key philanthropic partners.
- Work collaboratively across Advancement—including annual giving, institutional giving, planned giving, donor relations, and advancement services—to ensure coordinated fundraising strategies and an exceptional donor experience.
- Share fundraising best practices and provide guidance and mentorship to less experienced frontline fundraisers as appropriate.
- In collaboration with the Stewardship and Engagement team, develop tailored cultivation and stewardship experiences, including behind-the-scenes tours, curator and scientist briefings, donor travel opportunities, and other mission-driven engagement activities.
- In collaboration with the Stewardship and Engagement team, prepare compelling proposals, gift agreements, stewardship reports, executive correspondence, and donor impact materials that clearly communicate the Museum's mission and funding priorities.
- Ensure timely stewardship and recognition that demonstrates the impact of donor investments and encourages continued philanthropic support.
Strategic Prospect Development & Portfolio Management
- Partner with Campaign Manager to identify and qualify new major gift prospects using prospect research, wealth screening, relationship mapping, and philanthropic intelligence.
- Evaluate portfolio performance and implement strategies to maximize donor engagement, increase philanthropic investment, and strengthen the Museum's major gifts pipeline.
- Identify emerging principal gift prospects and collaborate with Advancement leadership and the Principal Gifts Officer on engagement strategies to ensure a coordinated approach to transformational giving.
- Maintain complete, timely, and accurate documentation of donor interactions, strategies, proposals, and outcomes within the Museum's CRM system.
- Regularly assess portfolio activity and recommend additions, removals, and reassignments to maximize fundraising productivity and donor engagement.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of fundraising strategies supporting comprehensive campaigns, institutional priorities, and long-term philanthropic growth.
- Ensure all fundraising activities comply with Museum policies, ethical fundraising standards, and applicable federal and institutional regulations.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
-
Five to seven years of progressively responsible frontline fundraising experience with demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts of $100,000 and above.
- Demonstrated success developing long-term donor relationships and managing complex major gift portfolios with increasing levels of responsibility.
- Proven ability to develop and execute sophisticated fundraising strategies that result in significant philanthropic support.
- Strong knowledge of major gift fundraising principles, moves management, campaign fundraising, donor stewardship, and relationship-based philanthropy.
- Experience identifying and cultivating donors with principal gift potential and collaborating on strategies for transformational giving.
- Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage high-net-worth individuals, trustees, volunteers, and senior institutional leaders.
- Excellent written communication skills, including experience preparing donor proposals, gift agreements, stewardship reports, executive correspondence, and briefing materials.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills with the ability to manage a complex portfolio and multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Experience using constituent relationship management (CRM) systems such as Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT, Salesforce, or comparable fundraising databases.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive donor information with professionalism and discretion.
- Willingness to work occasional evenings, weekends, and travel as needed for donor meetings and Museum events.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
To Apply: Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter by the closing date. 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. Applicants who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States. Education completed outside the U.S. 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 rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
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.
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
For additional information regarding the position, contact:
HuberC@si.edu.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact
NMNHStaffing@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: Individuals with Disabilities | Smithsonian Institution (
https://www.si.edu/oeo/individuals-disabilities).
The Smithsonian Institution is an
Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following:
Office of Equal Opportunity | Smithsonian Institution (
https://www.si.edu/oeo).
