Office of Advancement Career Opportunities

Come join a team of dedicated staff at an exceptional time in Smithsonian history. With our Secretary, Lonnie G. Bunch III, who was previously the founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, we are positioned to realize our goal of being a truly 21st century museum complex. The Smithsonian is dedicated to its founding mission, “the increase and diffusion of knowledge” and as such we use our resources to encourage curiosity, ignite wonder and spark the joy of learning. Following the success of the Smithsonian’s first comprehensive capital campaign, the largest ever undertaken by a cultural organization, the Smithsonian has built a model fundraising organization. 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.

About the Associate Director of Advancement
The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) seeks a charismatic and accomplished Associate Director of Advancement with proven fundraising experience to help grow a high-performing advancement department to serve the philanthropy needs of the Museum today and for the future. The incumbent in this position has the responsibility for the overall planning, management, and execution of NMAI’s fundraising efforts including major gifts, membership, special events programming, and donor engagement to include the Advisory Board.

The Associate Director of Advancement oversees the advancement program for NMAI with responsibility for planning, generating, and executing fund-raising initiatives with an emphasis on major gifts. The Associate Director manages a portfolio of prospects including qualification of new prospects, and the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors through in person visits and communications. The Associate Director provides oversight to the Advancement team including major gifts, events, engagement, and membership. The incumbent develops written annual work plans, visit and solicitation goals in conjunction with the Museum Director, and prepares reports on activities. The Associate Director collaborates with staff and other Smithsonian units on programs and solicitations. A duty station of either Washington, DC or New York City will be considered for this position.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• An accomplished background with at least seven to ten years of successful experience in major gift fundraising, preferably in a major, cultural institution, non-profit organization, or educational institution.
• Experience in soliciting gifts in the six to seven figure range for a variety of purposes including capital projects, endowment and current use (restricted and unrestricted). Proven history of fundraising success, including cultivation through solicitation and stewardship as well as experience working with planned giving, grant writing, and annual fund strategies should be demonstrated in application.
• Strong interpersonal skills; an engaging manner, and the capacity to inspire and motivate staff, administrative and leaders, volunteers, donors, and prospects; ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across the Institution. Ability to lead a team of varied professionals and skill sets. Hands-on board management experience.
• Exceptional presentation skills, including the presence to deal effectively with senior level administrators, volunteers, and high net worth individuals; excellent communication skills, including the ability to write, edit, and speak clearly and effectively, and deliver an effective, coherent, and consistent message—a communication style that is open, cordial, and issues-focused.
• Must possess a passion for the Smithsonian, its museums and research centers, and the goals and mission of the Institution; a natural connection to the work of the Smithsonian and an innate enthusiasm to broadly champion its programs, entities, and values.
• Creativity in strategy development, engagement of stakeholders. Tracks trends and stays current with new approaches to fundraising, effectively evaluating, testing and leveraging new ideas for NMAI.
• A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.

About the National Museum of the American Indian and Smithsonian Institution
Established in 1989, through an Act of Congress, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian is an institution of living cultures dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of the life, languages, literature, history and arts of the Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere. The National Museum of the American Indian is comprised of two premier centers for exhibitions and public programs—a museum in Washington, D.C., on the National Mall, and a second museum in Manhattan in New York City. The museum also has a collections, research and conservation facility, the Cultural Resources Center, which is located in Suitland, Maryland. The three state-of-the-art facilities of the National Museum of the American Indian make it a leading museum about Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere and a popular cultural destination for exploring Indigenous cultures—past and present.

The Smithsonian Institution is a unique complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research centers. The Smithsonian is a national and world treasure and is dedicated to its founding mission, “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” Its exhibitions, programs, collections, and outreach touch the lives of millions of Americans every year, as well as many who visit us from abroad.

Benefits and Application Instructions
The Smithsonian Institution offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive package of benefits. This is not a federal position but has similar requirements and benefits. Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter here: https://trustcareers.si.edu/postings/cef47e3b-2884-4aa2-9254-c37b08e4cae2 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.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution ensures its employees (federal and trust), applicants, and affiliated persons (interns, research associates, fellows, and volunteers) are protected from discrimination and unfair treatment in the workplace regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, gender stereotyping, pregnancy, and sexual orientation), age, disability, genetic information, marital status, parental status, or political affiliation and are free from reprisal against protected activities. In addition, other Smithsonian policy prohibits discrimination based on membership in an employee organization or other non-merit factors, and political affiliation.

The Smithsonian provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact person listed in this announcement. The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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 Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art (AAA) is the largest and most widely used resource on the history of American art in the world. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and make available primary records documenting this country’s rich artistic and cultural legacy with the aim of encouraging all to explore how art is essential to the human experience. Located in Washington, DC, the Archives also has a research center in New York City. To learn more about the Archives of American Art, visit our website at www.aaa.si.edu.

Key Responsibilities
The Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art (AAA) seeks an experienced and creative candidate to fill the role of Associate Director for Advancement. Working closely with the Director, senior staff, and members of the Board of Trustees, the Associate Director oversees all fundraising at the AAA, including foundation grants, major gifts, annual fund, and cultivation events. The incumbent manages relationships with current and prospective donors, including identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors. Regular direct interaction with donors and potential donors nationwide is expected, and direct, independent solicitation of gifts from individuals and institutional donors is a central aspect of the position.

The Associate Director develops and manages activity for the portfolio of prospects ranging from major gifts to principal gifts and on an annual and long-term basis for general operating support and programmatic initiatives as well as endowments. The incumbent seeks opportunities to expand the portfolio and increase giving from current donors. The Associate Director develops and implements the AAA’s communications and marketing strategy and supporting campaigns to raise the visibility and to elevate the brand of the Archives of American Art in alignment with generating support for fundraising priorities.

The Associate Director is responsible for planning and oversight of the annual gala, a formal dinner for approximately 300 people with honorees and an awards program, including developing and implementing a plan to engage board members and other key stakeholders in soliciting support for this event and/or equivalent events. The Associate Director develops and manages other cultivation events that may be developed through the year, working in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Special Events and Protocol as needed. The Associate Director is responsible for effective budget management, working in collaboration with the AAA’s Director for Administration. The incumbent supervises three advancement staff whose primary duties are in external communications, grant and gift management, individual giving, and annual fund. This position reports to the Director of the AAA.

Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise
Successful candidates will have a minimum of seven years of successful experience in fundraising with increasing level of responsibility. At least five years of experience in direct solicitation of major gifts, including principal gifts is preferred. Strong organizational, relationship, collaboration, communication, project management, and supervisory skills as well as the ability to work independently are essential. A bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s degree is highly desirable. Travel is required and work during the evening and weekends may be necessary.

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
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 May 31, 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.

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