Assistant Director of Individual Giving

Smithsonian Institution, Office of Advancement • Full-time • Washington, DC, US • $120.58k - $156.76k / year • 1w ago

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 Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum team values collaboration, respect, courage, compassion, and innovation in our mission to create space for women's history on the National Mall in Washington, DC, deepen our nation's stories, and inspire conversation, connection, and change. To realize our vision of a more representative history, we are building a team that represents the diversity of our country. We look forward to welcoming colleagues from all generations, genders, religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds, abilities, sexual orientation, educational backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses.

Key Responsibilities

The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum seeks an experienced and dynamic Assistant Director of Individual Giving (Gift Officer). This is an exceptional opportunity for an energetic professional with strong leadership and major gifts frontline fundraising skills to play an important role in building private support for public programs, exhibitions, educational, and outreach activities, research, and endowment needs of the Museum. The incumbent will assist the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum with leadership and major gifts prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities. The Assistant Director of Individual Giving (Gift Officer) will work creatively to match donor interest with unit priorities, develop funding proposals and negotiate complex gifts. This position will provide overall management of the individual giving program, and supervising unit Individual Giving staff including assigning work and determining means to improve productivity of the staff.

Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise

The successful candidate will possess strong leadership and communications skills, and a track record in building philanthropic relationships with major gifts prospects and donors 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. Applicants must have strong organizational and communication skills, and the initiative and ability to work independently. Experience working in a complex higher education, or a large cultural organization is preferred. Interest and passion for museums, history, and identity and gender issues desired.

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.

Salary and Benefits

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. As an IS-13 position, the base with locality salary ranges from $117,962 -$153,354 (setting determination based on previous experience).

The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum supports flexible work schedules and promotes hybrid telework. Employees are required to work onsite in our Washington, DC offices 2-3 days per week. This position is not a remote (100% telework) position and requires periodic availability for after-hours and weekend work as well as availability for foreign and domestic travel.