Gift Officer (Foundation Relations Officer)

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 through 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. This position offers exciting opportunities for the successful candidate to make a significant impact on the future of the Smithsonian.

The position is located at the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Rock Creek Park and will collaborate across several Smithsonian education and science-focused museums and research centers. This position’s time will be equally split between NZCBI, the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), and the National Air and Space Museum (NASM). The position will lead cooperative and unit-specific opportunities with both advancement and program staff at each institution to cultivate major foundation grant opportunities.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a professional with strong frontline fundraising skills to play an important role in building private support for educational and outreach activities, research, and endowment needs. Duties include identifying, cultivating, and soliciting foundation prospects; working with program leads on proposal development; managing stewardship and donor reporting; and negotiating complex, multi-unit grants.

The ideal candidate will have 5-10 years of progressive fundraising experience with a proven track record of building philanthropic relationships with foundations and donors to achieve ambitious fundraising goals. Your resume should clearly demonstrate success in engaging diverse constituents, securing major gifts, and writing compelling grant proposals. Strong leadership, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to work independently with initiative are essential. Candidates must possess excellent organizational skills and maintain a mature, professional demeanor. Experience in complex higher education, conservation, and/or science-focused nonprofit environments is preferred. Travel of up to 20% of the time is required.

Key Responsibilities

Prospect Management

• • Manages prospect activity for a portfolio of major gift/foundation prospects, developing individual strategies and execution activities to expand the portfolio and increase giving from current donors.
  • Executes prospect management practices in accordance with established guidelines, determining strategies that reflect donor interests and align with Smithsonian objectives, while ensuring adherence to all policies, guidelines, and regulations.
  • Ensures prospect activity and information is recorded accurately and timely to support relationship management, cultivating and stewarding current and prospective donors. Works collaboratively with Advancement staff, volunteers, and leadership to engage the appropriate stakeholders in cultivation and solicitation efforts.

Program Management

• • Works collaboratively with staff, volunteers, leadership, and Advancement colleagues to cultivate and manage relationships with current and prospective foundation donors, including identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts.
  • Manages all aspects of the planning, development, and execution of projects in collaboration with staff and volunteers to meet fundraising goals and performance metrics.
  • Evaluates and addresses challenges and determines engagement of appropriate staff and supervisor as part of resolution.
  • Ensures activity and information is recorded accurately and timely, in compliance with policies, guidelines, and regulations. Works collaboratively with Advancement staff at three units and others as needed.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of fundraising and marketing methods, techniques, and practices to develop new concepts and approaches.
• Skill in making oral presentations to various internal and external groups to inform about the unit’s programs, objectives and activities.
• Skill in applying a variety of analytical techniques in gathering and evaluating complex data to developing appropriate recommendations for consideration.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with groups of diverse levels of understanding and backgrounds.
• Skill in written communication order to convey information and clarify operations and activities.

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 rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.