Gift Officer (Foundation Relations Officer) - National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Sep 15

Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC

Anticipated Start Date: TBD

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 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.

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.

Requirements

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.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

$101,401 - $131,826

How to Apply for this Job

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter using this:

Apply Now

by September 25, 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. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact nzcbi-hr@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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.

About the Organization

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute includes a 163-acre exhibition complex in the District of Columbia, within the US National Park Service's Rock Creek Park, and a 3,200-acre conservation research facility outside Front Royal, Virginia, contiguous with the Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail. The Institute’s goals include excellence in animal care, research on endangered species, and education and high-quality visitor experience. On-going renovation and upgrade of the facilities to meet the highest standards of animal care and state-of-the-art research and education requirements, with over 100 buildings, some over 100 years old, requires a major investment of funds, only some of which is provided by the Federal appropriation to Smithsonian and the Zoo. Support for public programming and research is significantly dependent upon revenue from concessions income, special events, donations, grants, and contracts.

The Smithsonian Institution is a unique complex of 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research centers. 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. Its exhibitions, programs, collections, and outreach touch the lives of millions of Americans every year, as well as many who visit us from abroad.

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