Advancement Specialist (Giving Circles)
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 have launched 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 Office of Advancement oversees and guides the fundraising efforts of the entire Smithsonian and is home to the central development organization for the Institution. In addition to raising significant support for a variety of Smithsonian initiatives, the Office of Advancement provides support services to advancement offices across the Institution. The office engages with staff throughout the Smithsonian in accomplishing their goals.
The Smithsonian Office of Advancement seeks an experienced and creative candidate to fill an Advancement Specialist position in the Friends of the Smithsonian office. The position will play an important role in supporting multiple functions within a growing, dynamic, and fast-paced organization. The Advancement Specialist will assist with the stewardship of members of the James Smithson Society and Castle Circle.
The incumbent will provide support in the planning and implementation of the Annual Smithsonian Weekend, the largest donor event at the Smithsonian that takes an entire year to plan, coordinate and successfully complete. This includes project management, clear communication, and coordination of all Smithsonian units for the invitation data, attendees and briefings and other administrative support. This event requires weekend and evening work. The incumbent will support other events (8-12 per year) at various Smithsonian venues both locally and out of town, including invitation production and mailing, RSVP management, preparation of name tags, and registration. Occasional evening work is required.
The incumbent will be responsible for the planning and production of Smithson Society renewal notices as well as the production and mailing of acknowledgement letters to the Smithson Society and Castle Circle. S/he will respond to member inquiries by phone and email. The incumbent will also assist in the production of collateral materials and will be involved in outreach to members. The incumbent will provide direct administrative support for the Director of the Smithson Society including but not limited to managing travel, purchases, ad hoc mailings and other projects.
Successful candidates will be very detail-oriented, demonstrate strong organizational and discretionary communication skills, and have the ability to productively support multiple priorities and needs. Candidates should have experience with donor databases for managing donor records and reporting. Candidates must have knowledge and demonstrated experience with current office technology including Microsoft Office Suite. A minimum of two years of related work, a passion for learning and exploration, and the desire to join a dynamic and growing operation should be demonstrated in your application. Experience in complex higher education or a large cultural or environmental organization is preferred.
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.
$84,601 - $109,975 Annually
Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter using this link by September 19, 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. 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. To review the Smithsonian’s EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo.