Gift Officer; Foundation Relations

Gift Officer (Foundation Relations), IS-1001-12

Final date to receive applications: 1 October 2026

Department: National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Director of Major Gifts

Compensation: $102,415 - $133,142 / year

Open date: September 18, 2026

Closing date: October 1, 2026 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.)

Position type: Trust Fund

Appointment type: Indefinite

Schedule: Full-Time

Duty location: Washington, DC

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Who may apply: Open to All

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side.

Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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.

This 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…