Gift Officer and Smithsonian National Astronomy Circle Program Director

Dec 3

Written By Yolanda F. Johnson

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Cambridge, MA or Hybrid

Anticipated Start Date: ASAP

Description

Duty Station is Cambridge, MA or Remote Duty Station
Hybrid Work Schedule

The Gift Officer and Smithsonian National Astronomy Circle (SNAC) Program Director builds and manages a portfolio of prospects and donors to execute a program focused on high capacity giving. The Senior Gift Officer’s work affects the successful achievement of major programs such as the unit’s fundraising goal, the progress of various internal programs, and/ or the funding of a substantial number of Trust positions affected by their continued efforts. The position is in the Office of Advancement at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO).

Responsibilities

Program Management

The Advancement Specialist (Gift Officer) cultivates and manages relationships with prospective donors including identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors for solicitations of individual annual and major gifts; working with other staff, to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective prospects and donors; and managing the relationships with prospects and donors. Manages all aspects of the planning, development, and execution of projects in collaboration with staff and volunteers, as appropriate, to meet the fundraising goals and performance metrics.

Prepares correspondence and develops cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship materials. The incumbent determines strategies in accordance with donor interests and SAO/Smithsonian objectives.

Prospect Management

The incumbent will build and manage an active portfolio of prospects and donors. The incumbent will lead SAO’s pilot direct response program aimed at donors $1,000 - $9,999. The incumbent will also manage and build SAO’s new high level patrons’ program (gift range $10,000 - $25,000+) including coordinating cultivation opportunities in Cambridge, MA, Washington, DC, and globally.

Executes prospect management practices in accordance with established guidelines and seeks to maximize the opportunities for prospecting. Ensure activity and information is recorded accurately, and timely, into the Smithsonian database to identify and engage the appropriate stakeholders. Works collaboratively with the Smithsonian Office of Advancement and other Smithsonian unit staff as needed.

Requirements

Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience in similar positions at or above the grade 12 level. Specialized experience is experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position. 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.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required:

Strong oral presentation skills to engage and inform donors and donor prospects and negotiate significant gifts on behalf of the Smithsonian or unit.
Skill in developing written materials designed to recognize and encourage the organization's donors where their funding has benefited the unit programs.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with various individual or institutional donors of diverse backgrounds and interests.
Skill in analyzing individuals and institutions to develop prospect portfolios and prospect donors in achieving fundraising goals.
Knowledge of fundraising and marketing methods, techniques and practices and the creativity and ingenuity to develop new concepts and approaches.
Ability to apply strategic planning techniques in a dynamic environment.
Strong social and interpersonal skills and knowledge of protocol.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

$116,820 - $179,462

How to Apply for this Job

The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in “Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery.” Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter using this

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by December 6, 2024. 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.

Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins. 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.

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

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education.

The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution's Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.

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