Senior Advancement Officer [Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC]

Description

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Senior Advancement Officer

Washington, D.C.

The National Museum of Natural History is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s preeminent museum and research complex. The Museum is dedicated to inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world through its unparalleled research, collections, exhibitions, and education outreach programs. Opened in 1910, the green-domed museum on the National Mall was among the first Smithsonian buildings constructed exclusively to house the national collections and research facilities.

Whether looking at the history and cultures of Africa, describing our earliest Mammalian ancestor or primate diversity around the world, examining ancient life forms including the ever popular dinosaurs, or exploring the beauty of rare gemstones such as uniquely colored diamonds, the Museum’s temporary and permanent exhibitions serve to educate, enlighten and entertain millions of visitors each year. With a growing network of interactive websites, the Museum is transforming itself into a hub for national and international electronic education and scholarship, accessible to anyone with access to the internet.

The Museum includes a state-of-the-art collections storage facility in Suitland, Maryland; a marine science research facility in Ft. Pierce, Florida; and field stations as far away as Belize, Alaska, and Kenya. Research activities are organized into seven departments, and a number of affiliated U.S. government agencies on-site contribute to the Museum’s strength, including the Department of the Interior (U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division), the Department of Agriculture (Systematic Entomology Laboratory), the Department of Commerce (National Marine Fisheries Service Systematics Laboratory), and the Department of Defense (Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit).

Through its research, collections, education and exhibition programs, the National Museum of Natural History serves as one of the world’s great repositories of scientific and cultural heritage as well as a source of tremendous pride for all Americans.

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest and most respected provider of museum experiences, supported by authoritative scholarship that connects Americans to their cultural heritage, and also acts as an international leader in scientific research and exploration. The Smithsonian’s curators support some of the world’s largest collections of art, natural specimens, and items of preeminent historical and cultural significance. Its scientists are among the leaders in their fields internationally, many focused on pressing issues such as biodiversity and endangered species. Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian now has 19 museums and galleries; 20 libraries; the National Zoological Park; and nine research centers located in seven states, the Republic of Panama, and Belize. The Smithsonian’s first Institution-wide campaign was publicly launched during October 2014 with a $1.5 billion goal, the largest ever for a cultural institution. The National Museum of Natural History is raising $230 million toward the Smithsonian Campaign.

The National Museum of Natural History raises more than $20 million in overall philanthropic support on an annual basis, buoyed by a dynamic and expansive base of volunteers and very significant support from a small group of lead donors. The Senior Advancement Officer will complement three other gift officers and a total development team of 17, and will focus on strengthening the Museum’s pipeline for individual and institutional (foundations, corporations, and other organizations) major gifts, particularly in the range of $100,000 to $1 million. S/he will develop and execute strategies for engagement, present opportunities for giving, and conduct gift solicitations, leveraging the participation of senior Museum leaders as appropriate. The Senior Advancement Officer will report to the Museum’s associate director and chief development officer and will have a personal target of securing $3 million to $5 million in gift commitments annually.

Required qualifications and experience: bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree and strong academic credentials that will be credible to donors are preferred; minimum of three years of successful experience in major gift fundraising, including principle or leadership giving, preferably within a major cultural institution, non-profit organization, educational institution, or other environment of similar complexity; experience with both individual and institutional major gifts, and participation in a major capital campaign is strongly preferred; background in the sciences through one’s educational or professional experience is a plus; demonstrated ability to think strategically about moving individuals and institutions across the spectrum of prospect development, culminating in significant solicitations appropriate to donors and their interests, as well as to organizational priorities; working knowledge of wealth management, financial planning, tax and charitable gift laws, and planned giving vehicles and methods; ability to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about donor strategy and process; working knowledge of modern data management practices and techniques, including database information systems, data modeling, and analysis; experience identifying, nurturing, and motivating volunteers, and an appreciation for their role in building an effective fundraising network.

The National Museum of Natural History has retained Diversified Search to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations and applications (current resumes and cover letters) should be directed electronically to:

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.

Managing Director

Practice Leader – Development & Philanthropy

Diversified Search

275 Madison Avenue, 39^th Floor, New York, NY 10016

gerard.cattie@divsearch.com

212.542.2587

PI93011433