Chief Advancement Officer, SZ-1001-00

Application Deadline: 25 May 2026

Department: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: New York, NY

Compensation: $215,900 - $250,000 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: May 15,2026                   
CLOSING DATE: May 25, 2026             
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE:  Permanent 
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: New York, NY
 
Position sensitivity and risk:
Low Risk Non-Sensitive 
 
Open to all qualified applicants
 
What are Trust Fund Positions? 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. 

OVERVIEW

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is the only museum in the United States devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design. The museum is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and empowering people through design, presenting compelling exhibitions, educational programs, and digital experiences that explore design’s role in shaping society, culture, and the human experience. Founded in 1897 by Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt, Cooper Hewitt became part of the Smithsonian Institution in 1967.

Today, the museum stewards a permanent collection of more than 215,000 design objects spanning thirty centuries, including significant holdings in product design, decorative arts, textiles, graphic design, and digital design. Through its exhibitions, public programs, and National Design Awards, Cooper Hewitt serves as a vital platform for advancing design’s impact and relevance. Located in New York City in the historic Carnegie Mansion, Cooper Hewitt engages audiences locally, nationally, and globally through onsite, traveling, and digital initiatives.

The museum is open to the public and is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex. For more information about Cooper Hewitt, please visit www.cooperhewitt.org

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 Strategic Leadership and Planning
• Partner with the Director and Senior Leadership Team to craft and implement a multi-year development operating plan aligned with the museum’s strategic priorities.
• Establish key metrics and goals for fundraising performance; regularly assess progress and adapt tactics to meet evolving institutional needs.
• Collaborate with program leaders to identify, refine, and translate revenue-raising priorities into compelling opportunities for support.
• Oversee the development and management of the Office of Advancement’s annual operating budget.

 Campaign and Fundraising Strategy
• Lead all major fundraising initiatives to support the museum’s broad and evolving programmatic needs.
• Serve as a visible and inspiring fundraiser and ambassador for Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, strengthening the museum’s culture of philanthropy and broadening its base of support.
• Lead efforts to increase participation in the museum’s membership program with a focus on revenue generation and major gift pipeline development.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for fundraising and sponsorship opportunities connected to the National Design Awards and other high-profile institutional initiatives.

  Major Gifts and Donor Relations
• Maintain a strong focus on frontline fundraising and prospect identification, actively building a robust pipeline of new major and principal gift prospects.
• Personally manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors at the highest levels of giving capacity, including both individual and institutional funders.
• Establish and nurture direct, enduring relationships with donors and prospects, ensuring a high standard of stewardship and engagement.
• Collaborate across Smithsonian units to enhance donor relations, develop fundraising materials, and plan cultivation events of all sizes.

 Team Leadership and Collaboration
• Oversee and develop a high-performing advancement team, fostering an environment of commitment, accountability, and professionalism.
• Set annual goals for staff, monitor progress, and provide mentorship and professional growth opportunities. • Work in close partnership with the Smithsonian’s central Office of Advancement, ensuring coordination of strategy and access to shared resources and expertise. The Chief Advancement Officer will have the support of this comprehensive office and access to all resources therein to ensure coordination of fundraising processes.
• Provide executive oversight and alignment across advancement, communications, special events, and rentals functions

 Communications and Materials Development
 • Oversee and provide strategic direction for the museum’s communications function, including direct supervision of the Director of Communications and their team. Ensure communications activities are fully aligned with institutional priorities, advancement strategies, and the museum’s mission and brand.
• Oversee the creation of effective, compelling, and visually engaging fundraising materials, proposals, donor communications, and institutional publications. Ensure all advancement and marketing communications reflect the museum’s mission, vision, and brand voice, inspire engagement and philanthropic support, and enhance the museum’s visibility and reputation.
• Provide leadership and coordination for high-priority and sensitive communications needs, including internal communications, executive messaging, institutional briefings, and crisis or issues management. Work closely with museum leadership and Smithsonian colleagues to ensure thoughtful planning, responsiveness, and reputational stewardship.

 Special Events, Rentals, and National Design Awards
• Provide executive oversight for the museum’s special events and facility rentals programs, ensuring these activities support both revenue objectives and institutional priorities. 
• Guide strategy and external engagement for the National Design Awards, including fundraising, sponsorship, cultivation, and stewardship opportunities associated with the Awards. 
• Ensure alignment between advancement initiatives, public programs, and high visibility events that strengthen Cooper Hewitt’s brand and philanthropic support 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

 •  A minimum of 10 years of experience in progressively responsible development leadership positions, which includes work in all functional areas (individual giving, institutional giving, annual giving, planned giving, stewardship, Board relations) and participation in a major capital campaign (planning, implementation, management, and successful conclusion), preferably within a major cultural institution, nonprofit organization, educational institution, or other environment of similar complexity. 

• Demonstrated ability to provide management oversight, leadership, and direction with at least five years of supervisory experience, including experience creating and managing a budget.
 
• A proven and inspirational frontline major gifts fundraiser with a long track record of success in securing six and seven-figure gifts and greater. Demonstrated strength in prospect discovery and in building effective strategies to compel new major donor targets to invest in the museum’s programs and mission.
 
• Direct experience fundraising in New York City and a strong understanding of the design landscape. Must have experience working with individual and institutional donors associated with design.
 
• Experience identifying, nurturing, and working with Board members and other museum supporters, and an appreciation for their role in building an effective fundraising network.

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.

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.

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.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

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 (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).

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