Associate Gift Registrar, IS-1001-09

Application Deadline: 19 June 2026

Department: Office of Advancement

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $70,623 - $91,815 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: 6/5/2025
CLOSING DATE: 6/19/2025
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC

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.
  
  

OVERVIEW

Come join a team of dedicated staff at an exceptional time in the Smithsonian’s history during the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future. The Smithsonian has surpassed its $2.5 billion fundraising goal one full year ahead of schedule, a milestone that comes as the nation prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary in 2026. This achievement marks the largest fundraising effort in the history of any cultural organization and represents a defining moment for the Institution and the country it serves.

The Our Shared Future campaign has advanced the Smithsonian’s reach and impact, empowering the institution to find solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. The Smithsonian has built a model fundraising organization, driven by talented staff across our many museums, research centers and cultural centers. This position offers exciting opportunities for the successful candidate to make a significant impact on the future of the Smithsonian. There is no better time to join this amazing Institution.

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 to accomplish their goals.



DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Office of Advancement seeks to hire an experienced Advancement professional who performs a variety of operational activities related to processing and receipting charitable contributions to several of the Institution’s Museums. This position is part of a team that is responsible for gift registration and recording, gift modifications, daily coordination with unit colleagues regarding gifts to the Institution, and guidance to units on philanthropic giving vehicles including donor advised funds, family foundations, and IRAs.

The Associate Gift Registrar position includes daily communication with unit colleagues, careful entry and maintenance of donor biographical and gift data, preparation of daily bank deposits, gift reporting, documentation of process efficiencies in preparation for the transition to a new Institution-wide CRM, monthly financial reconciliation, and completion of ad hoc projects as assigned by the Gift Registrar.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Must have a minimum of two years of experience in gift entry, knowledge of IRS charitable contribution regulations and how they relate to financial accounting practices, preferably in complex higher education or a large cultural or environmental organization.
• Knowledge of donor database software (e.g. Advance, Salesforce), accounting systems, and Microsoft Office is desired.
• Strong organizational, relationship, collaboration, and communication skills as well as the ability to work independently are essential.
• Demonstrate the ability to coordinate complex procedures and to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  
  

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.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter by June 19, 2026. 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.