Through an ambitious program of collection, conservation, exhibitions, programming, and research, the Smithsonians National Museum of Asian Art serves as a global and national resource for understanding the arts and cultures of Asia and their interaction with America, past and present. By presenting the arts and cultures of Asia in their extraordinary diversity, we aim to exemplify foundational ideals of curiosity, creativity, and respect. In a world growing ever more interdependent, we believe that cross-cultural understanding is crucial to personal and collective well-being.

NMAA opened in 1923 as Americas first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. The museum now stewards one of theworlds most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present, from China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the pre-Islamic Near East, and the Islamic world (inclusive of Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa). The museum also stewards an important collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American art.

Today, NMAA is emerging as a leading national and global resource for understanding the arts, cultures, and societies of Asia, especially at their intersection with America. Guided by the belief that the future of art museums lies in collaboration, increased access, and transparency, NMAA is fostering new ways to engage with its audiences while maintaining its commitment to excellence.

NMAA celebrated its centennial in 2023 and is determined to make the museums second century as accomplished as its first. The museum is building on its core strengthsthe quality and depth of our collections, scholarship, and conservationwhile embracing experimentation and new approaches to its work. The museum is transforming digitally, physically, and programmatically to draw in new audiences to celebrate, learn, and connect with Asian and American art and cultures, past and present.

Located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, the museum is free and open 364 days a year. The Smithsonian, which is the worlds largest museum complex, welcomes twenty to thirty million visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, please visitasia.si.edu

The Opportunity

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) serves as the senior leader responsible for all aspects of fundraising and external advancement for the museum. The CAO will collaborate closely with the Director, Senior Leadership Team, and Advisory Board to build and sustain partnerships with individuals, foundations, and corporations that advance the museums mission and impact.

The CAO leads an integrated advancement program encompassing principal, major, and annual giving; institutional giving from foundations and corporations; membership; advancement operations; and stewardship. The position oversees a high-performing team and reports directly to the Director, serving as a key strategic partner in shaping and executing the museums vision for growth and engagement.

A new CAO joins NMAA at a pivotal moment. The museum has just launched its20252030 Strategic Plan, embarked on a major fundraisingSecond Century Campaignin tandem with theSmithsonian-wide campaign for Our Shared Future,and reintroduced itself to the public as a vital platform for cultural leadership, research, and exchange. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a dynamic advancement leader to play a defining role in realizing the promise of this transformation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Major duties include:

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 museums 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 Advancements annual operating budget.

Campaign and Fundraising Strategy

• • Lead all major fundraising initiatives to support the museums broad and evolving programmatic needs.
  • Manage all aspects of the museumsSecond Century Campaignwith a particular focus on major and principal gift donors.
  • Serve as a visible and inspiring fundraiser and ambassador for the National Museum of Asian Art, strengthening the museums culture of philanthropy and broadening its base of support.
  • Lead efforts to increase participation in the museums recently launchednational membership programwith a focus on revenue generation and major gift pipeline development.

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 Smithsonians central Office of Advancement, …