The Smithsonian Institution—the world’s largest research, education and museological complex—has embarked on what appears to be the world’s largest cultural fundraising campaign. The “Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future”, announced on 13 September, has a goal of $2.5bn and coincides with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence in 2026.
“Through this campaign we have the opportunity, together, to contemplate our rich, complex history as we aspire to live up to our founding ideals,” Lonnie G. Bunch III, the Smithsonian’s secretary, said in a statement.
The Smithsonian was founded by Congress in 1846 through a single $500,000 philanthropic donation by the British scientist James Smithsonian, kickstarting its tradition of supplementing federal appropriations with private donations.
“The Smithsonian has something for everyone and the potential to touch all Americans in a meaningful way,” said Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey, chair of the Smithsonian’s board of regents. “This campaign gives us the opportunity to speak to our shared future.”
The campaign encompasses four themes—among them “Advancing Sustainability and Discovery” and “Illuminating Our Nation’s Past”—and will involve every institution under the Smithsonian umbrella. Many of the campaign’s strategic goals address operational goings-on across the organisation, including the expansion of the Smithsonian’s digital reach through immersive technology and making sure all internships at its institutions are paid. The campaign will also secure funds to endow directorships across its institutions, allowing the museums to attract the “highest caliber of leaders”.
Nine campaign co-chairs have been chosen to spearhead this effort, including Don Chen, president of the Surdna Foundation, which seeks to advance racial justice initatives, and Jose Luis Pardo, executive advisor partner to the private equity firm Wind Point Partners and former president of Quaker Oats North America. Three honorary campaign ambassadors—Sakurako “Sako” Fisher, former chair of the Smithsonian National Board, the artist and achitect Maya Lin, a Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute advisory board member and the designer of the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and David M. Rubenstein, former board of regents chair and regent emeritus—will support the co-chairs’ work for the campaign.
“I am passionate about serving my country, and appreciate that the overarching mission of the Smithsonian is truly public service,” said Christine Udvar-Hazy, a co-chair, donor to the National Air and Space Museum, and wife of the executive chairman of the Air Lease corporation. “I feel it every time I walk in and out of a Smithsonian museum or research center. I am honored to be part of this campaign.”
The campaign’s quiet phase, which began in 2018, has already been met with many high-profile contributions, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Bank of America and Lilly Endowment, one of the world’s largest private philanthropic foundations.
The 176-year-old Smithsonian Institution, which contains an expansive network of largely free museums, libraries, zoos and cultural centres, employs around 6,200 people and works with more than 3,800 volunteers, all of whom oversee collections totalling an estimated 157 million objects. Two new Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC—the National Museum of the American Latino and the American Women’s History Museum—are currently under development, despite some setbacks and political feuding.
