Elaine Webster

Elaine Webster brings over 18 years of experience leading Smithsonian Institution advancement offices at the National Museum of the American Indian and Smithsonian American Art Museum. She is well versed in the Smithsonian Advancement budgeting and goal setting process, has an extensive network within the Office of Advancement, and has served not only in the unit leadership, but also as a leader for several pan-Smithsonian Advancement initiatives. At the unit level, Elaine developed and implemented plans at both the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian to substantially increase their fundraising capacity and tripled the charitable gifts to NMAI in four years. A key accomplishment was to secure the funding for the National Native American Veterans Memorial from tribal nations, foundations, corporations and individuals so that it could honor all Native American Veterans. The memorial was fully funded and opened in November 2020 and was formally dedicated on November 11, 2022.

BS History, Iowa State University, MA History with emphasis in Museum Studies Eastern Illinois University