Executive Director

WHAT WE DO

Our Mission: A Reason to Survive (ARTS) lifts young people in the South County region of San Diego to become confident, compassionate, and courageous community builders through the transformative power of creativity.

Our organization: Founded in 2001, ARTS grew from a deeply personal mission to provide young people with the same kind of refuge and healing that ARTS founder, Matt D’Arrigo, found in the arts. What began as therapeutic outreach in local hospitals has evolved over the last 24 years into a cornerstone of the South Bay community and a national leader in the Creative Youth Development space.

The organization’s journey has been marked by significant milestones, including the opening of a 20,000-square-foot flagship campus in National City.

Today, ARTS uplifts over 1,500 youth annually through comprehensive programs, including:

• Community ARTS & ARTS on Campus: Delivering high-quality creative experiences at the ARTS Center and through public school districts across the South Bay.
• ARTS @ Work: Preparing youth for successful futures through college and career readiness, mentoring, and professional skill-building.
• ARTS 4 Justice: Providing restorative, healing-centered art programs for system-impacted and opportunity youth.

Through our innovative programs such as the annual Día de los Muertos festival, our end-of-season Youth Arts Festival, and our robust Volunteer and Intern Program, ARTS provides over 25,000 annual visitors with a space to connect and heal. Supported by 40+ community partnerships and a dedicated team of over 100 team members and volunteers, ARTS continues to prove that the arts are an essential tool for personal and community resilience.

ARTS is led by a highly engaged 7-member Board of Directors. The organization’s leadership and culture are defined by a rare blend of vision, stability, and deep community commitment. As the only organization offering this level of arts-based youth development, ARTS brings college‑level training and state‑of‑the‑art facilities directly to young people, creating transformative experiences that genuinely change lives. The team operates from a place of strength—solid programs, a healthy financial foundation, and a readiness to grow.

Relationships are at the heart of the culture: team members build long‑term connections with students. ARTS stands as a source of hope, continuity, and possibility, driven by leaders and educators who believe deeply in the power of creativity to shape brighter futures.

• Salary: $125,000 - $150,000
• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 15 PTO days, 5 paid sick days, and 15 paid holidays
• Group Life/AD&D

This is largely an in-person role, but ARTS provides team members with a high degree of flexibility and autonomy to balance life and career. Our campus is located at 200 E 12th Street, National City, CA 91950.

Reporting to the Board Chair and working closely with the Board of Directors, our next Executive Director (ED) will leverage our 25-year legacy and national reputation to amplify ARTS’ reach within the communities of South County San Diego. They will serve as a highly visible spokesperson on three key fronts:
1) ARTS as an organization,
2) the wider role of CBOs (community-based organizations) in providing community-responsive extended learning opportunities, and
3) Creative Youth Development as a movement. In this capacity, the ED will lead in building cross-sector partnerships with school districts, municipalities, and philanthropic leaders.

As our “Chief Mission Champion”, the ED will oversee an annual operating budget of $1.8M and lead our efforts to continue diversifying revenue through both philanthropic fundraising and fee-for-service contracts. With the support of the leadership team, the Executive Director provides strategic oversight for all operational, programmatic, and advancement efforts to ensure long-term organizational health. The role currently has three direct reports:
Program Manager, Operations Manager, Communications Manager, and, in the future, a new Advancement Director as well.

• Build Relationships: Forge…