CEO; AF

Position: CEO (AF)
Arts Fund, celebrating 50 years of service, has actively strengthened the community by (1) raising funds that support the region’s nonprofit arts sector through grants and other organizational assistance; (2) advocating for the needs of the region’s vibrant arts sector; and (3) serving as an active member of Seattle’s civic and grantmaking community. Its vision is a community with a dynamic and world-class arts and cultural sector where the arts are accessible to all and valued as critical to a healthy society.

To that end, Arts Fund serves a growing network of cultural partners -- large and small, established and emerging, and in performing, visual, literary, and multidisciplinary arts. Last year these groups produced over 10,000 exhibits/performances, provided 1.7 million free or discounted tickets, and enabled 833,000 students to access arts programming. The organization also serves as a major convener, advocate and leading ambassador to the community on behalf of the arts.

It has initiated numerous, high-profile, research studies on the economic impact of the arts in the region and pioneered a recent first-of-its-kind study of the social impact of the arts in the community. Arts Fund also acts as a fiscal agent for sector-wide initiatives.

Arts Fund is currently under the leadership of an interim CEO, a long-time arts professional from the Seattle area. As Arts Fund celebrates its 50th year, the organization excitedly anticipates the arrival of a new CEO.

The CEO will be the chief visionary, strategic, and operational leader who guides Arts Fund as it evolves and adapts to changes and trends occurring across the cultural sector. Using a lens of social justice and social equity, this entrepreneurial leader will continue to champion and advocate for arts and culture as it has successfully done for the past 50 years. Partnering with and reporting to an influential 32-member Board of Directors, the President and CEO will spearhead the development and implementation of a fresh strategic plan that includes new and different partnerships, fundraising strategies and practices, the diversification of varied programs and cultural offerings, and further fostering creativity and artistic expression that helps define the Emerald City.

Serving as the primary liaison between Arts Fund and its respective stakeholder groups—arts and culture organizations of all sizes, corporations and individual donors, grantees, government leaders and many others—this individual will act as the ambassador for the organization with a goal to redefine and deepen impact. A credible and visible leader who drives the organization to its the next level of growth and service to the community, the CEO will act as an independent voice for the sector while mentoring and guiding a highly effective and motivated organizational team.

Specifically, the responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer will include:

Strategic Planning

• Alongside the board and staff, further refine and implement the strategic plan that ensures a mission-based approach to achieving the vision of increased inclusivity, impact and ensuring that arts support continuously grows to meet community demand

Community Ambassador & Stakeholder Relations

• Embrace engagement in all forms with the intent of convening, partnering on community initiatives, advocating the deep value of supporting arts and culture, and leveraging increased public support for the arts across a broad spectrum of community philanthropy and business groups as well as policy makers, public officials and other individual influencers

Fundraising, Grantmaking and Financial Sustainability

• Lead motivated, capable team to further grow resources in support of grantees and advancing the overarching mission of expanding arts access and resources to underserved communities; ensure model addresses sector needs and adapts to changing donor environment

Equity and Inclusion

• Adopt and lead strategy shifts that advance equity and inclusion priorities internally and externally; demonstrate and model importance of expanding access to all communities

Organizational Management and Team Leadership

• Ensure effective…