Executive Director

Whitemarsh Art Center; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Whitemarsh Art Center seeks an energetic Executive Director to lead the nonprofit through its next growth chapter and advance its mission in the Philadelphia region.

The ED will partner with the Board, staff, instructors, volunteers, members, and community stakeholders to drive strategic priorities, fundraising, and financial stewardship while fostering transparency and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of leadership experience in nonprofit, arts, education, or mission-driven work.
• Proven success in fundraising, donor relations, grants, or revenue generation.
• Strong organizational leadership and team-building abilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience budgeting and managing organizational resources.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, CRM systems, and digital tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organizational strategic priorities in partnership with the Board.
• Foster a collaborative, mission-focused culture across staff and volunteers.
• Build alignment among board, staff, instructors, and community stakeholders.
• Represent the organization publicly and cultivate donor relations.
• Identify opportunities for growth, impact, and sustainability.
• Oversee daily operations, programs, and vendor relationships.
• Develop and monitor the annual operating budget and financial controls.
• Lead fundraising efforts across gifts, grants, sponsorships, and events.
• Strengthen partnerships with schools, community groups, and cultural institutions.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Strategic planning

Communication

Budget management

Nonprofit governance

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

CRM systems

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Job description

Whitemarsh Art Center is a community-based nonprofit arts organization dedicated to enriching lives through creativity, education, and artistic engagement. We provide classes, exhibitions, events, and opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to explore the arts while fostering meaningful community connections.

As a small but growing organization, we are entering an exciting phase of development focused on strengthening our operations, expanding our impact, increasing community engagement, and building long-term sustainability. We are seeking an energetic, collaborative, and mission-driven Executive Director to lead the organization into its next chapter.

Position Overview:

The Executive Director serves as the chief operational and administrative leader at Whitemarsh Art Center who will work in close partnership with the Board of Directors, staff, instructors, volunteers, members, and community stakeholders.

The Executive Director is responsible for advancing the organization's mission through strategic leadership, operational excellence, fundraising, community engagement, financial stewardship, and organizational development.

This role requires a hands-on leader who can balance big-picture thinking with day-to-day execution while fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, collaboration, and innovation.

Key Responsibilities:

Organizational Leadership

• Lead the implementation of the organization's strategic priorities.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and mission-focused culture.
• Build alignment among board members, staff, volunteers, instructors, and community stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary ambassador and public representative of the organization.
• Identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and community impact.

Operations & Administration

• Oversee daily operations of the Art Center and its programs.
• Develop and improve systems, processes, and workflows that increase organizational effectiveness.
• Recruit, supervise, develop, and retain staff, instructors, and key volunteers.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and organizational procedures.
• Oversee facility operations, maintenance, and vendor relationships.
• Utilize technology and data systems to improve communication, reporting, and organizational performance.

Financial Management & Fiduciary Stewardship

• Develop and manage the annual operating budget in partnership with the Finance Committee and Board of Directors.
• Monitor financial performance and provide regular reporting and analysis.
• Ensure sound financial controls and responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
• Support long-term financial planning and sustainability initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with bookkeeping and accounting partners to maintain accurate financial records.
• Lead fundraising efforts across individual giving, grants, sponsorships, memberships, events, and corporate partnerships.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with donors, foundations, businesses, and community partners.
• Support grant identification, proposal development, and reporting.
• Work with the Board of Directors to strengthen a culture of philanthropy and community investment.
• Develop sustainable revenue-generating programs and initiatives.

Programs & Community Engagement

• Ensure high-quality arts programming that aligns with the organization's mission and community needs.
• Evaluate program effectiveness using measurable outcomes and participant feedback.
• Strengthen partnerships with schools, community organizations, businesses, municipalities, and cultural institutions.
• Expand awareness of the Art Center throughout the region.
• Support exhibitions, events, classes, and community initiatives that increase participation and engagement.

Board Partnership & Governance

• Maintain strong communication with the Board of Directors.
• Provide timely reports, recommendations, and organizational updates.
• Support board committees and volunteer leadership.
• Assist with board development, strategic planning, and governance initiatives.
• Help create clarity, accountability, and alignment between board-level and operational responsibilities.

Qualifications

Required

• Five or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in a nonprofit, arts, education, community-based, or mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor relations, grant development, or revenue generation.
• Strong organizational leadership and team-building skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Experience managing budgets and organizational resources.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Proficiency with modern workplace technology, including Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, virtual meeting platforms, CRM systems, and financial software.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree within related field
• Experience within arts, cultural, educational, or community-focused organizations.
• Experience working with volunteer boards and committees.
• Knowledge of nonprofit governance and best practices.
• Experience implementing operational systems, project management tools, or organizational infrastructure.
• Familiarity with CRMs, donor management systems, and digital marketing platforms.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 12–24 months, the Executive Director will:

• Strengthen communication and collaboration across the organization.
• Improve operational systems and organizational efficiency.
• Increase fundraising capacity and financial sustainability.
• Expand community engagement and strategic partnerships.
• Support continued growth in programs, membership, and participation.
• Help build a strong culture of accountability, transparency, and shared ownership of the organization's mission.