Overview

Founded in 2015, CraftNOW Philadelphia (CraftNOW) is a registered 501(c)(3) with a mission to celebrate and support the craft community of Philadelphia. CraftNOW honors the city’s rich legacy, promotes its internationally recognized contemporary scene, and advances its important role as an incubator for the arts based in clay, fiber, glass, metal, and wood.

Over the last decade, CraftNOW has grown into a backbone organization for the Greater Philadelphia region with a budget of $400,000. The organization sponsors an annual itinerary of public events and programming in partnership with The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Museum for Art and Wood, The Clay Studio, The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Smith Memorial Playground, and other outstanding educational, non-profit, and business organizations in the field.

With a solidly established programmatic vision, CraftNOW seeks an energetic and passionate leader to steward the organization into the future through fundraising and development.

The Position
The Executive Director (ED) is the chief operational, strategic, and administrative leader of CraftNOW. This position reports to the Board of Directors and works closely with the Board and its committees toward implementing the organization’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.

The ED is responsible for ensuring the financial health of the organization, driving fundraising and development efforts, and making sure that the day-to-day administrative and operational needs of the organization are running smoothly. This position supervises one full-time development associate, a part time program assistant, and one Drexel University Co-op Intern.

As the primary spokesperson for the organization, the ED should be adept at public speaking and have a knack for communication with the diverse constituencies served by CraftNOW and its partners.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategic Planning:

• • Develop and implement long-term strategic plans in collaboration with the board.
  • Foster a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive work culture.
  • Report to the Board of Directors with timely updates on operational and financial performance.
  • Work with the board and its committees to enhance the organization’s value-added approach to partnerships.

Fundraising and Development:

• • Oversee all fundraising efforts, including major donor cultivation, grant writing, corporate sponsorships, and special events.
  • Secure stable revenue streams to support operational sustainability.
  • Ensure compliance with state and federal non-profit regulations, maintain CRM with accurate donor data, and compile fundraising reports.

Financial Management and Operations:

• • Develop and manage the annual budget; ensure sound financial controls and fiscal stewardship.
  • Oversee daily operations, including administrative systems, website management, and human resources.
  • Ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements.

Programming and Community Engagement:

• • Collaborate with board committees and staff to plan and execute public programming (Symposium, Tools of the Trades, CraftNOW Create – Smith Memorial Playground and Summer Camp).
  • Maintain, expand, and strengthen partnerships with community leaders, patrons, and other cultural organizations.
  • Direct marketing, branding, and audience development efforts.

Personal Characteristics:

• High energy and self-starter
• Lead by example
• Ability and desire to mentor staff and students
• Passion for and knowledge about the arts
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Creative problem solver
• Willingness to learn

Compensation

• The expected salary range is $85,000 – $95,000 per year plus benefits.

Application and Referral Process

• Applicant review is currently underway and will continue until the candidate has been selected.
• Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, and three references to Chair of the Search Committee, Paul Stark at pkstark97@gmail.com