Posted on September 15, 2012

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Executive Director

Art in Action is seeking a dynamic and passionate Executive Director to grow visibility for its program and further develop access to excellent art education for young people everywhere.

Position Overview
Art in Action is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to bringing visual arts education to students in K-12 schools. This year Art in Action is celebrating its 30th year as a leading arts education provider in the San Francisco Bay Area. Art in Action has grown to serve over 40,000 students in more than 215 schools in 28 states – bringing to each student quality art experiences and education to build their creative thinking and confidence in self-expression.

After the post-Proposition 13 cuts to California public schools, Judy Sleeth, Art in Action’s founder, committed herself to providing the art education that her daughter’s school no longer had the capacity to provide. From this single classroom, her volunteer effort has blossomed into a vibrant and tested, curriculum-integrated turnkey arts program for K-12 classrooms. After 30 years at the helm, Judy has decided to focus her attention on curriculum development and Art in Action is looking to hire its first salaried Executive Director. This major step for the organization has the full support of the board and the founder and signals a renewed commitment and enthusiasm for bringing Art in Action’s work to classrooms across the country.

This important transition sets up the opportunity for the new Executive Director (ED) to consider the legacy of Art in Action and refresh the vision with a renewed commitment to fostering the educational development and creativity of children across America through innovative visual arts programs and communities. The ED will lead the board and staff in developing the business model for Art in Action, increasing the efficiency and impact of its programs and establishing realistic goals for growth. A primary responsibility of the ED will be developing greater visibility for the organization and evolving the fundraising programs with the goal of building the overall operating budget. Responsible for all aspects of Art in Action’s operations, the ED will also be looked upon to help guide the vision of the organization as it grows into a national model for delivering high quality art education at a price attainable by resource-constrained schools. The ED will steward a curr ent operating budget of over $750,000 and lead a dedicated staff of 4 full time and 1 part-time employee, an active working Board and enthusiastic volunteers in fulfillment of this mission. Located in Menlo Park, California, Art in Action is looking to expand its programs more deeply in three Bay Area counties as the first step in modeling its growth for a nationwide presence.

Background
Art in Action enriches the lives of thousands of children each year through a dynamic visual arts program based on the works of the Great Masters. The program provides a sequential visual art curriculum aligned with National and California Academic Content Standards for Visual Arts. The program can be integrated with language arts, math, science, social studies, and music and introduces art from a wide variety of cultures and eras. Utilizing school-based volunteer docents or classroom teachers, the curriculum has been designed to provide non-artists and artists alike with the ability to deliver grade specific hands-on art lessons. The base license provides unlimited access to the online program including specific lesson plans, tips for teaching and classroom tools. Additional resources include options for purchasing pre-bundled lesson-specific art materials and high-quality reproductions of the featured artists. Substantial training of teachers and parent volunteers, and con tinuous support for schools allows regional and national clients to successfully implement and maintain a quality art program at a price they can afford. Art in Action serves a broad and diverse community and through its fundraising efforts currently raises support that allows the price of the program to schools to be reduced to nearly half the actual cost of producing the program. Art in Action has successfully received funding to introduce the program to schools in districts where funding would otherwise not be available. Once Art in Action is introduced to a classroom, teachers, faculty and administration often prioritize its continuation due to the positive responses by students and faculty alike.

Responsibilities
The ED is responsible for building upon and implementing the overall vision for Art in Action and for executing a strategy for the sustained growth and success of the organization. The ED will oversee the administration of Art in Action including personnel management, record keeping, financial and program management and the infrastructure for fundraising activities and grants management. The ED will be the primary face of the organization and lead all marketing, communications and fundraising efforts. The ED will report to the Board of Directors under the direction of the President of the Board and in close collaboration with Board Committees.

VISION AND STRATEGY

• Lead the Board in updating the Strategic Plan and facilitate the development of annual staff work plans and priorities required for implementing that plan;
• Build the relationships internally and externally required to fulfill the mission of Art in Action, paying particular attention to building visibility regionally and nationally;
• Together with the Board, consider the financial model of the organization and develop a long range sustainability plan;
• Work with the Board to provide leadership, information, and support that enhances the governance of Art in Action; assist in identifying potential Board members who can provide valuable contributions to the growth of Art in Action;

FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNICATIONS

• Plan and execute a fundraising strategy that lays the foundation for substantial growth;
• Actively cultivate prospective donors for Art in Action including individuals, corporations, and foundations;
• Develop the communications and outreach required to expand awareness and financial support including a strong case statement and data to illustrate impact and value;
• Be a passionate spokesperson for art education and Art in Action to all relevant constituencies and stakeholders, internally and externally;
• Activate the Board in the development of deep community relationships: mentor and support the work of the Board to identify, cultivate and meet with prospective donors;
• Consider the long term needs of the organization and build the fundraising infrastructure required to meet those needs, including building a communications and engagement plan required to steward major donors;
• Ensure the ongoing coordination and implementation of all individual, corporate or other organizational fundraising proposal milestones, grant reporting, and compliance.

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

• Develop and manage Art in Action’s annual budget and staffing plan, clearly communicate priorities and celebrate successes;
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise and mentor a strong and effective staff – build a cohesive team with clear lines of authority and responsibility;
• Develop and manage an efficient and effective organization while keeping administrative costs to a minimum;
• Through behavioral example, policy and leadership, foster an organizational culture of mutual support and respect, personal responsibility and empowerment;
• Facilitate the development and utilization of volunteers and ensure their talents are deployed appropriately and their work acknowledged and appreciated;
• Provide a general report on the day-to-day matters and operations of Art in Action at each meeting of the Board of Directors, and work closely with Board committees to activate and align board and staff efforts;
• Cultivate relationships with external partners that can assist in the growth and execution of the program and with those who can expand learning and knowledge sharing at a regional and national level.

PROGRAM AND SALES & MARKETING

• Effectively engage the Program Committee and key strategic advisors, including the founder, in curriculum strategy and development;
• Work with the Sales Manager to ensure the appropriate resources to introduce Art in Action to the broadest range of schools and that the program structure allows access to the broadest constituencies;
• Together with the Program Manager ensure the quality of the program through vibrant feedback and learning among all the partners required in the program’s delivery, including high-quality training opportunities and active communication;
• Together with the Board and Marketing Committee develop a clear brand and build a program for developing greater visibility and the engagement of new allies in art education;
• Ensure the resources are available to refresh and build Art in Action’s online capacity and that the program takes advantage of developments in technology to enhance and reduce the cost of the program.

Experience and Qualifications:
A successful candidate will likely have:

• A passion for art education and the ability to articulate the benefits of Art in Action programs with enthusiasm and clarity;
• Success in growing the visibility of an organization or program;
• An entrepreneurial spirit and a comfort with experimenting with new ideas;
• Experience and success in fundraising and in building fundraising programs;
• Success in building organizations and sustainable financial models;
• Familiarity with K-12 education;
• Experience with developing and working with a nonprofit board;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; a proven track record of being able to motivate others to act;
• Strong written and verbal skills;
• Wisdom and prudence in the management of financial resources; experienced in financial management and business decision-making;
• Bachelor’s degree.

Personal Attributes

• Passionate and articulate, able to clearly set forth a vision and execute upon it;
• Highly collaborative and transparent, inspires confidence and trust;
• Warm and inviting, able to bring others to the work:
• A strong manager, able to coach, motivate and empower;
• Tenacious, able to creatively respond to challenges;
• A person who sets high standards for himself/herself and those around them;
• Strong in character and in vision—able to keep the end in mind, be optimistic and positive;
• Able to bring out the best in others; comfortable sharing credit and successes;
• Able to deploy humor and levity in daily work.

Application Instructions

For additional information or to submit your qualifications for review, contact:
Nancy Painter, 650-585-2365 nancy@olivegroveconsulting.com