New York, New York, United States
Seasoned nonprofit executive, fundraising strategist, and cultural advocate with nearly three decades of leadership in the arts, book and magazine publishing, and nonprofit management. Throughout my career, I have worked at the intersection of the arts, advocacy, and philanthropy, helping organizations expand their reach, amplify underrepresented voices, and secure sustainable funding for mission-driven programming. My expertise spans fundraising, donor stewardship, events-based revenue generation, strategic partnerships, and institutional development, with a deep commitment to equity, free expression, and community engagement. I have successfully secured multimillion-dollar funding from private foundations, corporate sponsors, and government agencies, while designing and executing high-profile gala fundraisers, public literary events, and national outreach campaigns that elevate writers, artists, and creative thinkers. As a visionary leader with an entrepreneurial mindset, I have held executive roles at prestigious literary and arts organizations, overseeing editorial strategy, membership growth, and innovative programming. Whether reviving historic literary prizes, leading large-scale public engagement initiatives, or advocating for writers at risk of censorship, I bring a results-driven, strategic, and mission-focused approach to every organization I serve. Core Strengths & Leadership Impact: ✔ Fundraising & Development – Proven success in major gift cultivation, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and donor engagement strategies, raising significant funding for nonprofits. ✔ Event-Based Revenue Generation – Designed and led annual galas, literary festivals, and large-scale donor events, generating hundreds of thousands in revenue annually. ✔ Strategic Partnerships & Advocacy – Built high-impact collaborations across publishing, media, arts institutions, and cultural organizations, expanding audiences and resources. ✔ Publishing & Editorial Leadership – Extensive background in literary programming, editorial direction, digital content strategy, and audience development. ✔ Championing Emerging & Underrepresented Voices – Dedicated to elevating marginalized writers, international artists, and voices threatened by censorship and cultural erasure. ✔ Board & Stakeholder Engagement – Skilled in nonprofit governance, financial sustainability, and long-term organizational planning. I welcome opportunities to collaborate, lead, and innovate in support of organizations committed to shaping the future of literature, arts, and cultural advocacy.
Serving as Interim Executive Director of the Salmagundi Club (est. 1871), a historic arts community housed in a landmark brownstone in Greenwich Village built in 1853. I was brought on during a transitional chapter for the Club and have partnered closely with a newly reconstituted Board, staff, and committee leadership to steward daily operations, reinforce organizational stability, and help position the Club for its next era of growth. —Drive earned revenue through private rentals, dining buyouts, and bespoke cultural partnerships—generating up to $100K/month during peak periods through new business and repeat clients. —Provide steady leadership during a transitional year, stabilizing operations, strengthening systems, and supporting a thriving artistic community. —Oversee financial management in partnership with the Controller and Finance Committee to maintain a sustainable budget and sound business practices. —Lead and support a staff of 18, fostering strong morale and a culture of professionalism while upholding high standards in hospitality, member engagement, and restaurant operations. —Work closely with the Board of Directors to align daily operations with strategic goals, ensure compliance with city and state requirements, and steward the integrity of a landmark building. —Expand visibility of the Club as an active cultural center, strengthening programming and partnerships that serve members while welcoming new audiences to the institution. —This progress has been a true group effort, achieved in close partnership with the Board, staff, subcommittees, and hospitality leadership.
Serving as the new Director of Harper's Magazine Foundation in 2026. In 2025, Harper’s brought me on to help formalize and expand its philanthropic strategy—raising visibility for the Harper’s Magazine Foundation as a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit, executing a landmark gala fundraiser, inaugurating two high-profile awards, and growing support through major donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants. —Led strategy and execution of Harper’s first-ever fundraiser, producing its 175th Anniversary Gala Dinner for 400 guests at 583 Park Avenue (NYC) in support of the Harper’s Magazine Foundation (501(c)(3) —Oversaw end-to-end event planning and delivery, including guest experience, sponsor stewardship, benefit committee coordination, ticketing, program flow, and on-site production logistics. —Inaugurated two new signature awards to elevate the Foundation’s philanthropic visibility and long-term fundraising goals: the James C. Goodale First Amendment Award and the Lewis H. Lapham Award for Literary Excellence, presented to A.G. Sulzberger and Marilynne Robinson, respectively. —Cultivated and stewarded relationships with major donors, corporate partners, publishers, and law firms to expand philanthropic support for independent journalism and literary excellence. —Developed donor engagement infrastructure and revenue-generation strategies, including prospect research, outreach messaging, sponsorship frameworks, and donor recognition systems. —Conducted grant research and drafted foundation proposals to secure new institutional support for Harper’s editorial mission, free expression initiatives, and literary programming. —Advise publisher and senior leadership on 2026 development strategy, including donor cultivation initiatives, communications cadence, and funding diversification opportunities.
Appointed to lead Lapham’s Quarterly through a critical period of transition, overseeing strategic, financial, and operational recovery efforts. Spearheaded fundraising initiatives that raised $1M to address historic debt, re-engage donors, and stabilize the organization. —Guided the Board of Directors in assessing the viability of a capital campaign while strengthening nonprofit governance protocols. —Managed a team of 15 full-time employees, five part-time contractors, and multiple consultants to navigate organizational restructuring. —Led high-profile institutional partnerships, including the sale of private archives to Columbia University’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library and a collaboration with the Hawthornden Foundation to establish a memorial honoring the magazine’s founder. —Brokered a strategic merger with Bard College to ensure the magazine’s continued operations and long-term sustainability with its new home at the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities. —Developed and executed a comprehensive communications strategy to strengthen donor engagement and secure major gifts. Lapham’s Quarterly is a project of the American Agora Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering an appreciation of history. Established in 2007 by former Harper’s Magazine editor Lewis H. Lapham, the magazine embodies the belief that historical consciousness is an asset a democratic republic can ill afford to lose, that history is the root of all education—social and scientific; spiritual, political, and economic. Each issue of the Quarterly focuses on a question of primary and always current concern—recent issues focused on freedom, migration, epidemics, democracy, and climate—by placing the voices and witnesses of the past at the service of the present.
As Executive Director of House of SpeakEasy, I served as the strategic and operational leader of a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to literary programming, community outreach, and public engagement. I led all aspects of fiscal management, budgeting, board development, and staff leadership and successfully expanded the organization’s reach, impact, and fiscal sustainability through high-impact fundraising, donor stewardship, and grant acquisition. Key Achievements & Impact: –Revenue & Fundraising Growth: Spearheaded a multi-pronged fundraising strategy, securing over $1 million in grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual giving, including major gifts and foundation support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Amazon Literary Partnerships, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts. –Live Events & Major Fundraising Initiatives: Designed and executed high-profile donor cultivation events, annual fundraising galas, and digital giving campaigns, generating $450,000 annually in event-based revenue and expanding donor engagement through tailored programming. –Program Expansion & National Visibility: Scaled flagship series “Seriously Entertaining”, expanding its national presence to 24 new cities and 15 states, with viewership in 10 countries. –Community Outreach & Literacy Access: Founded and launched the Bookmobile & Artmobile initiatives, delivering free books and literary programming to 15,000+ families annually, securing funding from the NYC Mayor's Office and Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. –Strategic Partnerships & Organizational Growth: Built coalitions with literary and cultural institutions, securing long-term sponsorships and strategic alliances to sustain and grow House of SpeakEasy’s programming and mission.
Oversaw all aspects of day-to-day nonprofit operations, including financial, legal, and office management needs. Engage Board of Trustees and Board of Advisors to identify organizational priorities and forecast budget allocations. Assembled a staff of 10 for newly funded programs, including bilingual specialists and DEIA experts for outreach initiatives. Increase visibility of flagship program “Seriously Entertaining,” featuring 36 writers per year, with national exposure in 18 new cities and viewership in 7 new countries. Responsible for launching Bookmobile and Artmobile initiatives, serving 15,000 families with over 36 activations annually. Design and implement fundraising strategies for: –Intimate donor events, print & digital end-of-year giving campaigns, annual gala & auction for 300+ guests, resulting in $450,000 in earned revenue annually –Private, state & federal grants, major gifts, donor cultivation, and corporate sponsors. Successful awards include Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Amazon Literary Partnerships, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts