Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center
ROLE
Vice President, Board of Directors; Co-Chair, Fundraising Committee
DATES
2008-2013
Website
Hallwalls is a nationally recognized nonprofit contemporary arts organization in Buffalo, NY founded in 1974. I served as an elected officer on its 20-member board from 2008 to 2013, overseeing strategy, committee planning, and donor engagement. I participated in board governance processes, bylaw adherence, and committee management throughout my tenure.
35th Anniversary Art Auction
The project that defined my time on the board was the 35th Anniversary Art Auction in 2009. I planned and executed a two-part fundraising event — the first held at Hallwalls in Buffalo in August, the second at Christie's First Open Sale of Post-War & Contemporary Art in New York that September. It became the single largest income-producing fundraising event in Hallwalls' history.
Annual Fund Campaign
I also initiated and launched Hallwalls' first Annual Fund Campaign in 2011 — a donor cultivation series that brought supporters directly into artist studios for receptions and talks. It was a new model for the organization, built around personal access rather than traditional galas. By its third year, the campaign had achieved 39% income growth.
Membership & Systems
On the operations side, I led the conversion to the Blackbaud donor tracking system and rebranded the membership and e-commerce program.
