National Museum of Women in the Arts Executive Director Washington, DC

Active Searches Executive Director Company: National Museum of Women in the Arts Location: Washington, DC Date Posted: October 21, 2026 Express Interest Download Position Profile (PDF) Make a Nomination Make a Nomination x Share: Download Position Profile (PDF) About National Museum of Women in the Arts Founded by collector and philanthropist Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) holds a singular place in the cultural landscape as the world’s first institution solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. Located in Washington, DC, the museum opened its doors in 1987, bringing recognition to the achievements of women artists across all periods and nationalities by exhibiting, preserving, acquiring, and researching their work, and educating the public about their enduring contributions. Its mission is both focused and expansive: to address the persistent gender imbalance in the presentation of art by illuminating important women artists of the past while actively promoting the great women artists working today. NMWA operates from the conviction that an art museum can be a force for social change: a place where women’s voices are heard and diverse stories are told through exhibitions and programs designed to inspire dynamic exchanges about art and ideas. Its core values, Champion, Open, and Fresh, shape everything from curatorial choices to community engagement, reflecting an organizational culture that prizes both advocacy and accessibility. The museum is headquartered in an iconic Washington, DC building that recently underwent a sweeping $70 million renovation. With a staff of 102 (70 full-time and 32 part-time) and a FY27 operating budget of approximately $20.5 million, NMWA operates at meaningful institutional scale, supported by an endowment of approximately $76 million, with a $25 million Cornerstone Fund dedicated to the building. Approximately 60 percent of operating revenue is derived from contributed support, reflecting the museum’s deep reliance on philanthropic relationships. NMWA’s collection spans the sixteenth century to the present, and its exhibitions and programs reach audiences locally, nationally, and internationally. The museum invests significantly in digital engagement and is actively exploring how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, can elevate its profile and deepen its reach. The museum is approaching a significant milestone: its 40th anniversary in 2027. The planned retirement of longtime Director Susan Fisher Sterling, appointed in 2008 after joining the museum in 1988, opens a new chapter for an institution that has never been more prepared to pursue its founding vision at scale. In a moment when questions of representation and equity are reshaping the arts world, NMWA has been asking and acting on these questions for nearly four decades. Learn more about NMWA at nmwa.org . The Opportunity The National Museum of Women in the Arts seeks a bold, relationship-driven leader to serve as its next Executive Director at a pivotal moment in the institution’s history. As NMWA approaches its 40th anniversary and embarks on its next chapter, the Executive Director will serve as the museum’s chief executive and primary fundraiser, upholding the museum’s mission and securing the philanthropic partnerships necessary to sustain and expand its impact. The Executive Director will provide the strategic vision and operational authority to position NMWA as an essential voice in national and global conversations about women, art, and culture. Leading a staff of 102 and overseeing a $20.5 million annual budget, this leader will drive programmatic excellence, promote digital innovation, and serve as the museum’s primary public ambassador, inspiring diverse audiences and elevating NMWA’s reputation across media, government, and civic platforms. The Executive Director will partner closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure trustees are active advocates, connectors, and donors, and will leverage NMWA’s distinctive infrastructure of state and international committees to build new constituencies and deepen existing ones. They will personally cultivate and close major gifts, and build a culture of philanthropy across the institution, engaging individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government funders alike. The ideal candidate brings proven executive leadership in a museum or comparable cultural institution, demonstrated success as a frontline fundraiser, and deep passion for gender equity and the arts. This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the most distinctive and mission-driven institutions in the American cultural landscape. Candidate Profile We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional skills and qualities, and personal attributes. Top candidates will have at least ten years of success in senior leadership roles in a museum, cultural institution, or comparable organization. Deep passion for the arts, gender equity, and the mission of championing women artists globally. Advanced degree in art, art history, arts administration, or other relevant subject matter; our client is also open to candidates with equivalent professional experience in a nonprofit setting. Strategic Vision and Mission Advancement Our client seeks leaders with experience developing and executing a multi-year institutional strategic plan, with measurable outcomes and demonstrated board and staff buy-in. This executive will partner closely with the Board and team members to articulate a clear, differentiated organizational identity, successfully unifying internal and external stakeholders around a shared mission narrative. They should have the ability to develop and implement strategic plans to guide growth and