Sam Sweet Email & Phone Number

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

Sam joined Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation (PHF) as Executive Director in September 2023 to strengthen its organizational capacity to amplify the impacts of Pennsylvania’s rich history and inspire people to use it in meaningful ways. PHF is the independent, statewide, nonprofit partner to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, a state agency. By supporting the agency's work through raising funds, promoting its impact, and extending its reach, PHF works to preserve, protect, present, and interpret the sites, places, people, and stories that foster pride and care for the Commonwealth's history.

Enabling arts and education non-profits to strengthen internal capacity to advance their missions. Expertise includes interim and transitional leadership, organizational assessments, strategic planning, capacity-building, change management, organizational dynamics, annual development planning, capital campaign planning, board governance, mergers, facility evaluation and planningCurrent clients include Capital Bop (DC), Delaware Art and Music Collective. Past clients include: Southern Rep Theatre, Atlas Performing Arts Center, Adventure Theatre and Musical Theatre Center, Bowen McCauley Dance, American Institute of Architects, and Octagon Museum

Quintessence Theatre Group (QTG) was founded in 2010 to bring epic works of classic theatre and literature to the contemporary stage. It is based in NW Philadelphia, and housed in a portion of the Sedgwick Theater, a former movie palace built in 1928. QTG’s lease includes an option to purchase its leased space in the Sedgwick, and it is interested in purchasing the whole building to preserve the iconic structure and create a community cultural hub and destination. The position reported to the Board, worked as a peer to the Artistic Director/Founder, and supervised all non-artistic areas of the organization.• Collaborated with the Artistic Director to ensure the programmatic excellence of the company, including partnering with another company to develop new works in the classical canon based on rediscovered or adapted work by Black, female, and LGBTQIA+ writers• Encouraged and helped the Education Director to expand the education offerings and extend their reach into a broader community• Led the design team in planning for the renovation of the theater space, including budgeting and timeline• Worked with the Capital Campaign Consultant and Campaign Director to finalize the feasibility study, finalize and implement the detailed campaign operating plan, and craft the case for support. • Wrote compelling proposals to support the space renovation and executed successful advocacy campaign to win support with awards from the Commonwealth of $750K and $500K.• Conceived marketing plan and proposal that won a $25K Award for Social Impact from local foundation

Southern Rep was founded in 1986 and it has become known as the leading producer of plays of cultural substance and artistic innovation in New Orleans. But a move to a new facility in an historically Black community in 2018 revealed significant weaknesses: a lack of investment in internal infrastructure (marketing, fundraising, financial management, Board development) and a failure to build connections to the diverse communities in New Orleans. I was engaged to lead a financial and community turnaround for the Theatre.• Worked with strategic planning consultants Michael Kaiser and DeVos Institute for Arts Management to develop a comprehensive 3-year Strategic Plan to reimagine and rebuild Southern Rep.• Developed an action plan and secured Board support to turn Southern Rep into an anti-racist, community-centered organization, • Worked with the Interim Artistic Director to plan a season of theatre performances and Learning and Engagement activities that will demonstrate a BIPOC focus and engagement with neighborhoods throughout New Orleans.• Secured $400,000 through COVID Relief Funds and began fundraising aggressively from local foundations, corporations and individuals to support the “new direction” for Southern Rep.

Wilmington, Delaware, Us

The Delaware Art Museum, a 501c3 nonprofit institution, is the premier art museum for Delaware, but it had suffered years of financial distress. As Executive Director, I led the Museum turn-around, beginning with a new, dynamic strategic vision to make it an outward facing 21st Century Museum • Planned and led a fundraising campaign to strengthen long-term sustainability by increasing its endowment, raising $20.5 million • Promoted equity, diversity and inclusion, by developing external relationships with diverse outside groups by building trust and credibility, and forged strong partnerships with key influencers• Implemented a strategic framework to guide board prospect cultivation to diversify the board and increase effectiveness• Engaged the community to build trust and confidence by developing innovative programs to broaden and diversify audiences, leading the Museum to be called "lively, inclusive and welcoming"

Fairfax, Virginia , Us

• Developed curriculum for “Programming and Project Management in the Arts”• Taught “Finance and Budgeting for Arts Organizations II”, “Arts Entrepreneurship”, and frequent Guest Lecturer on Capital Campaigns in the “Fundraising and Development” class

Helped cultural non-profits strengthen capacity in order to advance their missions. Specialties included: capital campaigns, annual fundraising, board governance, business model evaluation, strategic planning, mergers, facility evaluation and planning• Clients included: Atlas Performing Arts Center, Adventure Theatre and Musical Theatre Center, Bowen McCauley Dance, American Institute of Architects, and Octagon Museum

Us

As Executive Director, provided leadership, strategic vision, and fundraising to a professional presenting organization operating in a renovated historic theatre that is revitalizing the underserved H Street corridor in NE DC.• Secured $6.5 million in City funds as well as significant increases in DC Commission support, and first-time support from the National Endowment for the Arts• Launched critically acclaimed presenting series, a new “lab” theater program for emerging companies, and community engagement activities • Oversaw an annual three-week multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary Festival to showcase local artists, colliding cultures, new art forms and spark community conversations

In a newly-created position as Chief Operating Officer, hired to rebuild the institution's management capacity, structure and systems, and create a culture open to change and improvement. Oversaw all institutional advancement, communications and operations in one of the country's oldest art museums and colleges of art with a $25 million budget and over 300 full-time staff and faculty.• Supervised physical improvements to historic beaux-arts building, including façade restoration and a $12.5 million renovation of the 1897 roof; developed financial strategies to leverage capital assets to advance the institution physically and economically• Rebuilt fundraising efforts by initiating a Strategic Development Plan and Case for Support with a new Senior Vice President of Development• Developed strategic framework to guide board governance efforts• Secured pro bono market research toward more effectively building and retaining membership• Initiated a strategic technology plan to address critical short-term needs and provide for long-term evolution of infrastructure to serve both the Gallery and the College goals

Arlington, Virginia, Us

As Managing Director, led this small but artistically respected local theatre from a renovated garage to a new, two-theater $16 million complex while building organizational capacity to become a national force for developing and producing musical theatre, laying groundwork for Regional Theater TONY award in 2009• Planned, implemented, and led theatre’s first capital campaign, raising $10.5 million (150% of goal)• Negotiated and secured $7 million in construction financing, and later negotiated and secured permanent financing via $10 million in tax-exempt bonds• Grew the organization from $1.8 million to $6 million operating budget• Initiated market research and audience development studies resulting in increased audiences, 90% subscriber retention, and expanded donor base• Negotiated lease for new theater complex with Arlington County in its first public-private partnership. Later, negotiated an amendment securing $1.1 million in rent abatements • Oversaw the construction of the 48,000 square foot two-theatre facility from selecting the architect, design, and general contractor to completion and Grand Opening events

As Managing Director, piloted growth of the theatre from the brink of retrenchment in 1995 to become one of the most respected nonprofit theaters in the country. While building a team of professionals and balancing the budget, generated expansion across every organizational dimension, including artistic and educational programming, board and staff, facilities, fundraising and marketing.• Spurred growth to double the size of the organization, reach an all-time high in subscribers, and increase annual contributed support by over 50%.• Guided and implemented two strategic planning processes (1996 and 2000) to increase board and institutional capacity, resulting in:• Board expansion from 28 to 45 members while increasing engagement and effectiveness• Purchase and award-winning renovation of abandoned historic building sparking commercial revitalization of a long-neglected corridor in SE DC• Creation of a Masters of Fine Arts program in association with George Washington University• Initiated financial, organizational and programmatic planning for expansion to multi-venue operation, which would become the Harman Center for the Arts• Planned and led theatre’s first capital campaign raising $11 million (110% of goal)• Planned, negotiated, and supervised real estate transactions, including purchase and renovation of historic building for offices and education studios, as well as actor housing and support spaces

Executive Program For Nonprofit Leaders In The Arts

M.B.A.

B.A., Art History

Certificate In Interim Executive Leadership