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The Opportunity
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth seeks an entrepreneurial and relationship-driven Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to help shape the next chapter of one of the nation's leading museums of modern and contemporary art. Founded in 1892, the Modern is the oldest art museum in Texas and a cornerstone of Fort Worth's renowned Cultural District, reflecting the city's extraordinary legacy of philanthropic support for the arts.
This newly-created role comes at a pivotal moment for the Museum. With a new Director, an energized senior leadership team, and a highly engaged Board of Trustees, the Modern is poised for a period of renewed growth and opportunity. As a key member of the senior leadership team, the CAO will help shape institutional strategy, strengthen community engagement, and build the philanthropic partnerships that will advance the Museum's mission and ambitions.
Reporting to the Director, the CAO will lead an integrated team of approximately 12 professionals across Development, Membership, and Marketing & Communications. This leader will have the opportunity to refine and strengthen the Museum's advancement infrastructure, mentor and develop staff, and thoughtfully build organizational capacity to support future goals.
Supported by a strong endowment and a deeply committed donor community, the Modern is well-positioned to focus on strategic philanthropic growth. This role is responsible for meeting an annual fundraising goal of approximately $5 million, which will be inclusive of membership, annual giving, and support from individual supporters, foundations, and corporate sponsorship. An emphasis on cultivating major donors, expanding engagement and membership support, and building a pipeline for future transformational giving will be key for success in this role. Looking ahead, the Museum is exploring a potential capital campaign tied to an expansion of its iconic Tadao Ando-designed campus—an initiative expected to exceed $100 million.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a forward-thinking advancement leader who enjoys building teams, developing strategy, and partnering with colleagues, trustees, and donors to shape the future of a world-class cultural institution.
About The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth was first established in 1892, making it the oldest museum in Texas and one of the oldest in the western United States. Founded by a group of forward-thinking women as the Fort Worth Public Library and Art Gallery in downtown Fort Worth, its mission evolved through the years. Consequently, the Museum has undergone several name changes and been housed in various buildings over the decades. Although the word “modern” only became part of the museum’s name in 1987, it has always been dedicated to the art of our time.
The Museum’s first permanent building was designed by the Bauhaus-trained architect Herbert Bayer and opened in 1954. The Cultural District began to develop around the site over the next few years, and with the arrival of new institutions such as the Amon Carter Museum and Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern modified its focus to international art from World War II to the present. In 2002, the Modern relocated within the Cultural District to a world-renowned building designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando.
The Japanese architect designed an elegant concrete, glass, and steel building with 53,000 square feet of soaring, light-filled gallery space and landscaped grounds with outdoor sculptures. The building features a reflecting pond, theater, education center, gift shop, and café, creating a thriving gathering place for the community and beyond. Acclaimed for its concrete walls and glass sheath, with pavilions that seem to float on an expansive reflecting pond, the building allows for major exhibitions, insightful educational programming, and the most comprehensive displays of the Museum’s collection in its history.
The Modern is a center of lifelong learning and exchange, serving as a true “gathering space” in the city’s Cultural District. The Modern’s programs include tours, lectures by leading figures in the art world, youth and adult classes, art camps, workshops, and a range of small-group studio and gallery programs led by the Museum's educators, docents, and community artists. “First Fridays” typically attract 500 to 600 people to the Modern and the Tuesday Lecture Series in the spring and fall provides special opportunities to entertain patrons, artists, and other supporters with intimate events. Similarly, opening weekend receptions and dinners are well attended, drawing many for their chic and festive atmosphere. The Modern also presents critically acclaimed first-run films and partners with other local arts organizations to offer music, dance, and theater.
In July 2025, The Modern welcomed Halona Norton-Westbrook as Director, succeeding Marla Price, who had served the Museum for more than three decades. Norton-Westbrook has spent her first months becoming acquainted with the Board, other major patrons, and the Museum’s team, as well as the Fort Worth community members who have been supporters of the Modern for years. She is focused on developing and implementing a strategic plan to grow the Museum’s stature and audience both locally and internationally.
About Fort Worth, TX
With a population of 1 million residents, Fort Worth is a “big town,” with its own distinct rhythm amidst the vast expanse of the Lone Star State, with a unique tapestry of culture, history, and charm. Unlike Dallas, its bustling sibling city, Fort Worth embraces its cowboy heritage with a pride that’s unmistakably Texan.
The Modern is a key pillar of the Cultural District, along with the Kimbell Art Museum, the Amon Carter Museum, and the Bass Performance Hall. Together these institutions stand as a testament to the City’s deep commitment to the arts and its community, so that Fort Worth’s active and world-renowned cultural offerings rival that of any major metropolis, with a strong theater, opera, and music scene including home of the Van Cliburn international competition. There are new opportunities for visual artists and a burgeoning gallery scene. The city also offers wonderful partnership possibilities, with world-class universities and medical schools deeply invested in the cultural sphere of the city. The passion of the city’s arts supporters demonstrates their belief in the institutions. A strong public arts program has been growing each day, and art is prominently on display in Sundance Square, new boutique hotels, and downtown businesses.
The iconic Fort Worth Stockyards, where longhorns once roamed and cowboys wrangled, still echo with the spirit of bygone days. It’s this tangible link to history that sets Fort Worth apart, infusing the city with a rugged authenticity that’s hard to find elsewhere. Fort Worth is known for its quirky and un-ironic juxtaposition of old and new, high and low culture. The museums are in the center of a district devoted to arts and culture while being steps from the annual rodeo and livestock shows, attended by future farmers, Grammy Award-winning musicians, and international museum boards, alike.
“A melting pot with reverence for history,” Fort Worth is more than just rich with history. It’s a cosmopolitan city that’s evolved while retaining its soul, drawing hipsters, boutique coffee shops, farmers markets, as well as major tech innovation with Lockheed Martin, Texas Instruments, and Bell Helicopter all in the mix. One of the fastest growing cities in the country, Fort Worth is the 10th largest city in the country. The vibrancy of a mix of belief systems, new resources, and influx of people determined to honor the past while driving the city forward is unmistakable.
What truly sets Fort Worth apart is its sense of community. Despite its size, the city maintains a tight-knit feel, where neighbors still wave to each other on the street and local businesses thrive on word-of-mouth recommendations. The city has distinctive and beautiful neighborhoods with accessible housing prices. Home to a highly rated school system with some of the best public schools in Texas, Fort Worth prioritizes education. The cost of living is slightly lower than other cities its size. DFW International Airport is readily accessible from Fort Worth, which makes it is easy to travel almost anywhere in the world while planting deep roots and maintaining strong ties in an eminently livable place.
In Fort Worth, the past and present intertwine seamlessly, making it a down-to-earth community where cowboy hats and skyscrapers coexist, where history is revered but innovation is embraced, and where the spirit of the Old West lives on in the hearts of its residents.
For more information on Fort Worth, please visit https://www.fortworth.com/visitor-guide/.
Candidate Profile
While it is understood that no one candidate will bring every desired skill, characteristic, and experience, the following offers a reflection of the ideal candidate profile.
Strategic Advancement and Fundraising Leadership
The Chief Advancement Officer will be an accomplished advancement leader with a demonstrated record of securing major gifts, growing philanthropic support, and building sustainable fundraising programs. This individual will bring expertise across major gifts, annual giving, membership, institutional funding, and campaign strategy, with the ability to align advancement efforts with institutional priorities. A strategic thinker and active fundraiser, the CAO will identify opportunities to strengthen the Museum's culture of philanthropy while helping position the Modern for future transformational fundraising initiatives.
Relationship Builder and Trusted Ambassador
The Chief Advancement Officer will be a skilled relationship builder who inspires confidence and cultivates meaningful partnerships with trustees, donors, members, community leaders, and colleagues. An authentic and engaging communicator, this leader will effectively articulate the Museum's mission, vision, and impact to a variety of audiences. They will navigate complex stakeholder environments with diplomacy, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to fostering trust and collaboration.
Strategic and Operational Excellence
The successful candidate will combine strategic vision with strong operational and analytical skills. They will establish clear goals, leverage data to inform decision-making, and build systems that support sustainable growth across advancement functions. This leader will balance innovation with practicality, ensuring resources, processes, and priorities are aligned to achieve both short- and long-term objectives.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
The Chief Advancement Officer will be an engaging and authentic communicator with exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills. This leader will possess strong emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and the ability to build trust across a wide range of constituents, including trustees, donors, staff, and community partners. An active listener who values collaboration and transparency, the CAO will foster an environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing ideas, raising concerns, and contributing to solutions. Through clear communication, approachability, and genuine relationship-building, this leader will strengthen alignment, engagement, and collaboration throughout the organization.
Collaborative Leadership and Talent Development
As a member of the senior leadership team, the Chief Advancement Officer will contribute thoughtfully to institutional strategy while fostering strong cross-functional partnerships across the Museum. They will be an empowering manager who values mentorship, accountability, and professional growth. The ideal candidate will enjoy building and developing teams, creating clarity of purpose, and cultivating an inclusive, high-performing culture where individuals can thrive and contribute their best work.
Passion for Art, Community, and the Mission
The Chief Advancement Officer will be energized by the Modern's mission, and the role modern and contemporary art can play in enriching civic life and fostering meaningful dialogue. They will bring curiosity, humility, and a commitment to lifelong learning, along with an appreciation for the Museum's history and aspirations. Guided by integrity, sound judgment, and a collaborative spirit, this leader will serve as a thoughtful steward of the institution and its relationships.
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range for this role is between $225,000 to $250,000. Compensation includes an excellent benefits package and is commensurate with experience.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Naree Viner and Stephen Milbauer. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.