About Newfields: A Place for Nature & the Arts
Newfields’ mission is to enrich lives through exceptional experiences with art and nature.
In 1883, a group of Indianapolis citizens, led by educator and activist May Wright Sewall, formed the Art Association of Indianapolis with the goal “to cultivate and advance Art in all its branches.” Over the past 140 years the organization has evolved from the Art Association of Indianapolis to the Indianapolis Museum of Art to Newfields. The institution has moved locations, increased educational programming, and expanded its art and horticultural collections. At the heart of these changes is the organization’s commitment to May Wright Sewall’s legacy of forward thinking around education, equality, social reform, and art and culture.
The Art Association has grown into one of the largest and most renowned art museums in the country, with 5,000 years of art history and active exhibition and education programs that far surpass anything the Art Association’s founders could have imagined. The Museum is now complemented by the Oldfields estate, a National Historic Landmark, thanks to the generosity of Ruth Lilly, Josiah K. Lilly and their family, whose intent was to create a home for art in nature.
In 2017, The Indianapolis Museum of Art announced the unification of the entire campus under one name — Newfields, A Place for Nature and the Arts. By leveraging Newfields’ indoor and outdoor spaces year-round, this multi-disciplinary institution has a different story than many arts and cultural institutions nationwide. Two years later, a new organizational structure created the role of President & CEO of Newfields followed by two Director roles who oversee the vision and collaboration of the Gardens and Museum respectively.
The next President & CEO of Newfields will work to accomplish Newfields’ mission by serving a highly dedicated and talented team and modeling its values: Stewardship, Inclusivity, Service and Excellence. These values shape the work that Newfields does and will continue in the future.
The Opportunity
Newfields is in a pivotal moment of growth and evolution and is seeking a dynamic and visionary President & Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) to inspire sustainable change while leading a multi-faceted team with care, compassion, and integrity in its next chapter and beyond.
The President & CEO will effectively manage, engage, and mentor a multi-generational team of seven direct reports: The Melvin and Bren Simon Director of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, The Ruth Lilly Director of The Garden & Fairbanks Park, the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Vice President and Chief People & Diversity Officer, the Vice President and Chief Operations Officer (vacant), the Vice President for Marketing and External Affairs, and the Vice President for Advancement. This is in addition to overall oversight of a staff of 300 across 30+ departments.
With support from a highly engaged and invested Board of Trustees, the next President & CEO of Newfields will build upon tremendous momentum and focus on managing the overall complex business operations of the institution.
Key Priorities for the President & CEO include, among others:
- STRATEGY AND VISION | In collaboration with the Board of Trustees, Directors of The Garden and The Indianapolis Museum of Art, staff, and volunteers, design and implement a clear and cohesive strategic vision, building on Newfields’ history and past successes as well as future opportunities.
- DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESS | Build upon Newfields’ stated commitment and action plans for DEIA by implementing aligned policies and procedures – inclusive of compensation, benefits, and work conditions – and ensuring a culture of mutual respect, safety, and belonging.
- OPERATIONS | Own ultimate responsibility for overseeing the enhancement of operations and infrastructure to support the growth and complexity of all aspects of the organization. Prioritize the financial stability, planning, and health of the organization, including debt management, endowment draw, and revenue growth.
- FINANCE AND ADVANCEMENT | In partnership with the Board and with the support of staff, cultivate new sources of revenue (earned and contributed) by strategically expanding and deepening the existing donor and visitor base. Expand and develop fundraising opportunities through new and ongoing strategic partnerships. Solidify the role and strengthen the positioning of Newfields in the Indianapolis region as a leading, welcoming, and thriving cultural institution.
- TALENT MANAGEMENT | Enhance, maintain, and model a strong culture of trust, high performance, and continuous learning within the organization.
- COMMUNITY-BUILDING AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS | Engage various community groups, partners, donors, and peer organizations within Indianapolis, throughout the Midwest, and nationally to ensure Newfields forges authentic connections in alignment with the mission and vision of the organization.
- BOARD DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNANCE | As the primary organization contact to the Board of Trustees and Board of Governors, cultivate collaborative working relationships with current Board members and develop relationships with potential Board members, bringing diverse voices, perspectives, and lived experiences to Newfields to meet the strategic goals of the organization.
Interest is welcomed from all sectors, both for profit and nonprofit.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience, with a generous benefits package. The exact salary that will be offered to the President & CEO will be determined based on a consideration of the successful candidate’s skills and experience aligned with Newfields' compensation policies.The compensation package includes a base salary plus an annual performance-based bonus. In addition, Newfields provides a comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, and dental programs, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance, professional development funds, 401(k), and paid time off days (plus 10 paid holidays). This is a full time position that will be performed on site in Indianapolis, Indiana. Relocation support will be provided for candidates coming from outside of the Indianapolis region.
The Search Process
Feedback was incorporated from Newfields staff, the Board of Trustees, the Board of Governors, the Community Advisory Committee, and other community leaders at the beginning of the search process. In addition, all input is welcomed at any point in the search process. Feedback will be taken seriously and shared with the Search Committee throughout the entire search and candidate assessment process to ensure we identify and recruit the right leader for Newfields.
The Search Committee will partner with Koya to assess a diverse slate of prospective candidates and reach a consensus on the selection of Newfields’ next President & CEO through an equitable search process. The Search Committee of Newfields consists of members of the Board of Trustees and executive staff leaders.
- Anne Sellers, Search Committee Chair; Vice Chair, Board of Trustees – Entrepreneur
- Darrianne Christian, Chair, Board of Trustees – Community Volunteer
- Michael Kubacki, Newfields Interim President & CEO – Community Volunteer
- Alan Mills, Member, Board of Trustees – Retired Partner, Barnes & Thornburg, LLC
- Kathi Postlethwait, Member, Board of Trustees – Philanthropist and Community Leader
- Ian Rupert, Member, Board of Trustees – Managing Partner, RSLP Ventures
- Doug Singleton, Member, Board of Trustees; Chair, Board of Governors – Principal, Singleton Companies
All inquiries may be directed to Koya Partners at newfieldsceo@koyapartners.com. In addition, all feedback and input related to the search can be shared via a survey linked here.
Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Tiara D. Muse. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at newfieldsceo@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email nonprofitsearchops@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.