As we slog through the presidential election season, a familiar plaint is heard: "Where are all the good candidates? There seems to be so few acceptable choices." This is not a post about which party or which candidate is better for the country. It is...
Andy Horwitz, writing in the Atlantic, delivers a compelling argument about how the arts in America are funded and concludes that the federal government, because it has not adequately supported the National Endowment for the Arts, is contributing to the weakness of the culturally diverse and...
Funny and witty, yes; gram of truth, scarily so. US hospitals, universities and arts organizations benefit greatly from the generosity of the ultra wealthy (who are themselves subsidized by substantial tax advantages funded by all taxpayers). The $100 million naming gift was the best deal...
The nonprofit sector benefits from a diligent press. In my experience as a compensation consultant to nonproift organizations, press inquiries are usually thoughtful, fact-based and an important peg in the process of insuring a healthy and ethical sector. While I found this Wounded Warrior Project...
Forget that Bill Cosby is accused of so many egregious, and illegal acts. It's almost beside the point of this story. This is part of the parable about The Smithsonian yet again at sea, lost among the public relations turbulence without an ethical compass to...
Three Nassau Community College trustees who voted for former Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray as the school’s $151,000 a year interim general counsel had donated a total of nearly $10,000 to her previous political campaigns, state campaign finance records show. Trustees Anthony Cornachio, Edward Powers and John...
In my January 2nd post, “New Year’s Resolution” I promised the next post would be about the fourth option, starting your own consultancy, or "hanging out the shingle". As head of an ethics institute, and a man of my word, here goes ...
I am not one for making New Year's resolutions. But for those of you seeking a resolution to make, here it is: "This is the year I get a new job!" There are at least four options for you: A) a new, better job in your...
You've been on three interviews, done your homework on the company, even bought a new suit for the last interview with the search committee. Then you get the call: "we would like to make you an offer." You're elated, relieved, and grateful. But now what? There...
I am always surprised, and frankly disappointed, when I hear about a student who receives a job offer from an on-campus recruiter, accepts it and then decides to take a better offer, turning down the first offer/acceptance. It may seem to be to your advantage to...
There are at least three types of job openings: those that are listed in the "want-ads" of today - the list serves, job banks, idealist.com and the myriad other places; the jobs that have gone unfilled and are no longer listed or those where the...
I know no other entity, for profit, nonprofit, governmental, or religious, that better personifies the combination of great business, great art, sustainability, strong values and good spirit than the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. I was privileged to be part of the team of great dancers,...
The Institute for Ethical Leadership announces today a new certificate program designed to engage, encourage and enable arts professionals from underserved populations to become the leaders of major performing arts, visual arts, collections-based and ethnic arts organizations. According to James Abruzzo, co-director of the Institute and...
The Museum of the City of New York named a new Director and according to Judith Dobrinski, the announcement, (and other recent director announcements), ‘was curious and left people wondering’, because the new Director had no directorial experience. As an executive recruiter of some 30...
I wrote last time that the key to securing a position is the interview - not the resume. So, you spend time securing an informational interview and, once you do, spend a great deal of time preparing! Let's say you get 30 minutes with the person....
In my role as a headhunter I am often asked advice about how to get a new job. My last post suggested that it is not so much “what you know” as “who you know” when seeking a new job. And I recommended that you...
A young person graduating with an MPA approached me with a question about getting a job once she graduates. As we discussed her situation it became clear that it's not only young job seekers, but everyone at every stage in their career, who might want...
According to a number of studies I have conducted over the years, nonprofit CEO contracts have longer durations than other industries. The majority began their current position over seven years ago and many things have changed since that first day: for one, new recruits are...
A recent ArtNet news article about the “whopping” compensation of Glenn Lowry, MOMA’s Director, quoted me as saying “It's a nonprofit but it's also a business. The board is paying him because they think he's worth it." Nonprofit executive compensation is a newsworthy issue. There are...
“Opera is an accountant's nightmare". No house ever breaks even, indeed, every time the curtain goes up, a lot of money is lost.” This isn’t from the March 23, 2015 James Stewart profile of Peter Gelb, rather it is a quote from The New Yorker...
What is better than attending a performance when actors or dancers or musicians are connecting with the audience? We sit, shoulder to shoulder, transformed by the magic; quiet – cell phones off (mostly), polite to our neighbors and respectful of the performers; transported by the...
David Geffen, a Brooklyn-born, self-made billionaire pledged $100 million to Lincoln Center Inc. for the renovation of Avery Fisher Hall. In exchange, the home of the New York Philharmonic, which is also the venue for Mostly Mozart and Great Performances, will be named Geffen Hall....
The WSJ commentary raises an important issue about art, politics and the nature of censorship in the arts. But whether it is Mr. Gergiev conducting at the Met or the prohibition of performing Wagner’s music in Israel or cancelling a Mozart opera in Berlin because...
The culturally impoverished US NEA spends 1/40th of what Germany doles out for arts per capita. 10 countries that leave the US in the dust on funding the arts. http://www.alternet.org/culture/culturally-impoverished-us-nea-spends-140th-what-germany-doles-out-arts-capita This piece of “research” engendered a great deal of commentary, mostly negative, about the philistinism and closed...
