POSITION GUIDE

Organiza�on: Workhouse Arts Founda�on, Inc.
Posi�on: President/Chief Execu�ve Officer (CEO)
Reports to: Board of Directors
Loca�on: Lorton, Virginia

WORKHOUSE ARTS WORKHOUSE ARTS CENTER VALUES
FOUNDATION, INC.

Grows and supports a vibrant A regionally and na�onally High-Quality Arts and Educa�on
arts center that offers engaging recognized innova�ve Fiscal Responsibility

opportuni�es and inspiring collabora�on of visual and Exemplary Governance
experiences in visual arts, performing arts, educa�on, Community Engagement

performing arts, history, and community engagement,
educa�on historical perspec�ve, and

personal enrichment
ABOUT THE WORKHOUSE ARTS CENTER
The Workhouse Arts Founda�on, Inc. (WAF) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corpora�on in the Commonwealth
of Virginia and operates the Workhouse Arts Center (Workhouse). The Workhouse is housed in the former
Workhouse prison facility of the DC Correc�onal Complex in Lorton, VA, that opened in 1910. A�er closure
in 2001, its founders in coopera�on with Fairfax County leadership transformed the site into a community
arts center where people could learn about and par�cipate in art making; be inspired by the region’s and
na�on's best ar�sts; experience visual and performing arts talent; and come together for fes�vals and
community building opportuni�es.
Opened in 2008, the Workhouse currently consists of 11 large buildings on a 55 acres campus, housing
ar�st studios, main galleries, classrooms, dance studios, music rooms, the W-3 Theatre, and the recently
opened Lucy Burns (Suffragist) Museum. It also includes outdoor performance and event spaces.

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The Workhouse supports core programs in the visual arts, performing arts, arts educa�on, and art of
movement. It also supports our museum (the Lucy Burns Museum) and the Workhouse Military in the
Arts Ini�a�ve. Further, over 70 professional and emerging ar�sts are provided affordable studios and
galleries in which to exhibit their work; present numerous annual art exhibi�ons throughout the campus;
and deliver numerous theater and musical performances and events throughout the year. Visitors can
view the art and are encouraged to interact with the ar�sts when they visit. The Workhouse also offers
over 800 arts educa�on classes and workshops in a broad spectrum of art disciplines.
The Workhouse has an annual budget of over $3M, supported through tui�on and �cket sales; generous
dona�ons from the surrounding community and the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Region; public and
private grants; and generous in-kind support from Fairfax County. Fairfax County owns the buildings and
campus grounds at the Workhouse and contributes significantly to support those operations. Currently,
the Workhouse has a staff of over 20 and is governed by a dedicated 22-member Board of Directors.

To learn more about the programs and ac�vi�es at the Workhouse Arts Center, please visit
htps://www.workhousearts.org.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Workhouse is poised to advance its mission in new and exci�ng ways in the coming years as further
development of the campus remains a priority for the Board of Directors. The next President/CEO will
have the opportunity to work with a dedicated Board, Fairfax County, and commited donors to realize the
vision to transform the Workhouse into a prominent core community resource and regional des�na�on.
The future Workhouse will offer expanded programming that reaches a wider and more diverse audience.
This is an amazing opportunity to crea�vely build and grow this unique center.
The vision includes sustained development of the campus, specifically through the ac�va�on of more
buildings on the property and expanded programming in performing arts. Working in partnership with
Fairfax County and the business and philanthropic communi�es of Northern Virginia, the President/CEO
will build the successful revenue model needed to support larger scale projects within the campus and in
collabora�on with other en��es, ensuring that the strategic priori�es of the Workhouse are financially
sustainable.
This effort will be primarily focused on eleva�ng the philanthropic poten�al of the organiza�on through
the engagement of high-level donors, corpora�ons, and other private and public resources. In addi�on,
the President/CEO will work with senior staff and the Board to expand resources and revenue at the
Workhouse, ensuring that the revenue model sa�sfies both the project-specific and opera�onal needs
moving forward.
The President/CEO will lead efforts to expand awareness of the Workhouse among new markets and
cons�tuents, engaging a wider and more diverse audience in the life and work of the Workhouse. This
visibility will be important at all levels, including the private sector, regional government, the philanthropic
community, and the general public.

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POSITION SUMMARY
The President/CEO has overall responsibility for maintaining and enhancing the mission of the Workhouse,
serving as the principal representa�ve of the organiza�on, and collabora�ng with its external stakeholders
with the goal of expanding the organiza�on’s donor rela�onships, programming, partnerships, and
networks.
The President/CEO provides overall leadership of the Workhouse and direc�on to the senior staff by
working together to formulate the strategic direc�on of key departments to ensure program growth, high-
quality process, financial strength, and sustainable infrastructure to meet the goals and mission of the
Workhouse. Embedded with this leadership is a focus on fundraising and the genera�on of high-impact
philanthropic revenue to support the Workhouse mission. The President/CEO is responsible for expanding
partnerships, rela�onships and increasing philanthropic poten�al with exis�ng and poten�al donors.
The President/CEO, working with the Chief Opera�ng Officer (COO), is the key business leader of the
Workhouse. An essen�al responsibility is engaging in effec�ve business development and seeking new
ventures to grow the Workhouse and build a strong, produc�ve rela�onship with the Board of Directors
and Fairfax County. Working with the COO, the President/CEO has the responsibility for establishing and
developing budgets, forecas�ng the Workhouse’s future financial posi�on and needs; developing and
execu�ng sound business policies and procedures; building a strong internal culture of success through
exemplary prac�ce and teamwork, and hiring and managing excep�onal staff. Finally, the President/CEO
maintains overall responsibility for delivering a high-quality visitor experience that provides interac�ve
and innova�ve events, community engagement, and educa�onal programs.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
The Workhouse seeks an innovative, visionary, and demonstrated leader with a passion for engaging
others in the arts while delivering a fiscally sustainable, high-quality experience to members of the public.
This exceptional leader will accomplish financial stability through solid programming, marketing,
fundraising and business practices.
The successful candidate must possess demonstrated leadership skills in motivating staff, providing clear
and thoughtful decision-making with sound judgment, and addressing difficult challenges in a timely,
resourceful, diplomatic, respectful, and informed manner. The candidate will be transparent and
strategic, possessing excellent communication skills and proven ability to attract and hire quality and
effective staff. Experience working with Boards to elevate their engagement and performance to a new
level is required.
The candidate will have demonstrated success in high-level fundraising leadership that includes the
acquisition of major gifts and grants from foundations, corporations, individuals and the public sector at
the local, state and national level. A proven track record of high-dollar ($250K and above) fundraising
from corporate and philanthropic organizations is required. It would be particularly helpful if the
candidate has a background of launching innovative programs resulting in long-term funding and stable
revenue streams.

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We seek a leader with a proven ability in developing operating strategies that are financially sustainable,
especially within a nonprofit organization. This includes competencies in selecting and directing senior
leaders, financial and program analysis, and enhancement of both earned income and philanthropic
revenue. The candidate will possess significant knowledge of effective accounting practices; building and
tracking budgets; assessing IT needs and solutions, and success in developing and implementing successful
financial strategies to significantly grow an organization.
The candidate will have a demonstrated ability to build the organization’s offerings and extend its reach
through both the development of new, innovative, and effective programming as well as through the
engagement of new and diverse audiences. As the key strategic leader, the candidate will possess the
ability to build awareness of the Workhouse and its offerings and embed it as an institution that serves as
a prominent central gathering place for the surrounding community and as a destination that offers
quality programming to visitors throughout the Washington, D.C. region and beyond.
A candidate with a leadership style that promotes creativity, accountability, resourcefulness,
transparency, efficiency, and a predilection toward action and excellence across the entire team would be
highly valued. Additionally, the candidate must be trustworthy and display a high level of respect,
humility, loyalty and personal integrity.
Successful candidates should possess at least five years of demonstratable leadership experience as a CEO,
Executive Director, or in a related position at a nonprofit, foundation, government or industry. Leadership
experience with the arts, education, philanthropy, history and/or historic presentation or related
professions would be valued. In addition, the candidate is required to have at least a bachelor’s degree.
A master’s degree is preferred.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
To apply, please send a current resume and leter of introduc�on to the Workhouse

Arts Founda�on, Inc. Search Commitee at CEOSearch@workhousearts.org. The
Workhouse Arts Founda�on, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is seeking a

diverse slate of candidates for formal considera�on.

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