Art museum's fundraising leader becomes foundation's first executive director

Last edited 1:40 p.m., Jan. 6, 2025 [Editor's note: Data has been corrected.]

The Springfield Art Museum's top fundraising official has transitioned to the first executive director of its foundation.

Kate Francis started Jan. 5 as the inaugural executive director of the Friends of the Springfield Art Museum, which serves as the foundation for the art museum, according to a news release. Francis was hired by the art museum in 2021 as museum affairs officer for development and fundraising, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. 

In that role, Francis led the establishment of Friends of the Springfield Art Museum in 2021 as the private fundraising arm of the art museum. She's also credited with coordinating the art museum's $5 million donation from the Sunderland Foundation in 2022 for its capital campaign, as well as spearheading the fundraising of an additional $33 million toward the renovation and expansion master plan. The museum broke ground on Phase I of the project in February 2025.

“The foundation board members are thrilled to have Kate serve as the organization’s first executive director,” foundation Chair Sonya Wise said in the release. “The foundation recently underwent a strategic planning exercise with consulting firm Alexander Haas, and it was clear that now was the time to hire an executive director and formalize the foundation as an independent, active and impactful fundraising partner for the Springfield Art Museum and the city of Springfield.”

Under Francis' leadership, all contributions to the art museum will be directed through the foundation. The foundation’s latest Form 990 on file with the IRS for fiscal 2024 points to roughly $6.2 million in assets and revenue of $907,000.

“I moved to Springfield to be part of a team making the museum’s future a reality,” Francis said in the release. “It’s an honor to continue this important work at such a pivotal moment. The Springfield Art Museum belongs to this community, and through the foundation, we have an extraordinary opportunity to deepen access to art, strengthen cultural investment and ensure that creativity, learning and inspiration remain available to everyone – for generations to come."

The $35 million Phase I work at the art museum is slated for completion in late 2027, according to past reporting. The renovation and expansion project is slated to span three years and two phases. The goal is to finish the project by the museum’s 100th anniversary in 2028.