Chief Government Affairs Officer

## Compensation & Benefits
The compensation range of this position is $220,000 to $230,000 and will be commensurate with the scale and scope of leadership experience. The compensation package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, 403b employer contribution, and a generous time‑off package including parental leave as well as short‑ and long‑term disability, life insurance, FSA, EAP, and access to funding for professional development opportunities.

**How to Apply:** Americans for the Arts has partnered with Korn Ferry in the recruitment for this position. Interested candidates must apply through the Korn Ferry portal by clicking this link.

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## About the Organization
Americans for the Arts (“AFTA”) builds recognition and support for the extraordinary and dynamic value of the arts by leading, serving, and advancing networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts across the nation. By connecting ideas and leaders from regionally diverse communities, Americans for the Arts ensures that every American has access to the transformative power of the arts.

Since its founding in 1960, AFTA has never been defined by a single purpose. Instead, AFTA represents a varied portfolio of organizations advocating for the economic, cultural, and social power of the arts. Today, Americans for the Arts blends expertise in research, advocacy, convening, and communication to bridge local and national efforts. At this pivotal moment, AFTA is also investing in new approaches to movement‑building, digital engagement, and modernized advocacy practices, creating significant organizational opportunity for emerging capabilities and strategic renewal across systems, structures, and practices.

Working across all 50 states, Washington, DC, and the five U.S. Territories, AFTA supports a nationwide ecosystem of advocates, educators, artists, funders, policymakers, and cultural leaders who advance arts access, education, economic development, and community vitality.

AFTA reflects the full spectrum of stakeholders within the arts and culture ecosystem. This includes individuals, nonprofit arts and culture organizations, local arts agencies, advocates, artists, arts administrators, and businesses. This breadth of partnership allows AFTA to draw on a wide array of perspectives and expertise, strengthening its ability to mobilize an informed and effective national arts advocacy network.

As the nation navigates a shifting policy environment, AFTA is actively engaging to protect and strengthen the creative sector. Under new leadership, the organization is aligning its mission with renewed urgency and responsiveness to ensure that arts and culture remain central to America’s economic, social, and democratic future.

Across more than six decades, AFTA’s commitment remains unwavering: transforming America’s collective creativity into a powerful engine that drives innovation, protects democracy, and expands opportunities for artists, arts and culture organizations, and the communities they serve.

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## Research & Tools
AFTA stands at the forefront of arts research and tool development, offering invaluable resources that empower arts leaders, policymakers, and advocates to shape policies that enhance the arts’ role in community development. AFTA’s flagship study, **Arts & Economic Prosperity**, now in its sixth iteration, is the most comprehensive analysis of the nonprofit arts and culture industry’s economic impact, encompassing data from hundreds of communities nationwide.

AFTA’s **Arts Impact Explorer** links the arts to key social outcomes, providing advocates with a powerful resource to demonstrate the arts’ role in community well‑being. The Arts Impact Explorer represents one of many practical tools AFTA has developed to equip and strengthen the broader arts community.

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## Convening & Programs
As economic, cultural, social, and technological transformations continue to impact us all, AFTA sees change as an immense opportunity to radically reimagine how to gather, learn, and grow together. Embracing this change, AFTA’s history of dynamic convenings sets the stage for an exciting future.

AFTA’s commitment to innovation, equity, and impactful engagement positions the arts community for exponential growth. By continuously evolving its events and programs, AFTA ensures it meets the needs of its diverse and dynamic community, driving forward a future where the arts play a central role in society.

### Key convenings and programs include:

**Legislative Fly‑Ins:**
During Covid‑19, AFTA pivoted from its large Arts Advocacy Day Conference to Federal Legislative Fly‑Ins, held three times a year. These targeted events bring advocates from key districts to engage with influential Members of Congress. Reimagined as a year‑long advocacy program, it now includes webinar trainings, D.C.‑based Legislative Fly‑Ins, and nationwide advocacy training Fly‑Outs, enhancing the ability to lobby and provide robust advocacy training throughout the year.

**Annual Convention (AFTACON):**
After shifting to a virtual format during the pandemic, AFTA paused its Annual Convention to reassess and reimagine its offerings. AFTACON returned as an in‑person gathering in 2025 in Cincinnati. In 2026, AFTACON will be hosted in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and guided by the work of selected pathway committees addressing a broad range of content areas, including advocacy. The convening will serve as a dynamic forum for the national arts community to engage, frame critical issues, shape the future, and organize for action.

**Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy:**
This lecture series is the leading national forum for arts policy intended to stimulate dialogue on policy and social issues affecting the arts. The event brings together influential voices from the arts, government, and civic life to elevate national dialogue on arts advocacy and the arts’ essential role in public policy. In 2024, the lecture featured actor and cultural advocate Jeffrey Wright alongside Congressman James Clyburn (D‑SC), recipient of the 2024 Congressional Arts Leadership Award.

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## Communications
AFTA maintains an expansive communications platform designed to advance and strengthen the country’s arts and creative sector. Through digital tools—social media, webinars, newsletters, and a website—AFTA disseminates timely information to a wide audience across arts, policy, and civic landscapes.

Strategic partnerships with organizations, policymakers, and cultural institutions further amplify AFTA’s messaging, enhancing its policy impact. Collectively, this platform engages hundreds of thousands of followers across social media channels, a large newsletter subscriber base, and frequent website visitors.

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## Advocacy
AFTA, a Section 501(c)(3) organization, is uniquely positioned to unite people across political affiliations and sectors. The organization maintains strong, long‑standing relationships with Members of Congress, federal agencies, and policy leaders, enabling it to effectively advance arts‑related priorities at the federal level.

This influence is further strengthened through its affiliated 501(c)(4) organization, the **AFTA Action Fund**. Together, these complementary entities advance policy, mobilize grassroots support, and elevate the arts as a national priority.

The **Americans for the Arts Action Fund (AAF)** is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy membership organization that engages in direct and grassroots lobbying, as well as permissible electoral and political activities to advance arts policy at the federal level. The Action Fund mobilizes a nationwide network of more than 400,000 arts advocates to influence policymakers and strengthen bipartisan support for the arts.

The Arts Action Fund operates independently, has its own Board of Directors, and maintains its own website at www.ArtsActionFund.org. It also has a connected federal political action committee, the Americans for the Arts Action Fund PAC.

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## Role Overview & Responsibilities
Reporting to the CEO, the **Chief Government Affairs Officer (CGAO)** is a senior executive leader at AFTA and is responsible for developing and advancing the organization’s federal, state, and local advocacy, public policy, and movement‑building strategy. The CGAO will also shape and articulate a clear, unifying national arts policy agenda that provides coherence and direction across advocacy efforts.

The CGAO provides overall strategic leadership for AFTA’s advocacy platform, working within the limitations on lobbying and political activities imposed by Section 501(c)(3), and coordinates appropriately with the independently governed AFTA Action Fund to ensure alignment, information‑sharing, and legal compliance.

Based in Washington, DC, the CGAO builds and sustains high‑level relationships with Members of Congress, federal agencies, and national advocacy partners. The CGAO serves as the lead strategist for government affairs and oversees all activities, including nonpartisan policy development, public education, research dissemination, coalition building, and grassroots engagement.

The CGAO translates strategy into execution by setting priorities, strengthening internal systems, and aligning staff and resources around shared advocacy goals.

### Key Responsibilities Include:

#### Government Affairs Strategy
– Lead the development of a cohesive government affairs strategy and national arts policy agenda.
– Serve as senior strategist for advancing federal policy priorities while modernizing advocacy approaches.
– Provide strategic leadership in partnership with the Arts Action Fund while maintaining governance boundaries.
– Partner with the CEO on political judgment, positioning, and high‑level external engagement.
– Advise leadership, Boards, funders, and partners on strategy and risk management.

#### Federal Advocacy & Bipartisan Engagement
– Build and maintain high‑trust, bipartisan relationships with Members of Congress and federal agencies.
– Shape and execute legislative strategies that advance federal funding priorities.
– Ensure advocacy efforts align with diverse constituencies.

#### Movement‑Building, Organizing & Influence
– Design and implement a national advocacy infrastructure that connects engagement across regions.
– Apply organizing principles to mobilize advocates, coalitions, and partners.
– Strengthen influence strategies integrating grassroots advocacy, digital engagement, and accountability tools.
– Collaborate with the Action Fund to grow its national membership base.
– Cultivate a shared movement identity and narrative.

#### Innovation & Organizational Leadership
– Lead and grow a talented government affairs team.
– Maintain a visible, hands‑on leadership approach.
– Conduct assessments of structure and workflows to ensure effectiveness.
– Oversee advocacy‑related budgets, resources, and consultants.

#### Cross‑Organizational Collaboration
– Partner with research, communications, and program teams to translate data into compelling advocacy.
– Coordinate with external advisors to advance strategic priorities.
– Partner with state and local arts organizations to support model legislation and policy frameworks.
– Incorporate awareness of state and local advocacy dynamics into federal mobilization efforts.

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## Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a politically savvy, creative, and action‑oriented government affairs leader who brings the mindset of a community organizer. They thrive at the intersection of policy, politics, and movement‑building and are energized by the opportunity to reimagine national arts advocacy.

This leader brings fresh perspective, strong political instincts, and the ability to inspire teams and partners while maintaining credibility across diverse political environments.

### The successful candidate will demonstrate:

#### Strategy & Organizing Expertise
– Significant experience developing and executing federal advocacy or political strategies.
– Understanding of how power and policy change operate within Congress and advocacy ecosystems.
– Experience working across 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations.
– Experience overseeing large‑scale national campaigns.
– Direct arts policy experience is valued but not required.

#### Bipartisan Relationship‑Building
– Ability to build and sustain trust‑based relationships across party lines.
– Sound political judgment and discretion.
– Experience engaging elected officials through legislative outreach and grassroots mobilization.

#### Innovative & Change‑Oriented Leadership
– Strong leadership presence and experience managing complex advocacy teams.
– Comfort leading organizational change and modernizing systems.
– Experience developing teams across experience levels.

#### Board & Governance Engagement
– Experience working closely with Boards of Directors.
– Ability to advise and partner with board members on strategy and compliance.
– Experience supporting board‑level engagement in advocacy and political activity.

#### Mission Alignment & Values
– Appreciation for the role of the arts in strengthening communities and democracy.
– Commitment to equity, inclusion, and access.

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## Education
Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s or other relevant advanced degree preferred.

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## Compensation & Benefits
The compensation range for this position is $200,000–$230,000 and will be commensurate with the scale and scope of leadership experience. The compensation package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, 403b employer contribution, and a generous time‑off package including parental leave as well as short‑ and long‑term disability, life insurance, FSA, EAP, and access to funding for professional development opportunities.

**How to Apply:** Americans for the Arts has partnered with Korn Ferry in the recruitment for this position. Interested candidates must apply through the Korn Ferry portal by clicking this link.