The former director of philanthropic planning for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Sara Krusenstjerna brings extensive, executive-level experience in all areas of development, fundraising, and community relations.
(Sarasota County, FL) Bruce Rodgers, the executive director of the Hermitage Artist Retreat, recently announced that the organization has welcomed Sara Krusenstjerna as its new development director. He notes that Krusenstjerna “brings extensive, executive-level experience in all areas of development.” In her new role, Krusenstjerna will oversee all aspects of the Hermitage’s development operation, including fundraising initiatives, corporate and foundation relations, community outreach, major gifts, and planned giving.
“Sara is the perfect person to fulfill this role,” says Rodgers. “She brings a multi-disciplinary background, with extensive experience in administration and development for nonprofit and higher education institutions. With parents who were musicians in academia, Sara has been immersed in the world of arts and education from birth, surrounded by people dedicated to the principle that creative expression, lifelong learning, and community engagement are centrally important to the healthy functioning of all aspects of our culture. In addition, she’s lived and worked in Sarasota before so she’s familiar with the area and is happy to be back.”
In prior roles, Krusenstjerna worked closely with organizational and community leaders to fulfill the full spectrum of philanthropic responsibilities, including planning and building comprehensive fundraising programs, developing strategic partnerships, and fostering strong relationships with donors.
Most recently, Krusenstjerna served as director of philanthropic planning for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra where she was responsible for developing the legacy giving program and fostering partnerships with regional estate planning professionals. Before the BSO, Krusenstjerna worked for 10 years in academic fundraising: She was director of development at the University of Arizona, and vice president of philanthropy at New College Foundation in Sarasota. In the Sarasota region, Krusenstjerna also served as a consultant with numerous social services and arts organizations, including the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Sarasota County Arts Council, Asolo Rep, Coastal Behavioral Healthcare, and Child Protection Center. Before that, she was executive director of Young Audiences of Rochester, then the largest arts learning organization in upstate New York. Krusenstjerna holds a BA in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Rochester, and a JD from Columbia University School of Law. She also pursued post-graduate research in sociology at the University of Edinburgh as a Rotary scholar.
“I am delighted to return to Sarasota and deeply honored to join the Hermitage staff,” says Krusenstjerna. “I look forward to working with colleagues, friends and community partners on behalf of this extraordinary organization. What a wonderful homecoming!”
About the Hermitage Artist Retreat:
The Hermitage is a nonprofit artist retreat located in Englewood, Sarasota County, Florida. It invites accomplished artists in all disciplines for residencies on its beachfront campus which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Its artists, who are asked to interact with the community, touch thousands of Gulf Coast residents and visitors with unique and inspiring programs. Hermitage fellows have included Pulitzer, Tony, Emmy, Grammy and MacArthur Fellowship award winners. The Hermitage awards the $30,000 Greenfield Prize for a new work of art, and the Aspen Music Festival awards the annual Hermitage Prize in Composition. For more information about The Hermitage Artist Retreat, visit www.HermitageArtistRetreat.org.
The Hermitage is supported by:
Hermitage programs are supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts; by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues; and by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of Arts and Culture and the State of Florida (Section 286.25 Florida Statutes).