The Rosenbach Museum & Library is pleased to announce the appointment of Megan McCarthy as Director of Advancement. Megan is a longtime admirer of the Rosenbach, a seasoned fundraiser, and an accomplished student of art history. Megan has worked on behalf of some of the nation’s great museums, having served as the Director of Major Gifts at the New Museum of Contemporary Art and as Senior Development Officer at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Megan most recently served as Senior Director of Individual Giving at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA), a position that persuaded her move to Philadelphia in 2018.
“We are delighted to welcome Megan to the Rosenbach as Director of Advancement,” said Rosenbach Director Kelsey Scouten Bates. “The Rosenbach’s giving community is generous and loyal, and it was our intention to hire a person who could strengthen our bonds with current donors and build relationships with new ones.”
Megan has degrees from Columbia University and the Courtauld Institute of Art, including a B.A. and Ph.D. in Art History & Archaeology from Columbia. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University, the Advisory Board of the National Center of Girls’ Leadership at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, and co-chairs the Philadelphia Regional Committee of the Lawrenceville School Alumni Association. Megan is also fluent in Spanish and a member of the Acorn Club.
Megan will join the Rosenbach at a time of growth and activity in its 70-year-history. Over the last decade, the Rosenbach has substantially expanded its programming calendar, offering more ways for more people enjoy its collection, which is among the finest in rare books and manuscripts in the world. With virtual programming like the upcoming Sherlock Mondays, launching September 18, and onsite programming including Behind the Bookcase tours, the Rosenbach is committed to expanding offerings to new audiences in-person and online.
Commenting on Megan’s appointment, Rosenbach Chair Benito Cachinero emphasized the importance of building organization-sustaining support. “Strategic fundraising ensures the longevity of the Rosenbach’s collection and the use of that collection,” he said. “Our focus must be to diversify revenue sources and expand our giving community, and Megan’s experience speaks to that goal.”
In addition to launching a robust fall season of courses, programs, and special events, the Rosenbach is completing an intensive strategic planning process this fall, which will hone its mission and sharpen its programming focus. The Director of Advancement will have a key role in implementing this plan as a part of a five-person leadership team and a 22-person staff and a seasoned and engaged Board of Directors.