New Philadelphia Museum of Art senior team is complete with Neil Batiancila as fundraising chief

Philadelphia Museum of Art chief Daniel H. Weiss has brought on the last member of his senior leadership team. Neil Batiancila, currently the head of fundraising at the Philadelphia Zoo, will join the museum as chief advancement officer, the museum announced Thursday.

The position is a key one at any point, but it is especially critical at a time when the museum is facing deficits and rebuilding after a period of internal chaos. Batiancila will steward the museum’s contributed funding — individual, corporate, foundation, and government support — as well as the membership program and government relations.

“There is quite a bit to dig into,” said Batiancila, 49, who came to Philadelphia from his native Connecticut to attend Penn. “At the same time, let’s think about the opportunities ahead. We have a museum that is 150 years old and, like many places, Philadelphia’s cultural anchors require investment to keep up to date.”

The Philadelphia Zoo this month announced an $85 million campaign, with $65 million already raised during the quiet phase. The money will go toward capital projects, programs, and endowment.

The scale of the museum’s needs points to a much larger campaign. In addition to facing an operating deficit, Philadelphia’s comprehensive art museum must prioritize a substantial amount of deferred maintenance, paused expansion plans, and other projects.

Batiancila said there should always be an ambitious fundraising campaign on the horizon for a museum of this stature.

“We’re one of the top art museums in the world, and we should continue to showcase how that impacts our community,” he said.

Weiss took over as director and CEO in December after the dismissal of former leader Sasha Suda. He has rolled back some of the decisions made during her tenure, such as an unpopular and brief renaming of the museum as the “Philadelphia Art Museum,” or PhAM. He has now hired new leaders in finance and human resources.

No other major personnel changes are expected, said veteran museum spokesperson Laura Coogan, who takes the title of interim vice president of communications and marketing as of June 1.

Batiancila, who starts the job June 8, was chief development officer at the zoo for 7½ years. Previously, also for 7½ years, he was at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation, where, as executive director of campaign operations, he coled a $1 billion comprehensive campaign.

Batiancila said it is “difficult to think about Philadelphia without thinking about the PMA. It has a history and nostalgia associated with it. When the museum is strong, Philadelphia is strong.”