Meet an Alliancer: Kelli Paul

Job Title: Director of Development

Job Responsibilities: I manage all of the Alliance’s fundraising and development activities, working closely with Michael Norris, Vice President of External Relations and Kevin Gifford, Associate Director of Development. This includes grant writing, corporate sponsorships and individual donor cultivation.

Degrees/certificates: I have a BA in Dance with a Minor in Business from Eastern University (St. Davids, PA). I also have an MS in Arts Administration from Drexel University.

Past experience working in arts and culture: My first foray into arts and culture was a dance concert co-produced with several Eastern Alums at the Ethical Society Building in Philadelphia. We produced the concert from start to finish, incorporating many of the arts (dance, music, visual arts and poetry). We even applied for a grant to support our work but, unfortunately, didn’t get it. I found that I really enjoyed the administrative aspect, as much as the artistic. That was what sparked my interest in arts administration. Because of that I applied to Drexel’s Arts Administration program. From there I started working at The Philadelphia Singers as Administrative Assistant when my professor and Singers’ board member, Roy Wilbur, let me know about the position.

Favorite thing about working at the Cultural Alliance (so far): I love my co-workers. They’re smart, passionate and hard working. I’m challenged every day to give 100% and have fun doing it.

Favorite cultural institutions/attractions/events: Well, let’s see. I currently have a membership at Elmwood Park Zoo. I’ve served on the board of Ballet 180 and love their contemporary choreography. I could spend hours (and have), exploring the European/Impressionist and Modern & Contemporary wings of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. And Longwood Gardens is a favorite meeting place with my friends throughout the year.

A fun fact about yourself: I am the co-founder of Emerging Arts Leaders: Philadelphia. In 2012, friend and fellow Drexel Alum Maria Fumai Dietrich and I had a conversation about our great network through Drexel. We knew about Americans for the Arts’ Emerging Arts Leaders Network and thought, surely, there was a chapter in Philadelphia. When we realized there wasn’t, we went into action. We got together a steering committee of colleagues and launched at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in March 2013.

Oh, and I had a baby in September!