Yafonne Chen named Senior Director, Grants and Foundations for the Wexner Center for the Arts

The Wexner Center for the Arts, the multidisciplinary arts space at The Ohio State University, is excited to welcome Yafonne Chen as its new senior director, grants and foundations. She’ll begin her new role October 7.
 
A seasoned executive in the nonprofit sector, Chen has over two decades of experience in strategic planning, grant writing, program development, project management, and creative placemaking. She comes to the Wex from the San Francisco Jazz Organization, where she has served as the foundations and government relations officer.
 
Previously, Chen held key roles at the Health Trust and Montalvo Arts Center, and she is the principal and founder of the nonprofit accelerator Y Chen & Associates. At each institution, she cultivated and secured numerous high-profile funders at the national, state, and local levels. 
 
Chen is also a former professional dancer, performing arts critic, arts editor, and contributing writer for various Bay Area news outlets. With this broad range of experience, Chen brings unique perspective and storytelling skills to her new role, as well as an understanding of the social impact to her work.
 
“I am excited to join the stellar team at the Wexner Center for the Arts as the senior director of grants and foundations,” Chen says. “I look forward to partnering with new local and national stakeholders to incubate and spotlight creative ideas that have real world impact, whether they showcase inclusive narratives, present unheard stories, or develop out of commissioning innovative collaborations.”
 
“Yafonne is a strong addition to our team, with an impressive knowledge base and many years of experience within the field of philanthropy” says Executive Director Gaëtane Verna. “She will serve us well by engaging and stewarding some of the most important funding sources to support our institution. The timing of her arrival is ideal as she will start her tenure at the Wexner Center on the same day as our new Head of Advancement, Melanie Mathewes. Yafonne, together with our new Assistant Director of Grants and Foundations, Dani Kissinger, will be instrumental in implementing and expanding the Wexner Center’s new strategic plan for fundraising.”