- Susan Mathisen’s expertise bridges the fields of conservation and fundraising; she has worked as a conservator in both the United States and Europe and as a fundraiser for museums, universities and other historical agencies. This unique combination of skills makes her the “go-to” consultant when organizations need assistance finding the resources to realize their preservation and conservation goals.
- She has extensive experience writing proposals and administering grants and gifts, with a strong focus on raising funds from foundations and government agencies.
- Awarded grants range from $5,000 to $1.5 million; many have been renewals.
- She has had similar success with cultivating and soliciting major donors.
- She has an excellent ability in teaching that has resulted in many requests to organize workshops and conferences or to facilitate staff/board retreats.
- Positions Held/Education: Susan gained her knowledge of conservation and museum practice through positions held at the Morgan Library, Smithsonian Institution, National Gallery of Art, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates (now H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture) and as administrative conservator/development officer and adjunct professor of conservation at the Conservation Center, IFA, New York University. She has held development positions at the National Academy Museum, the American Academy in Rome, the Friends of the American Museum in Britain/Halcyon Foundation, and Meet The Composer. She has a Master of Arts in Museum Studies and Textile Conservation from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a Certificate in Fund Raising from New York University.
- Susan is fully licensed as fundraising counsel in New York State.
