Lisa Funderburke | President + CEO

lfunderburke [at] artistcommunities.org
pronouns: she/her

Lisa Funderburke is the President + CEO of the Artist Communities Alliance (ACA), the international service organization of artist residency programs. An analytical arts leader and a pioneer in helping organizations build their capacity, Funderburke is a sought-after advisor and public speaker who helps nonprofits grow in a manner that is just, equitable, and joyful for their employees and communities. She is known as a dynamic public speaker and coach who moves people and organizations to adopt transformational ideas. A scientist by training who began her career as a National Science Foundation Fellow, Funderburke was appointed by President Barack Obama to the National Museum and Library Services Board.

At ACA, Funderburke has brought data-backed approaches to programs around the world that champion artists and arts institutions. She developed the Five Pillars of a Healthy Residency Evaluation tool, which centers on the concept she coined of “equitable capacity,” or the ability to embed equity in all facets of an organization. Funderburke scaled ACA, more than doubling the staff and budget and enabling the organization to serve the field’s dynamic needs in countries globally. Today, ACA is a network that offers year-round professional development and provides more than $1 million in grants each year to strengthen the field in the U.S. and beyond.

Previously, Funderburke was Associate Director of the McColl Center for Art + Innovation, a Charlotte contemporary art center. There, she led an institute that cultivates innovation capacity in leaders through art and design principles. Funderburke also led the creation of an art and ecology campus that was a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization.
In addition, Funderburke served as the director of the Charlotte Nature Museum, where she tripled attendance while enjoying taking children on a two-acre nature trail to scout groundhogs, birds, and snakes.

Funderburke received a Bachelor of Science in Botany and a Master of Science in Biology from Howard University. She serves on the Grantmakers in the Arts Individual Artist Committee.

Requests for Funderburke to speak or attend an event may be made by emailing Maya at mhan@artistcommunities.org.