Director of Administration & Operations

The Director of Administration & Operations (DAO) is the second-ranking management position at the Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts (MKFA), reporting directly to the Executive Director (ED). The DAO serves as a senior operational partner to the ED and provides hands-on tactical leadership and oversight for the Foundation’s day-to-day administrative, and business functions. 

The DAO is responsible for developing and implementing financial and operational strategies, managing risk and compliance, overseeing human resources, and ensuring the Foundation’s infrastructure aligns with its long-term goals. The DOA partners with the ED on institutional planning and helps ensure clear communication, coordination, and information flow across the organization.

Based in the former home and studio of artist Mike Kelley in Highland Park, the team understands that infrastructure and execution underpin grantmaking impact. As the Foundation expands to take on new initiatives, every responsibility—large and small—contributes directly to its effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

The Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts (MKFA) advances the artist’s spirit of critical thinking, risk-taking, and provocation in the arts. Established by Kelley in 2007, the Foundation seeks to further Kelley’s philanthropic work through grants to arts organizations and artists for innovative projects that reflect his multifaceted artistic practice. The Foundation also preserves the artist’s legacy more broadly and advances the understanding of his life and creative achievements through educational initiatives, including exhibitions, educational events, publications, and the preservation and care of the Foundation’s art collections and archives. 

At MKFA, we are a small team that works closely together. No task is too small as we all understand that all responsibilities get us closer to our mission.