MoCA Westport announces the appointment of Colleen Thomas as its new Director of Development.
In her role, Thomas will manage MoCA Westport’s overall fundraising strategy, including capital campaigns, the major gifts program, the annual fund drive, foundational and government grants, planned giving, program sponsorship and special events.
“The arts are critical to ensuring that people thrive as individuals and to connect as a community. MoCA Westport is a tremendous asset because it strives to ensure art opportunities are accessible by all. I look forward to working with our partners to ensure the museum’s long-term financial viability,” noted Thomas.
The Museum will hold its annual fundraiser event, The Surrealist Soirée, on September 30, 2023. “We have not held our annual fundraiser since 2019 and are thrilled to invite the community back to join us this September to celebrate and support the arts,” added Thomas.
Originally joining MoCA in 2020 to expand The Academy, the Museum’s award-winning education department, Thomas helped design enrichment programs to meet the evolving needs of the community during the pandemic, including serving as a co-creator of the museum’s summer camp program, Camp MoCA.
Since September 2021, Thomas served as the Head of Education Development at MoCA Westport, leading the Museum’s grant initiatives as well as stewarding fundraising for the education department. In this capacity, she was a co-creator of the MoCA Gives Back initiative, which continues to foster equitable access to arts experiences for all.