I’m Lisa Grove. Here’s A little more about me.
I am an art museum director with over 20 years of experience in a range of institutions. In 2023, I joined the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco (comprised of the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor, with a $60 million budget and staff of 500) for a newly-created role of Chief Program & Strategy Officer. I oversee all of the programmatic departments of the museum — curatorial, conservation, education, library & archives, public programs & community engagement, publications, and web & digital strategy. I am leading cross-departmental planning for the Legion of Honor’s centennial (2024-2025), including a campaign for 100 transformational Gifts of Art, a $100 million endowment campaign, and a forthcoming capital project estimated at $250 million. I’m also leading the creation of the museums next long-range strategic plan.
I’ve led a wide range of award-winning programs.
I spent the last five years leading strategic and operational planning for an ambitious new museum project, the Obama Presidential Center, opening in Chicago in 2026. A highlight of my work was the creation and launch of a multi-million dollar Inaugural Arts Plan, including several major commissions by a diverse lineup of contemporary artists, designed to bring this exciting new cultural institution to life.
Previously, I was Director and CEO of Telfair Museums, the oldest art museum in the South, located in beautiful Savannah, Georgia. I oversaw three distinct museum sites, including two historic museum properties and a new contemporary building. During my seven year tenure, I proudly led a bold strategic transformation centered on the reinterpretation of the museum’s largest collection item — its historic slave quarters. In parallel, I launched an ongoing contemporary art exhibition series with world-renowned artists whose work explores the legacy of slavery in our country today. This multi-year project garnered national recognition and brought a renewed energy to the museum, while also making important scholarly contributions to the field.
Before the Telfair, I helped launch the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis to national recognition in its first few years. As the founding Deputy Director, I worked hard to build this brand-new museum from scratch by leading fundraising, marketing, and operational activities. We produced dozens of exhibitions featuring hundreds of artists, and expanded the educational reach of the museum through innovative programming.
I’m a fearless fundraiser and savvy financial leader.
In my career, I’ve raised over $250 million in some challenging economic environments. I’ve launched and completed two endowment campaigns ahead of schedule by personally securing several six- and seven-figure gifts.
I’ve also led two dramatic financial turnarounds, and produced 17 consecutive years of budget surpluses. I am proud to have generated record-breaking financial results for my institutions, including a 25% increase in contributed income, 50% increase in attendance, and 75% increase in membership.
I’m an entrepreneurial leader with a background in strategy consulting and a bias for action.
Before my museum career, I led strategic planning for a number of Fortune 100 clients as a senior consultant at The Monitor Group, a global consulting firm. I have an MBA in strategic management from the University of London’s Imperial College Business School, and a master's degree in art history from the Courtauld Institute of Art. I had the honor of studying in the UK as a Marshall Scholar. I also have an undergraduate degree in American Studies from Stanford, with honors and distinction.
With this powerful right-brain / left-brain combo, I’m as comfortable with a spreadsheet as I am speaking with collectors and the community about my institution’s exciting exhibitions and community programs. I’m excited to tell you more!
Let’s Chat,
Lisa Grove
Exhibition Highlights
European Art
American Art
Prints & Drawings
Modern & Contemporary
contemporary Commissions
Interactive & New Media
Photography & Video
Decorative Arts
Slavery & Freedom Project
Professional Experience
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco / Chief Program & Strategy Officer
2023-present, San Francisco, CA www.famsf.org
Oversee and ensure alignment across all programmatic departments (curatorial, conservation, education, public programming & community engagement, publications, library & archives, and web & digital strategy) and activities of the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor, with a $60 million budget and staff of 500. Lead cross-departmental planning for the Legion of Honor’s centennial (2024-2025), including a campaign for 100 transformational Gifts of Art, a $100 million endowment campaign, and a forthcoming capital project estimated at $250 million.
Obama Presidential Center / Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
2018-2023, CHICAGO, IL www.obama.org/the-center/
Led strategic, operational, experiential, programmatic and financial planning for a major new cultural institution. Led the Inaugural Arts Plan featuring contemporary art commissions. Oversaw diversity and inclusion initiatives to ensure the new institution meets its strategic goals and will be financially sustainable for the long term.
Telfair Museum of Art / Director & CEO
2011-2018, SAVANNAH, GA www.telfair.org
Provided strategic vision and inspirational leadership for one of the nation’s oldest art museums. Led a financial turnaround by raising record funds and expanding earned income. Spearheaded the award-winning Slavery and Freedom in Savannah project that reinterpreted the narrative of one of the museum’s historic sites. Created a diverse and award-winning program of exhibitions, scholarship, and programs that diversified audiences and increased the museum’s profile.
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis / Deputy Director
2004-2011, ST. LOUIS, MO www.camstl.org
Led all operational, programmatic, and financial activities for this brand-new museum.
The Monitor Group / Senior Strategy Consultant
1996-2003, CAMBRIDGE, MA www.deloitte.com/monitor
Smithsonian Institution / Traveling Exhibition Specialist
1992-1993, SUMMER 1991, FALL 1990 (intern), WASHINGTON, DC www.si.edu
Education
Getty Leadership Institute, Claremont Graduate University 2016, Claremont,CA Museum Leadership Program
Marshall Scholar 1994-1996, London, UK
Imperial College Business School, University of London MBA, Strategic Management 1995-1996, London, UK; Degree Conferred with Distinction
Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London MA, History of Art 1994-1995, London, UK; Distinction Awarded to Dissertation
Stanford University, BA, American Studies 1988-1992, Palo Alto, CA; Degree Conferred with Distinction and Departmental Honors; Summa Cum Laude; Phi Beta Kappa; President’s Award for Academic Excellence
Boards & Committees
American Alliance of Museums, Accreditation Peer Reviewer 2012-18
Association of Art Museum Directors, Professional Issues Committee 2012-18
Visit Savannah Convention & Tourism, Board of Directors 2012-18
Association of Marshall Scholars, Development Committee 2015-present
Marshall and Rhodes Scholar Advisory Committee, Washington University in St. Louis 2015-18