Philadelphia Museum of Art Names Neil Batiancila as the Newly Appointed Chief Advancement Officer

Philadelphia, PA (May 21, 2026) — The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Neil Batiancila as the museum’s new Chief Advancement Officer. In this role, Batiancila will oversee the museum’s contributed revenue activities, including individual, corporate, foundation, and government support, as well as membership and government relations. He will also serve as a member of the museum’s senior leadership team. 
 

Batiancila is an accomplished philanthropy and civic leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing fundraising initiatives, building high-performing teams, and strengthening mission-driven institutions. His key responsibilities will include leading the museum’s comprehensive advancement strategy; partnering closely with the museum’s Director, Board of Trustees, and Advancement Committee; and championing a culture of collaboration, accountability, and donor-centered engagement in support of the museum’s strategic priorities. 
 

“I am delighted to welcome Neil to the Philadelphia Museum of Art,” said Daniel Weiss, the George D. Widener Director and CEO. “Neil brings a rare combination of strategic foresight, deep fundraising expertise, and a longstanding commitment to this region. I am confident that his leadership will strengthen the museum’s advancement efforts and help position the PMA for its next chapter of growth and impact. Neil’s appointment marks the completion of the museum’s new senior leadership team, reinforcing the institution’s vision and strengthening its capacity to advance the mission.” 
 

Batiancila joins the PMA from Philadelphia Zoo, where he served as Chief Development Officer, the first in the Zoo’s history. As a member of the senior management team, he oversaw all contributed revenue activities, including charitable operations and government affairs, as well as the Zoo’s marketing and communications. During his tenure, Batiancila played a significant role in leading the Zoo’s most ambitious fundraising efforts and expanding its visibility as a cultural and civic institution. 
 

Previously, Batiancila served as Executive Director, Campaign Operations at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Foundation, where he led For Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs: The Campaign for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a multi-year, multi-faceted $1 billion comprehensive campaign. The effort supported groundbreaking research, innovative community initiatives, education for future leaders in pediatric care, and major expansions of clinical operations including the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care. 
 

Before joining CHOP, Batiancila served as Director of Community Relations at Aramark, where he executed the company’s community involvement strategy and advanced its corporate citizenship efforts. 
“I am honored to join the Philadelphia Museum of Art in this role,” Batiancila said. “The museum is one of the greatest cultural institutions in the world, and I am inspired by its commitment to excellence, education, and access. I have spent my career working with some of the most prestigious organizations in the region, and I look forward to the opportunity to work alongside the museum’s Board, leadership, staff, and supporters to advance the museum’s mission and ensure its continued vitality for generations to come.” 
 

Batiancila earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Temple University’s Fox School of Business. 
 

Batiancila will begin his new role at the museum on June 8, 2026.
 

Media Contact
Philadelphia Museum of Art | Laura Coogan | laura.coogan@philamuseum.org

About the Philadelphia Museum of Art 
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a national and international destination for art, but first, we are Philadelphia’s art museum—for all of the many diverse communities of the city. Through our collections, exhibitions, events, educational activities, celebrations, and more, the museum is a storyteller, and we welcome everyone to be part of the story—our doors are wide open. To learn more, visit www.philamuseum.org