NEW YORK, JULY 24, 2025 – Today, the American Folk Art Museum (AFAM) announced the appointment of Nicholas Cohn as Chief Advancement Officer, effective September 15. Cohn brings to AFAM more than two decades of experience in the arts, with a proven track record of fundraising success and dedication to supporting under-recognized artists and communities. His experience cultivating donors, soliciting major gifts from institutions and individuals, and leading capital campaigns will greatly enhance AFAM’s ability to achieve its near- and long-term fundraising goals.
Jason T. Busch, Becky and Bob Alexander Director & CEO, commented: “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Nick for several years, and his reputation as a fundraising leader is second to none. His wealth of experience supporting the arts, including critically overlooked artists, will be a tremendous asset in supporting the AFAM’s mission and strategic plan.”
This newly defined role reflects a more integrated, comprehensive approach to AFAM’s fundraising strategy. With an emphasis on identifying new foundation, corporate, and individual donors, growing the Museum’s endowment, and re-engaging with past supporters, Cohn will prioritize building stronger, long-term relationships with AFAM’s donors, patrons, and Members, and propel the Museum forward to achieve new milestones. In his role as Chief Advancement Officer, Cohn will also serve as a key member of the Museum’s leadership team, and will play a pivotal role as a liaison with the Board of Trustees.
Most recently, Cohn was Director of Institutional Advancement at the American Federation of Arts (AFA), a leading organization dedicated to curating and touring art exhibitions at museums around the world, where he oversaw all aspects of fundraising. Among his many achievements at AFA, Cohn increased foundation, government, and institution support by more than 50%, including six figure grant awards from the Terra Foundation for American Art, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Henry Luce Foundation, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
Prior to joining AFA, Cohn was Senior Individual Giving Officer at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, where he raised more than $3 million for exhibitions in a fiscal year, and oversaw a Planned Giving program that brought in over $1 million dollars. His art world experience also includes roles at A Blade of Grass, Art in General, Brooklyn Museum, Americans for the Arts, and Tyler Rollins Fine Art. Cohn is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University, where he earned a master’s degree in museum studies.