The Van Wezel Foundation is pleased to announce that Sara Robinson will join the Foundation as executive director of advancement on June 1, 2022. Robinson will be responsible for creating and implementing innovative development programs for the campaign to build a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center.As executive director of advancement, Robinson will work closely with the campaign cabinet to plan and implement development programs to achieve the campaign goal. Robinson has over 25 years of fundraising leadership and management experience, including campaign leadership. From 2019-2022, she served as chief advancement officer of The Sarasota Ballet, where she created and implemented a strategic development plan that significantly grew patron engagement and contributed revenue. Prior to her position at The Sarasota Ballet, Robinson led annual and capital fundraising programs for Celebrity Series of Boston and Palm Beach Day Academy. Robinson is a member of the board of directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Southwest Chapter. She served on the board of directors of AFP Massachusetts, AFP Membership Services Committee, MASSCreative’s Leadership Council and several Tessitura TLCC Planning Committees. She holds a CFRE certification, a certificate in Fundraising from Boston University, a DEI in the Workplace Certificate from University of South Florida Muma College of Business, and a Bachelor of Arts from Pine Manor College.