Vanessa Silberman

As Executive Vice President of the Levitt Foundation, a national social impact funder at the intersection of music, public space and community building, Vanessa plays a key role in the foundation’s strategic direction and long-term vision as it pertains to funding allocation, program development, communications, and research. She also spearheads new and existing partnerships, events, and field-building initiatives to expand access and nurture equitable music ecosystems.

Vanessa joined the Levitt Foundation in 2012 as the Senior Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives, where she led the Foundation’s creative vision and communications strategy to share the inspiring impact of the Foundation, its nonprofit partners and grantees, and the field of creative placemaking at large. Vanessa built her career in the arts & culture sector as an award-winning writer, editor and content strategist. Previous positions include: Editorial Director at Art Center College of Design; Arts Specialist for the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; and various positions with The Museum of Modern Art, Columbia University’s Research Center for Arts & Culture, and The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Vanessa has been an invited speaker at a variety of national conferences including Folk Alliance International, National Forum on Family Philanthropy, Main Street Now, City Nation Place Americas, ComNet, Grantmakers in the Arts, International Placemaking Week, and the National Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit. Vanessa earned her bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and received a master’s degree in arts administration from Columbia University.