Oct 7, 2025
SAN FRANCISCO, OCT. 7 – The Asian Art Museum announced today the appointment of Eunice Lee as Chief Philanthropy Officer. Ms. Lee brings nearly 20 years of distinguished museum fundraising experience to this leadership role, positioning the museum for transformational growth in its philanthropic initiatives. Ms. Lee will begin her tenure on October 20.
As Chief Philanthropy Officer, Ms. Lee will lead comprehensive fundraising strategies that advance the museum’s immediate and long-term goals while cultivating meaningful relationships with trustees, commissioners, donors, and community partners across local, regional, national, and international fronts. Reporting to Dr. Soyoung Lee, the museum’s Barbara Bass Bakar Director & CEO, Ms. Lee will oversee a team of approximately 22 staff members and serve as an active member of the museum’s executive leadership team, ensuring that a fundraising perspective is embedded in all strategic decisions.
Ms. Lee joins the Asian Art Museum from the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, where she most recently served as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Events, a role specifically created for her in 2019. During her 13-year tenure at the Whitney, she played a key role in the museum’s $760 million capital campaign and successful move to its Renzo Piano-designed building in downtown Manhattan. Among her notable achievements, Lee conceptualized and secured a transformative 10-year partnership with Hyundai Auto, launching a new commission series at the Whitney.
Ms. Lee led the Whitney’s annual Gala to record-breaking success, recently raising $6 million — the highest-grossing gala in the museum’s history. She also successfully launched and expanded the Whitney’s Founding Corporate Membership program, and created several new fundraising initiatives that resulted in new and long-lasting partnerships for the museum.
Prior to joining the Whitney, Ms. Lee served in various philanthropic and education roles at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
“Eunice’s proven track record in ambitious fundraising, coupled with her deep commitment to fostering meaningful relationships and her entrepreneurial approach, makes her the ideal partner as we embark on this exciting next chapter,” said Dr. Soyoung Lee. “Her experience building international networks will be invaluable as we work to establish the Asian Art Museum as both a global leader in Asian art and culture and a top destination for the Bay Area.
“The Asian Art Museum’s mission to celebrate and promote Asian and Asian American art and cultures resonates deeply with me,” said Ms. Lee. “I look forward to building transformative partnerships that sustain its vital work for generations to come.”
Salle Yoo, Chair of the Asian Art Commission and Asian Art Museum Foundation, the museum’s dual governing boards, added, “Eunice’s strategic vision, collaborative leadership style, and impressive fundraising accomplishments will be instrumental in expanding our philanthropic reach as we launch the museum’s new era under the leadership of Dr. Soyoung Lee. We are excited to partner with her in this important work.”
Ms. Lee holds an M.Litt. in History of Art and Connoisseurship from Christie’s Education/University of Glasgow and a B.A. in Art History from the University of Southern California. She is a graduate of Columbia Business School’s Museum Leadership Program.
The search for the museum’s Chief Philanthropy Officer was conducted by Aspen Leadership Group, a ZRG company.
About the Asian Art Museum
Located in the heart of San Francisco, the museum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Asian and Asian American art, with more than 20,000 awe-inspiring works ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary video installations. Dynamic special exhibitions, cultural celebrations, and public programs for all ages provide rich art experiences that unlock the past and spark questions about the future.
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