New Jersey Cultural Trust (NJCT), a division of the New Jersey Department of State, said that effective April 11 Isabel (Izzy) Kasdin was appointed as the NJCT’s executive director. Kasdin will be responsible for promoting responsible stewardship of the NJCT’s invested assets as well as setting long-term strategy for how the NJCT’s grant-making can best impact the State’s cultural sector.
The NJCT provides grants to support capital projects, endowments and institutional and financial stabilization of arts, history and humanities organizations in New Jersey. Funding for the grants comes from interest earned on the Cultural Trust Fund, which is a permanent investment fund.
Kasdin served as executive director of the Historical Society of Princeton from May 2016 through early 2022. In this capacity, she helped HSP achieve greater visibility and brand awareness in the local and regional community, built a new interpretive and programming strategy after a headquarters move, completed a large capital campaign and renovation project at HSP’s headquarters site, and increased HSP’s individual and grant fundraising revenues.
“Ms. Kasdin is recognized for her visionary cultural leadership and her ability to work collaboratively with partners and stakeholders,” noted NJCT Board Chair Bette Daniele. “The NJCT Board is delighted that she agreed to take this position.”
“I am honored to have been selected as the New Jersey Cultural Trust’s next leader,” said Kasdin. “As someone who shepherded a NJ nonprofit cultural organization through the COVID19 crisis, I am intimately familiar with the unique challenges facing our state’s cultural institutions. A vibrant arts and culture sector is one of New Jersey’s greatest assets, and I look forward to working with partners across the state to ensure the sector’s long-term sustainability.”
