John L. Wielk joined the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in 2006 as Executive Director of Corporate and Institutional Development, the chief development officer responsible for the museum’s corporate, foundation, and government fund-raising programs. His efforts support the full range of museum activities including global partnerships, exhibitions and programs, educational outreach, capital projects, and general operations.
Before joining the Guggenheim, Wielk’s previous museum experience included several fund-raising positions at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, including Associate Director of Development and Membership from 1996 to 1997, where he oversaw all corporate, foundation, and government giving to the museum; Manager of Exhibition and Project Funding from 1988 to 1996, where he was responsible for all aspects of the museum’s restricted giving program; and Grants Officer from 1987 to 1988 as the lead fundraiser for all federal and New York City and State government grants. From 1998 to 2006, immediately prior to his tenure at the Guggenheim, Wielk was Director of Development, Administration and Information Services for Professional Standards Review Council of America, a medical services consulting firm which provided contracted services to governmental health agencies and a variety of private sector organizations.
Wielk received a BA in art history and computer science from Columbia College, Columbia University, and pursued an MA program in 20th-century art and architecture at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University.