About Diana
Photograph of Diana Duke Duncan taken in front of Sarah Cain, Kiss, 2013. The painting was included in the Pizzuti Collection’s Exhibition, NOW-ISM: Abstraction Today, on display from September 6, 2014 to August 15, 2015.
Diana Duke Duncan, Principal of Diana Duke Duncan LLC (DDD LLC) Over the past three decades, she has helped achieve transformational change through leadership roles in development and external affairs for three museums, including the Barnes Foundation, the Dallas Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution. Elected by peers, Diana has also served as President of the Art Museum Development Association and as Chair of the Executive Board of the American Association of Museums’ (now American Alliance of Museums) Standing Professional Committee on Development and Membership.
Diana launched DDD LLC in April 2015, a consultancy providing change management, internal capacity assessment, annual operating and campaign fundraising plans, and leadership development. Based in Washington, DC, Diana works with organizations nationally.
Prior to founding DDD LLC, Diana was appointed Senior Vice President for External Affairs at the Barnes Foundation in 2008 to establish its first professional advancement department. Known as a 90-year old start up, by 2012 the Barnes had exceeded its $200 million campaign, tripled its annual operating budget, grown individual membership from 400 to 25,000 households and institutional memberships and sponsorships from 12 to 100, and opened the LEED platinum certified Barnes Foundation Gallery and campus in Philadelphia to critical acclaim on time, under budget, with no debt and with an operating endowment. In 2013–14, the Barnes operated at maximum capacity, welcoming up to 300,000 visitors each year. From 2009 to 2014, the Barnes has either balanced or produced a surplus in its annual operating budget, which grew approximately 400 percent over five years. Thomas (Thom) Collins was appointed Executive Director and President in December 2014 and arrived at the Barnes in March 2015. Diana and the External Affairs team designed and implemented his nine-month onboarding plan, with individual meetings and private events in Philadelphia, New York and Washington, DC. Simultaneously, the Executive Director and the Executive Staff initiated a strategic planning process. Requested by the Chairman of the Board, Diana authored a comprehensive campaign concept document to raise $150 million in new endowment and operating resources by the 2022 centennial, which is ready for implementation pending outcomes from strategic planning.
From 2000 to 2008, Ms. Duncan served as Director of Development for the Dallas Museum of Art, which raised $185 million for endowment, renovation and programs to celebrate its centennial. She led the development, membership, and special events department to achieve best practices reflecting the Museum’s dramatic artistic growth and community engagement.
From 1985 to 2000, she served the Smithsonian Institution during a time of transformational change in which boards and development functions were initiated in 16 museums. As Director of Individual Giving, Diana directed fundraising initiatives for the Board of Regents, the Secretary, and the volunteer Smithsonian National Board.