Patrick Rath to step down as President and CEO of United Performing Arts Fund

Milwaukee – (February 6, 2024) – The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), the largest united fund in the country for the performing arts, announced today that Patrick Rath has informed the UPAF Board of Directors of his resignation as the president and CEO. UPAF is the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and raising operating funds for Milwaukee’s arts community. Rath joined UPAF as president and CEO in October of 2020, when the performing arts community was experiencing an unprecedented loss of revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. During Rath’s tenure, UPAF raised more than $31 million during its annual community campaigns the past three years to support member groups and other arts organizations throughout southeastern Wisconsin, including surpassing its goal in 2022.

UPAF is beginning a national search process for a new permanent president and CEO immediately. Former UPAF president & CEO, Deanna Tillisch will serve as an advisory leader with accountability for UPAF leadership team continuity and guiding functions of the UPAF Board and Executive Committees. Tillisch will be working with Rath during the transition to ensure a strong start to the 2024 UPAF community campaign, which will kick-off on March 13. The board is optimistic that it will have a new president and CEO in place in a few months. Rath informed the UPAF Board of Directors of his resignation now in order to allow the organization time to begin the search for its new president and CEO, while he stays on to assist with the transition planning through his last day with the organization on Thursday, March 7. Rath will go on to serve as the chief development officer and system vice president for Hospital Sisters Health System.

The operating support that UPAF provides to its member groups is essential to their sustainability. While many performing arts organizations around the country had to hibernate for the 2020-21 season, UPAF’s member groups were able to continue to provide world-class entertainment and position themselves for a strong return to the stage because of the community’s commitment to the performing arts through UPAF. UPAF has 14 member groups: First Stage, Florentine Opera Company, Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Skylight Music Theatre, Bel Canto Chorus, Black Arts MKE, Danceworks, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Next Act Theatre, Present Music and Renaissance Theaterworks.

“We thank Patrick for his leadership and his dedication to UPAF and our community,” said UPAF board chair and partner at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Scott Beightol. “While we will miss Patrick, UPAF is stronger, more resourceful, has deeper ties to the business community and funders, and is more closely aligned with the cornerstones and the entire performing arts ecosystem that makes our region a great place to live, work, and play. The board and I are working with UPAF’s leadership to ensure a smooth transition and will continue to raise vital funds for the performing arts community.”

Beightol said the many accomplishments of UPAF during Rath’s tenure will leave a lasting impact on the Milwaukee arts community. Rath led UPAF’s necessary evolution with several significant outcomes, including:

• Reestablished a vibrant volunteer group known as “Chorus Line”
• Increased transparency of UPAF allocation practices
• Created more value and engagement with performances for UPAF donors
• Doubled the size of the UPAF Board with greater community representation
• Welcomed 30+ new UPAF Affiliates that best showcase UPAF’s wide and diverse performing arts ecosystem, and
• Led an important strategic effort to rebalance UPAF membership structures for the future.

“UPAF is essential for the non-profit performing arts community and it has been an honor to guide this organization through a time of unprecedented change and disruption,” said Rath. “I have served the performing arts sector in a variety of capacities over the past 40 years and I can easily say that I was glad to step in and lead during the height of the pandemic and chart a future course. What I value most is the steadfast support of UPAF donors and volunteers through it all. They provide inspiration to me and all UPAF leaders to do everything possible to help the performing arts sector thrive. The next UPAF leader will benefit from a great team – inclusive of board, volunteers, staff and the many UPAF advocates throughout our community.”

As a musician himself, Rath has a great appreciation for the arts as well as a long history in Milwaukee’s nonprofit sector. Prior to this role, Rath held development roles at Columbia St. Mary’s Foundation, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Milwaukee Art Museum. He also served as UPAF’s chief development officer from 2002-04.

About UPAF

The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) has been setting the stage since 1967 by providing critical investment in our region’s vibrant performing arts scene. UPAF’s mission is to secure community resources, promote the performing arts as a regional asset and improve the quality of life through responsible investment in and financial support of the performing arts in Eastern Wisconsin. UPAF proudly bears Charity Navigator’s highest distinction for nonprofits – a four-star rating – and is the No. 1 united performing arts fund in the country in terms of dollars raised.

With generous community support, UPAF funds 50+ diverse local performing arts organizations that provide our community with the best of music, dance, song and theater. In addition to entertainment excellence, these organizations provide transformative educational programs for local children, ensure that individuals from marginalized neighborhoods have opportunities to participate in the arts and expand arts access for people with disabilities. For more information, visit https://upaf.org/.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.