Michael DelBene is President & CEO of Welcome America, Inc. a non-profit organization responsible for the planning and production of two major citywide, community-based festivals; Wawa Welcome America (welcomeamerica.com) and the Philly Holiday Experience (phillyholidayexperience.com). In coordination with the Mayor of Philadelphia (Board Chair) and other key civic and corporate stakeholders, these annual events draw national and international attention, foster civic pride, reinvest in underserved communities, and generate global awareness of Philadelphia. Wawa Welcome America is the largest free, outdoor festival in America, and as CEO responsible for coordinating civic, corporate, and philanthropic stakeholders to engage hundreds of thousands of live guests, and millions more virtually worldwide.
Prior to joining Welcome America, Inc. in 2019, DelBene served as Vice President of Business Development at the Mann Center for Performing Arts. In this role, DelBene was responsible for developing and implementing strategies to raise contributed and earned revenue from corporate sponsors through corporate sponsorship, corporate philanthropy, and through the Mann’s marquis and preferred brands portfolio. DelBene also worked closely with the board and leadership to manage the Mann’s government relations with the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Prior to coming to the Mann, DelBene served as the head of Major Gift Development at the National Constitution Center. There he was responsible for the management and expansion of the Center’s major gift donor portfolio and oversaw all strategic projects relative to major gift fundraising.
Prior to the National Constitution Center, DelBene spent four years as the Vice President of Community Affairs for Wachovia Bank. His primary responsibility was to oversee the Wachovia Foundation’s philanthropic activity across Pennsylvania and Delaware. He began his time at Wachovia as the Chief Administrative Officer for Southern and Central New Jersey. His responsibilities included directly supporting the Regional President, and managing special projects related to internal and external communications, strategy and planning, and supporting the Southern New Jersey Wachovia Foundation philanthropic strategy.
DelBene is also the President of Excelsior Strategies Group, a Philadelphia-based professional development and strategic management consulting firm he founded in 2011. Excelsior Strategies specializes in delivering comprehensive strategies for non-profit fundraising and strategic management, as well as issue advocacy, corporate and non-profit communications and board member identification and recruitment.