2024 CFO of the Year Nonprofit/Government honoree Julie Wiklund, ARTSmemphis
Memphis Business Journal's CFO of the Year awards were started in 2010 to honor the often unsung heroes of their organizations.
These financial professionals navigate the complex world of numbers, spreadsheets, and strategies, with finesse and a touch of humor.
In a world where data can sometimes seem cold and impersonal, the best CFOs infuse warmth, creativity, and a dash of magic into everything they do. And their powers of verve, personality, and intellect were on full display at the CFO of the Year ceremony, held Oct. 22 at Theatre Memphis.
The honorees’ colleagues, coworkers, and peers in attendance celebrated those accomplishments with a gusto to match the CFOs’ spirited contributions.
Below is the profile of one of the honorees for this year's awards.
Honoree, Nonprofit/Government
Julie Wiklund
CFO, ARTSmemphis
The Mid-South’s primary arts funder, ARTSmemphis just completed its third-most successful year in grantmaking in its 61-year history, and in 2025, it expects to surpass $100 million invested in the community over the decades. Among other things, Julie Wiklund leads the organization’s financial strategy, business administration, and HR; oversees its $26 million endowment; and assists its 85-plus grantee partners by reviewing their financials and providing them resources. An artist herself, Wiklund combines her creative side with her career experience in accounting and investment, leadership skills, and passion for the mission to support the arts to strengthen the community.
Biggest challenge at the moment: ARTSmemphis and many arts organizations were fortunate to receive significant government funding over the past four years. That pandemic-related funding is not a long-term revenue stream. ARTSmemphis is working to grow our unrestricted contributions from donors, so we can grow our unrestricted support for arts organizations and artists.
Turning point: For me personally, it was moving to the nonprofit space. Every task I complete and improvement I implement enables ARTSmemphis grantee partners to directly play a role in improving lives and improving Memphis. This feels good in my heart and makes coming to work every day a privilege.
Biggest worry: As a finance team of one, I want to make sure that everything is well documented so leadership and future CFOs can easily understand and pick up the functions.
Key goal to achieve: Work behind the scenes to help ARTSmemphis play a vital role in elevating our thriving community with arts and culture at the forefront. Watching Memphis gain recognition as a model for other communities to solve problems through art and culture.
What’s something about you that would surprise people? I am an artist and enjoy making thank you cards and donating paintings to fundraisers. I am a member of the Memphis Urban Sketchers and Memphis Artists’ Link.