executive director
Matthew Craig
“What motivates me most about the work we do is this: Finding important historic things that are broken and fixing them.”
Executive Director
matthew.craig@youngpreservationists.org
Matthew Craig practices Transformational Leadership as the Executive Director of the Young Preservationists Association (YPA) where he has served since 2015. YPA works to engage and empower young people in active preservation and seeks to fix important things that are broken by connecting stakeholders and finding resources.
Joseph may have had the coat of many colors, but our Executive Director Matthew Craig is the man of many hats. He has led YPA from an all-volunteer organization into a fully re-funded non-profit corporation. Under his leadership YPA is emerging as a trusted regional leader in educating young people about historic preservation, while also being a trusted source for advice on economic development strategies around historic assets. Matthew is a dynamic executive with a myriad of unique professional experiences at the highest levels of non-profit management in a variety of disciplines, including fundraising (over $1,000,000), historic preservation, educational media, and public radio. He brings to this work proven skills of management, problem solving, & creativity; mixed with unique life experiences.
The Young Preservationists Association is dedicated to preserving our region’s unique architectural history, and teaching young people how to have a voice in this effort while discovering their own personal dignity. Matthew earned the National Development Council’s (NDC) Economic Development Finance Professional Certification, and recently completed an extensive series of courses from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, earning an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management.
Matthew’s leadership at YPA has focused on these core principles:
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We offer a number of programs to educate, empower, and impact our community members throughout the year. Learn More
Innovative approaches to preservation advocacy seeking win/win outcomes
Collaborations with larger organizations to meet mutual goals
Collaborations with larger organizations to meet mutual goals
Education as a seed to plant and nurture for the future
Organizing like-minded groups to pursue a regional objective
Amplification of efforts through national and local media outlets
Mentoring young professionals about non-profit management and best practices
Building organizational capacity for revenue stream potential
Using new media tools as a technique for insightful learning
Prior to his work with YPA Matthew created non-profit & for profit companies to produce a broadcast quality educational children’s television show, The Magic Woods, which aired on public television, raising over $600,000 in support of this award-winning project.
Matthew honed his media skills as the host of the environmental news radio program, The Allegheny Front, winning Best Public Affairs Program in Pittsburgh & in the Commonwealth of PA.
Before relocating back to Western Pennsylvania, Matthew worked as a professional touring musician while maintaining a day job as a political cartoonist.
He performed with The Del Vikings, Buckwheat Zydeco, The Kingston Trio, The Chieftains, The Mamas & The Papas, Arlo Guthrie, & many others.
Drew humorous editorial cartoons, cover illustrations, & spot drawings for various publications in multiple states.
Had his cartoons featured at The Charles M. Schulz Museum (Peanuts).
Explore Our Programs.
We offer a number of programs to educate, empower, and impact our community members throughout the year. Learn More
Become a
YPA Member
Please consider becoming a member of YPA. It shows us that you’re paying attention and enjoy the work we’re doing. It tells us that you’re there and we can count on you for your support. You can become part of a movement that will immediately impact your life and community around you. Please join our team and lend your voice!