Katie Tuttle is a strategic and mission-driven philanthropy professional that has raised more than $90 million for some of Chicago’s greatest cultural organizations over the past 20 years. With expertise in corporate and foundation giving and experience in all areas of fundraising, she brings creativity and thoughtfulness to effective communications, complex partnerships, staff leadership, and strategic planning. She has a gift for creating clarity, building trust, and cultivating a culture of philanthropy with diverse stakeholders. Her previous roles include the following accomplishments:

From 2000 to 2024, as AVP for Corporate and Foundation Relations at the Chicago Botanic Garden, she led a team of eight professionals, achieving significant fundraising success. Under her leadership, her team realized a 29.5% increase in funds raised from 2019 to 2022 and a subsequent 26% rise in 2023. She played a pivotal role in shaping the Garden’s fundraising strategy, collaborating closely with the CEO and Board to advance strategic priorities in education, conservation, and urban agriculture, and managed critical relationships with philanthropic partners and stakeholders.

Prior to this role, she served as Director of Development at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago from 2018 to 2020. In this capacity, she was responsible for overseeing all aspects of fundraising for this premier contemporary dance company. Her efforts led to a 33% increase in corporate giving, a 16% rise in individual donations, and substantial growth in foundation and government grants. She also successfully recruited and developed a new development team of 5 FTEs, adeptly navigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic with innovative virtual fundraising solutions and restructured major events to improve outcomes and return on investment.

Over her 11 years at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as the Director of Corporate Development, she raised more than $50 million to support orchestral excellence and music education programs. She managed a team of 2 FTEs and developed the most lucrative sponsorship program in the orchestral sector, achieving annual goals of $5-7 million. This role included securing the largest gift in the organization’s history at that time, and renewing that gift for six consecutive years, revitalizing relationships with key sponsors, and overseeing all corporate fundraising activities, including major gift negotiations and support for a successful $250 million comprehensive campaign.

Katie also served as one of two consulting editors for the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Committee, working on campaign materials, including the Candidature File (Bid book), and as the dedicated writer for the collateral brochure of World Sport Chicago. She participated in meetings with Chicago 2016 leadership, U.S. Olympic Committee, City of Chicago representatives, advisors, and constituents to understand diverse perspectives to facilitate the communication of central themes and goals and produce a competitive candidature file.

Katie has a masters degree in Arts Administration & Cultural Policy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and bachelors degree in international studies from Loyola University Chicago.