Katy Walsh is a storyteller by nature, and she’s channeled the skill into a career focused on targeting the right audience with the right message as a call to action. She has extensive experience developing and executing fundraising and communication strategies to deliver results in the human services, healthcare, academic, and arts & culture sectors. Katy enjoys partnering with purpose-driven organizations to amplify their mission, create growth, and impact lives. 

Katy began her career as a social worker. After graduating from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she secured a position working with adults with developmental disabilities. Early in her professional tenure, she realized being task oriented and passionate about optimal impact wasn’t the right combination to support individuals honing skills for employment and semi-independent living. Because she still ultimately wanted to help people, Katy returned to school and earned a master’s degree in public relations and journalism at Ball State University. She was then able to pivot her role to raising revenue and visibility for organizations championing human services.

Throughout her career, Katy has served in senior director leadership positions at a variety of national nonprofits. Her longest stint was 14 years as Chief Advancement Officer at National Runaway Safeline (NRS), during which time she led multiple innovative initiatives, including a rebranding and name change, launching the first-ever major gift campaign, and executing several national marketing strategies. At NRS, she grew the team to include both staff (digital media, outreach, communications) and consultants (media, graphic design, research, website) to connect youth in crisis to critical services.  

Most recently at One Hope United, Katy assembled and empowered a talented team. Together, they launched a new website, revamped CRM protocols, increased development revenue by 15%, and initiated systemized internal and external engagement tools for stakeholders. She provided guidance in strategizing, developing, and distributing messages across 48 sites and two states. Katy finds tremendous satisfaction in translating complex ideas into digestible content to secure private and public funding. 

Katy also has the unique experience of having been both a grantee and a grantor. Throughout her nonprofit career, she served as a primary author on grants proposals (private, government, corporate). She’s also collaborated with program teams to determine the need, measurement outcomes, and budget for achievement. On the flip side, she’s served on the board of directors for the Carol Oppenheim and Jerome Lamet Charitable Fund, awarding nearly $1 million in three years. Katy is well-versed in the grant-making process from development to evaluation.

Katy lives in Chicago where she enjoys all the amenities of big city life while remaining close to her family and Indiana roots. In the last 15 years, she has published two books and reviews Chicago theatre on her blog, The Fourth Walsh.