Services

Design & Launch New Programs

  • I translate specific philanthropic priorities into award programs that directly support individual artists.

  • By building alumni networks and professional development opportunities, I help funders stay engaged with their recipients, and keep recipients connected with one another.

  • I identify additional timely ways to bolster artists’ careers, such as funding monograph research or fabrication costs for exciting new work.

  • Beyond standalone prizes, I design initiatives, including residencies and community collaborations, that nurture broader artistic ecosystems.

Scale & Manage Existing Programs

  • I optimize your current initiatives through efficient operations, from launching nomination cycles to jury selection, with expert care.

  • I cultivate new win-win partnerships and collaborations for your recipients and grantees, such as exhibitions and public art commissions.

  • I translate the successes of your recipients and grantees into compelling stories tailored for specific audiences, such as your board, media, and the public.

Research & Evaluation

  • I analyze national funding trends and benchmark peer initiatives to pinpoint funding gaps and maximize your potential impact.

  • I assess the real-world outcomes of your programs to measure success, streamline internal operations, and build the momentum to improve future cycles of giving.

Let’s design innovative philanthropic models, or take your existing initiatives to the next level.

About

Driven by a belief in philanthropy’s power to advance the arts, I spent five years serving as the program officer for the Heinz Awards, one of the world’s largest and longest-running art prizes. This remarkable 30-year legacy initiative distributed unrestricted $250,000 awards directly to individuals. Today, I use that rare experience in philanthropy, over 15 years of cultural sector leadership, and a national network to help grantmakers, family offices, and cultural organizations design, launch, and elevate their charitable giving.

Program Design: I thrive on building initiatives from the ground up. I independently designed, funded, and implemented an ambitious series of cross-sector artist residencies in partnership with scientific and conservation institutions, including a premier research university and a top-five US natural history museum. The residencies resulted in engaging artworks based on dense academic research, exhibitions that brought together disparate audiences, and community collaborations that sparked engagement in both art and science. Additionally, as the co-founder and operator of The Shop, I spearheaded the adaptive reuse of an industrial mechanic's garage into a vibrant community hub for entrepreneurial, educational, cultural, and civic programming.

Operational Excellence: Turning a bold vision into a sustainable reality requires efficient systems and disciplined project management. At The Shop, I built the entire infrastructure from scratch, which included creating our rental agreements and scheduling systems, while also managing the budget and building maintenance. I brought this same diligent coordination to the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, where I served as the local lead for the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention. In this role, I orchestrated a national convening of over 1,000 arts professionals that spanned city-wide tours, performances, and workshops, all with complex multi-venue logistics.

Strategic Growth: Sustainable impact is driven by forward-thinking vision and the ability to scale, pivot, or revitalize programs. At the Heinz Awards, I guided the foundation through a major transition from a broad focus on the arts and humanities to one centered on the visual arts. Such adaptive leadership has defined my career. At Louisville Visual Art, I was the program manager for a community outreach effort in need of a reboot. I successfully expanded the program by establishing new partnerships with local nonprofits eager to have the people they served participate in artist-led projects. Similarly, I was brought on by Women 4 Women, a Louisville-based advocacy organization, to develop and manage a street painting fair to amplify the impact of their annual fundraising festival.

In addition to my MA in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art and years of hands-on experience as an arts administrator, I maintain an active studio practice. This dual perspective gives me a distinct advantage: I navigate both worlds with ease, understanding both sides of the funding table to seamlessly align a donor's vision with the lived realities of the artists they aim to empower.

Testimonials

"Ashley brings both heart and strategic insight to every project. I’ve trusted her with projects both within and outside her role as a program officer and she exceeded expectations in every instance."—Kim O'Dell, former Director, The Heinz Awards

"Having worked alongside Ashley at the Heinz Awards, I can speak to both her skill and her character. She brings strategy, rigor, and creativity to arts philanthropy and is consistently a step ahead, maximizing time and resources. She translates philanthropic vision and mission into actionable steps, communicates beautifully, and also remains genuinely connected to artists and the arts community. Her clear-eyed optimism and lovely personality make her an asset to any organization."—Caroline Older, PhD, Vice President, TWB Fundraising

“Ashley is a consummate professional with a proven track record of designing and facilitating rigorous selection processes that respect the integrity of foundation, panelist, and artist alike. Her ability to survey the state of the field, make recommendations for best practices, and follow through on her commitments is unparalleled.”—Divya Rao Heffley, PhD, Associate Director, Shiftworks Community + Public Arts

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