About Us
Our Team
Leadership
Erica Bittner
Founder & CEO
Chicago, IL
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Erica Bittner (she/her) founded Artistic Fundraising Group in 2018 after many years of working in development at organizations such as the Auditorium Theatre, CHIRP Radio, and Redmoon Theater. Within her fifteen years of work in fundraising, she has managed rigorous grant programs for organizations nationwide, designed and led major fundraising campaigns, served as interim executive leadership in development, and secured millions in new sources of revenue for Chicago's nonprofit sector. She has served as a panelist for the DCASE CityArts and NEA Creative Forces grant programs. For the Chicago Community Trust and MacArthur Foundation’s Press Forward grant program, as well as the DCASE CityArts grant program, she designed and led the AFG team in consulting initiatives to provide coaching to first-time applicants while advising funder teams on equitable grantmaking practices. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA), a certificate in Acting Shakespeare from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and an MFA in Writing and Literature from Bennington College. In addition to her work in fundraising, Erica is a professional actor whose work can be found on The Chi (Showtime), Chicago Fire (NBC), Soundtrack (Netflix), and on stages throughout Chicago and beyond. She serves as an adjunct professor at CCPA and is at work on her first novel.
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writer, actor, and educator
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My life is devoted to making the world we live in a more creative and compassionate place. I love experiencing the phenomenal change we can make happen when we move financial resources to artmakers and human services workers. For me, it's more than the fundraising wins (though this is incredibly motivating!) I love seeing our clients succeed in building the beautiful, unique opportunities for connection that only they can offer our collective community.
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Every win, big and small, that we have here at AFG. From major historic restoration projects to a client's first six-figure gift to a small but mighty grant award that changes the viability of a newly incorporated nonprofit, I am just so dang proud of what we do here.
Cate Gillespie
Vice President and Senior Consultant
Ann Arbor, MI
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Cate Gillespie (she/her) is a voice coach, teaching artist, former professional actress, and proud development professional with 15 years experience working with arts organizations in Chicago and beyond, including serving as Managing Director and Grants Manager at The Viola Project. She worked for many years as a freelance development professional for organizations in Chicago and Michigan. She holds a bachelor's degree in musical theatre from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and has completed training in development, grant writing, marketing, and people management from institutions such as DePaul University, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School, and The Management Center, among many others. Cate is proud to be a founding staff member at AFG, and is passionate about finding creative ways for small arts organizations to expand their reach and deepen their impact.
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voice and dialect coach
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Art is how we explore big ideas, and uplifting the work of artists, educators, and journalists feels like one of the most important and meaningful contributions we can make in this extraordinary time in our country.
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I love that I get to work alongside so many incredible artists! In this job, I get to see a huge variety of creative work, hear artists describe their process and goals, and help them to deepen their connections in the community. It's the absolute best.
Project Managers
+ Senior Consultants
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Karen Keagle (she/her) has worked in fundraising for over 25 years in the arts, education, human services and environmental sectors. While her passion is institutional giving and program evaluation, she has extensive experience working with individual donors of all giving capacities as well as with developing strategic plans for fundraising efforts of varying scales and scopes. She has enjoyed working with nonprofit companies large and small throughout the Midwest and East Coast and is delighted to bring her skills and experience to organizations in the Chicago metropolitan area through AFG. Karen earned a Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of French from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration from Virginia Tech.
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singer and musician
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Working at AFG allows me to make possible the inspiring work of valuable, vital organizations and individuals who truly are making the world a better place.
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There are too many to narrow down to one! I think the most exciting ones are often the first sizeable grants secured for small organizations, or those that enable a small organization to take a program to a larger, more sophisticated level and thereby touch the lives of a greater number of people.
Karen E Keagle
Project Manager & Senior Consultant
Bloomington, IN
Tamara Winters
Project Manager & Senior Consultant
Cincinnati, OH
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Tamara Winters (she/her) is a theater artist and fundraiser for the arts with two decades of experience in institutional giving, individual giving, annual fund drives, and special events at organizations with budgets from $100,000 to $6 million. Tamara served for nine seasons as Associate Artistic Director of Know Theatre of Cincinnati, where she led communications and fundraising strategies and directed 15 new works. Previously, Tamara served as Institutional Giving Associate for New York's Symphony Space, Events Coordinator for Arts/West in Athens, OH, and Development Associate for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Her creative work has been seen at Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Ghostlight Stage Company, New York Madness, Fringe NYC, Dixon Place, Cherry Lane Theatre, The Tank, The New Ohio, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Ohio Valley Summer Theatre, and ARTS/West.
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director and dramaturg
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In my theater work, I believe in creating spaces of radical trust and collaboration, and that is exactly what I find thrilling about working with AFG. This is a place where everyone's voices matter and where respect for each other and the work is paramount. This is a place that cares, and it shows in the quality of our relationships and the strength of our results.
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I take a lot of joy in the fact that at four different organizations, I have secured their very first National Endowment for the Arts grants!
Consultants
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Tommy John Ballard (he/they) is an artist, scholar, writer, and educator with more than a decade of experience working in community engagement, arts-based research, and institutional advancement for arts organizations specializing in outreach, sustainability, non-profit operations, and project-based programming. Tommy John esteems arts integration and accessibility, directing grant-funded programming that reached more than 10,000 young students over 5 years. He completed his Master of Fine Arts in Fiber & Material Studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and holds a Master of Arts in Art Education and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with Minors in Art History and Print Media from the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Tommy is originally from Dayton, Ohio, and their work has brought them into collaboration with institutions like the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Dayton Art Institute, the University of Chicago, and the Art Institute of Chicago Research Center. Tommy is also a visual artist and writer specializing in poetry, textiles, material culture, and alternative image-based processes. My work often integrates community, place, and participation, resulting in exhibitions that activate engagement with the broader public.
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visual artist and writer
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My work at AFG gives me joy in knowing that my clients are making a positive impact by directly impacting overlooked and marginalized audiences, crafting programs that support resilience and recovery, and catapulting creativity to new heights.
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In my former role as Director of Institutional Advancement and Community Engagement, I oversaw an exceptional year of fundraising and grant writing, resulting in more than $1.5 million in unrestricted and project-based support for arts education, scholarship endowment, and sustainable renovations.
Tommy John Ballard
Institutional Giving Consultant
Chicago, IL
Claire Bauman
Institutional Giving Consultant
Chicago, IL
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Claire Bauman (she/her) is a Chicago-based director, choreographer and grant writer. She brings her experience from all sides of the artistic table to inform her work as an arts administrator. She has worked with Steppenwolf Theatre, Steep Theatre, Red Tape Theatre, Interrobang Theatre Project, Wender Collective, and Rhinofest, among others. Claire has participated in DirectorsLabChicago, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Observership Program, and Hangar Theatre's Directing Apprenticeship. Claire is currently pursuing her MFA in Directing at Northwestern University. She earned her BA from Vassar College and further trained at the Moscow Art Theater School.
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director and choreographer
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The arts and humanities are a means to express your unique humanity, build community, and learn how to live the life you desire!
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Supporting Theater Wit in receiving the 2022 Bayless Family Foundation Stepping Stone Grant to fund two new staff positions and Kaufherr's recent Arts Work Fund grant for their Strategic Planning process. Both are meaningful to me because they support transformative opportunities for the organizations that are hard to come by!
Kayleigh Dudevoir
Consultant
Chicago, IL
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Kayleigh Dudevoir (she/her) is thrilled to be part of the AFG team. Dudevoir is the Principal and Major Gifts Officer of Cranbrook Educational Community, a legendary space for art, science, history, and learning. Prior to working at Cranbrook, Dudevoir was the Associate Director of Individual Giving for PAWS Chicago, the Midwest's largest No Kill shelter, and currently sits on their fundraising board. Her background in arts fundraising began with work for Bella Voce, the Newberry Consort, the Chicago Arts Orchestra, and the Chicago Chamber Choir, serving in varied roles from grantwriter to Executive Director. From 2018-2021, Dudevoir was a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's world-class Development team, managing high-level gifts for their most exclusive donor society, the Governing Members. Dudevoir graduated with honors from Boston College where she founded and directed The Madrigal Singers of Boston College, the university’s only early music vocal group. Former President of the ensemble, Dudevoir wrote and arranged original pieces for the Madrigal Singers but chose to make her career in arts management. She has experience in executive management, fundraising, and marketing in the arts and has worked with choral ensembles, chamber groups, orchestras, and theatre companies. Dudevoir was a member of the 2014 League of American Orchestras’ elite Essentials of Orchestra Management program. In 2015, Dudevoir obtained her Master of Performing Arts Management from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where she worked with arts executives from the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and League of American Orchestras.
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musician
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Getting to work with so many people, both colleagues and clients, who believe in the transformative power of the arts!
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Volunteering with animals
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Kate Galvin (she/her) is an award-winning theater director with executive experience in nonprofit management. She is the former Artistic Director of Constellation Stage & Screen in Bloomington, IN, which was created through a merger in 2022 to become Bloomington’s largest arts organization. A Philadelphia native, she has been working in the theater industry for over 20 years as an artist, administrator, casting director and producer. Kate is Barrymore Award-winning director of both musicals and plays, and has a passion for new musical development. Regional directing credits include 11th Hour Theatre Company, Fulton Theater, Pittsburgh CLO, Portland Stage, Walnut Street Theatre, Weston Theater Company and others. She is a graduate of NYU (Vocal Performance - Musical Theater) and Goldsmiths - University of London (Producing for Musical Theater). www.kategalvin.com @kategalvinconsulting
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theater director, casting director
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Art helps us to find our shared humanity and can offer a much needed escape from the grind of our day to day. To witness beauty, to share collective astonishment, to experience catharsis together - this is what art can do better than anything else.
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I love to travel! My husband and I have been living the nomadic life for the last year and it's been a great adventure. I also love hiking, swimming and paddle boarding.
Kate Galvin
Institutional Giving Consultant
Philadelphia, PA
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Jessica Leyva (she/her) is a professional dance artist, non-profit executive administrator and institutional giving consultant based in Chicago, IL. Earning a BFA from the University of California, Irvine, she quickly established herself as a leader in the local field of cultural development as a freelance grant writer and Executive Director of Chicago Dance Crash. Jessica was the 2025 recipient of Dance USA’s inaugural Emerging Leader Award in recognition of her contributions to Chicago’s dance and arts non-profit ecosystem.
In addition to her work with Chicago Dance Crash, Jessica recently joined the team at Artistic Fundraising Group as an Institutional Giving Consultant. A classically trained ballerina and contemporary dance artist, Jessica is also an active practitioner in Chicago’s street dance and popping community and has been known to grace the Crash stage when called upon. She has placed in multiple national and international popping and animation competition brackets including Out of the Shadows (Chicago), Lords of the Land (Cleveland) and Unimate (Los Angeles) and is proud to represent Chicana women in popping and arts leadership.
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dance artist, bass player
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As an artist, I have experienced first hand the healing power of art, music, dance, and the humanities and how it serves as a vital point of connection between individuals. In a world that feels increasingly oppressive, these communities have become so important to me and are essential spaces to cultivate empathy, creativity, and freedom of expression.
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Securing multiple 6-figure gifts was a big milestone for me personally. Sharing that with the client and seeing how it has positively impacted their organization is the cherry on top.
Jessica Leyva
Institutional Giving Consultant
Chicago, IL
Ashley Lugo
Institutional Giving Consultant
Chicago, IL
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Ashley Lugo (she/they) specializes in fundraising and wealth distribution for the global majority. Rooted in community, she has learned from organizations like the Chicago Public Library, Chicago Sinfonietta, Dill Pickle Food Co-op, Merit School of Music, and Wild Onion Market. As a consultant, they are known for bridging the gap between storytelling and operations. Ashley loves to collaborate with groups to develop the foundational systems that empower them to scale sustainably. In their down time, Ashley is an active member of the Chicago community, often found exploring the city’s historic neighborhoods or cycling along Lake Shore Drive.
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former musician
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Over the course of my career, I experienced first hand the culture shift from one of individualism to one of community-centrism and resource sharing. This has been exciting, and quite motivating to observe and contribute to.
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The clients. I genuinely feel like their collaborator and I'm so motivated by their commitment to their communities.
Ian McLeland
Consultant
Chicago, IL
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Ian McLeland (he/him) has been a professional fundraiser since 2016, working primarily with arts organizations and direct service organizations serving youth. As a development director, Ian has expertise in all parts of a fundraising portfolio, from individual giving and major gifts to institutional funders including government, corporate, and private philanthropy.
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actor and playwright
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AFG is a tremendous place to work both as a fundraiser and as an artist. Everyone understands the needs and processes of non-profits and arts organizations intimately and that enables us to support our clients that is unmatched by other providers. The organization is also devoted to its consultants in a way that supports us, our needs, and our careers and lives beyond this work.
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I love theatre, acting, and writing. I'm also a huge nerd and love tabletop gaming and watch a lot of content in that sphere. And I also love getting outdoors and camping, hiking, boating—basically anything that's hard to reach living in the city. We contain multitudes!
Ellen Morris Palermo
Consultant
Chicago, IL
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Ellen Morris Palermo (she/her) is a nonprofit leader and consultant with deep expertise in fundraising, organizational change, and nonprofit operations. She has been with Artistic Fundraising Group and has partnered with dozens of arts, media, and community-based organizations to raise millions of philanthropic dollars and build sustainable development strategies.
Her background spans grant writing, donor relations, and strategic communications, as well as guiding organizations through periods of growth and transition. Ellen brings experience in cross-departmental collaboration, program design, and external engagement, helping nonprofits strengthen their infrastructure, streamline processes, and align development with mission and strategy. Her background as both a practitioner and strategist allows her to bridge program delivery, communications, fundraising, and operations to support and guide organizations through complex initiatives.
In her former life as a professional pianist and theater musician, Ellen music-directed, conducted, and performed at theaters across Chicago and taught hundreds of young musicians and actors. This creative foundation gives her a unique perspective and ability to collaborate across teams and sectors.
Ellen holds her M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and her B.Mus. from Northwestern University, with majors in Piano Studies and English Literature. She is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Learning and Organizational Change at Northwestern. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading epic fantasy novels, riding her motorcycle, and planning her next scuba diving trip.
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musician and former music director
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I'm incredibly proud of the work I did with Arts of Life to help them fund their South Side studio. Seeing them develop and launch a whole new program over the course of several years was incredible.
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I spend most of my free time in the garden, reading, riding my motorcycle, or planning my next trip.
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Maddie Powell (she/her) is a fundraiser and theatre artist. Maddie's work at AFG is informed by her experience as an arts administrator, playwright, and actor in Chicago's storefront theatre scene, where she has worked with groups including Snails on a Bike, Oil Lamp Theater, and Jackalope Theatre. Maddie is passionate about queer stories, advocacy through art, and community-centric fundraising. She graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of the Arts in English and Theatre, and a certificate in Integrated Marketing Communications.
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actor, arts educator
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I know so many brilliant artists and activists who have the vision and the chutzpah to advance a kinder, more connected community. These are rarely the people with the financial resources to make it happen. Our work at AFG is to redirect funds to some of our community's most imaginative and impactful creatives, infusing worthy organizations with the resources they need to advance a more equitable future both in the arts community and far beyond. I am proud to be part of a company that is proud to do this work.
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I keep up with the latest season of RuPaul's Drag Race, go for runs in Horner Park, take trivia a little too seriously, and play more Dungeons and Dragons than I care to admit.
Maddie Powell
Consultant and Client Services Specialist
Chicago, IL
Skyler Schrempp
Consultant
Chicago, IL
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Skyler Schrempp (she/her) is a grant writer and novelist from Chicago. Her work at AFG is informed by many years of experience in the Chicago theatre and non-profit scene. She has worked as a costume designer, actor, director, and theatre teacher and she has extensive experience in arts non-profit management and fundraising. Her first novel Three Strike Summer (Simon and Schuster) received four starred reviews and was listed on several “best of” lists including Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best, and Horn Book Fanfare 2022 Booklist. It was also an official Illinois Reads selection, winner of the Chicago Public Library’s mock Newberry, a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Awards, and the recipient of a Judy Lopez Memorial Honor. Skyler received her undergrad degree from Hampshire College and her MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Art.
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writer
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I really enjoy the willingness to help and support. Particularly knowledge sharing. It is so crucial. There's no "guidebook" to funding the arts and humanities, but the colleagues at AFG come pretty close to being an up-to-date how-to guide.
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We need arts and humanities now more than ever. I am proud to play a small part in the local and national arts ecosystem. It's a difficult time for these industries, and my hope is that the dedicated work of individuals at AFG and other arts and humanities workers will make arts and culture stronger.
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Lacey Trautwein (she/her) has been working as a professional fundraiser, grant writer, and nonprofit advocate for a decade. Lacey holds a Masters in Arts Administration from University of Kentucky and a Bachelors of Arts in English — Medieval Literature from Kentucky State University. Lacey currently works with Artistic Fundraising Group as a Consultant and Boys and Girls Club of Kentuckiana as Grants Manager, holding previous roles as Director of Development to Actors Theatre of Louisville and Sarabande Books. She is currently at work on curating a zine community online for the creatively undead (@zineofthedead), writing an in-progress satirical horror novel, and working to launch a spooky film festival based in Louisville, KY.
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writer and visual artist
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One of my favorite movies says it best.
“Books, Records, Films, these things matter”
- John Cusack, High Fidelity -
At Belle of Louisville, I revamped their membership model program to what is now known as the Annual Pass. In one year, I increased earned revenue by 88% via streamlined communications, a balanced but robust benefits offering, and committed stewardship practices.
Lacey Trautwein
Consultant
Louisville, KY
Catherine Yu
Institutional Giving Consultant
Chicago, IL
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Catherine Yu (she/her) comes to institutional giving from a theater and opera background. She spent six years in nonprofit arts in New York City before moving to Chicago. In the three years she's worked as a nonprofit arts grant writer in the Chicago landscape, she has raised close to 2 million in institutional fundraising. She is currently under commission with Timeline Theatre and recently completed a commission for the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival. BA: Stanford University. MFA: New York University.
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playwright, librettist, fiction writer
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Supporting expressions of humanity will always make me happy.
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Reading, writing, listening to music and walking on the beach.
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Linda Zhang (she/her) has been working as an arts administrator for nearly a decade, and over her years of experience, she has developed a passion for helping performing arts organizations make a positive impact in their communities. Prior to joining the Artistic Fundraising Group, Linda has worked for the Bloomingdale School of Music, the Chelsea Symphony, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and The Auditorium. Born and raised in New York City, Linda Zhang, is a classical musician and arts administrator. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Flute Performance from Hunter College where she was the recipient of the Cutler Scholarship in Orchestral Performance, and a Master's degree in Performing Arts Administration from Steinhardt, New York University.
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musician
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I believe that the arts are vital for human expression, cultural preservation, communication, and connecting people beyond lines of difference. To me, one of the greatest things that the arts can encourage and offer people is the practice of introspection. The arts challenge artists and audience members to think deeply about their emotions and intentions and I think as people we can all greatly benefit from that. As a cultural worker, it makes me proud and happy to know that I am playing a part in building community and supporting artistic opportunities.
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One of my most proud wins as a fundraiser was when I secured a $625,000 Save America’s Treasures award for The Auditorium’s skylight and atrium restoration.
Linda Zhang
Institutional Giving Consultant
Chicago, IL
Operations
Lesley Swanson
Business Manager
Chicago, IL
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Lesley Swanson (she/her) brings over 16 years of experience in Arts Management and Arts Education. Swanson has planned and executed productions in the non-profit sector for television, theater, and orchestra. She has also directed schools of dance, drama, and music.
Swanson earned a MM in flute performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and a BM from Grand Valley State University. She owns a private studio in the City of Chicago where she teaches flute students of all ages. Active in Chicago’s new music scene, her dynamic flute playing can be heard with the Chicago Composers Orchestra.
Swanson has proven herself to be a powerful advocate for women’s rights. As an arts leader, she is committed to breaking down barriers and promoting pay equity in the performing arts, as well as expanding opportunities for women, BIPOC and LGBTQIA artists.
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musician
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Seeing the art you create move someone else.
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Cooking, baking, home bartending and traveling
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Olivia Zapater-Charrette (she/her) is a Chicago-based stage manager. Her experience includes credits at Paramount Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and Lookingglass Theatre. Olivia graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Theatre and Psychology, with a concentration in Theatre Management. At Northwestern, she served as the Executive Director of Seesaw Theatre and coordinated Seesaw’s third annual Inclusive Theatre Festival conference on best practices for accessibility in the arts. She is delighted to be a part of the AFG team.
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stage manager and theater technician
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Being a part of something larger than myself, and telling stories that matter and that need to be heard.
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I love a hobby and I love a craft! You can find me knitting, grilling in the backyard, writing, or rock climbing.
Olivia Zapater-Charrette
Operations and Production Associate
Chicago, IL
We're now serving more individuals than ever before and have reached goals that were only a pipe dream before working with AFG’s consultants.
— Sharing Notes