Katie Ellis brings more than 20 years of fundraising experience in the arts, nonprofit, higher education, civic, and philanthropic sectors throughout the United States. With a passion for providing vision, leadership, and strategic counsel to drive revenue growth, Ellis has an extensive depth of expertise in helping organizations strengthen institutional giving through foundation and government relations, in addition to conducting successful annual fund, major gift and capital campaigns.

Prior to joining RSC Fundraising, Ellis held two leadership fundraising roles at Indiana University. She served as Director of Development for the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, the Public Policy Institute, and the School of Education where she led fundraising efforts during Indiana University’s $3.9 Billion bicentennial campaign. During her tenure, she successfully secured the largest endowed scholarship fund for the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and expanded the fundraising programs at each school.

Previously, Ellis served in leadership roles at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paint Creek Center for the Arts, Indianapolis Museum of Art, and the City of Indianapolis where she exceeded fundraising goals for each program. Ellis has consulted with arts and nonprofit organizations of various sizes in Dallas, Detroit, and Atlanta. In partnership with board and staff leadership, Ellis has helped each organization achieve sustained fundraising growth by applying fundraising best practices and fundamentals. Beyond fundraising, Ellis has also worked within the philanthropic sector for The Clowes Fund.

As an expert in institutional fundraising and grantmaking, Ellis has helped organizations prioritize, build, and advance institutional giving programs by securing local, regional, and national private and corporate foundation funding. Ellis has also successfully secured government funding from local, state, and federal agencies, including more than $1 million in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and Small Business Administration.

Ellis remains an active advocate, volunteer and board member for local arts and nonprofit organizations. She has also served on volunteer boards for Butler University’s Ovid Butler Society, Damar Guild, and Minett Elementary School.

Ellis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Arts and Nonprofit Administration from Butler University with a concentration in Vocal Performance.