Philanthropy,
clarity,
and connection.
Philanthropy Strategy Systems & Infrastructure Public Humanities
Philanthropy Strategy Systems & Infrastructure Public Humanities
For 25 years I've been a catalyst for enhancing impact in cultural, philanthropic, and educational settings - using incisive approaches to systems improvement, storytelling, facilitation, and research to help organizations and individuals cut through the noise, be audacious, and build the infrastructure to take the friction out of fundraising, culture-building, and changemaking.
Whether you need a winning proposal, a smarter tech stack, or a public-facing project that moves people — I bring rigour, warmth, and creative clarity to every engagement.
Let's build something →From prospect research to submitted proposal, I help organizations build the case, find the funder, and win the grant — across arts, housing, education, environment, and humanities.
CRMs, workflows, documentation — the foundations that make everything else possible. I turn confusion into clarity so your team can focus on mission, not machinery.
Projects that connect people, place, and story. I design and lead cultural initiatives that matter — including LA River X, a landmark public humanities project.
Her profound knowledge, exceptional communication skills, unwavering patience, and genuine passion for her work were instrumental in the project's success.
Grant partner
Tilly is an expert in how to make research have an impact on practice — a rarer capability in higher education than you might think. Her IMPEL framework has been invaluable.
Higher education client
Ridiculously efficient. I was particularly impressed by Tilly's productivity, ambition, and ability to handle even the toughest situations effortlessly.
Ward Ayscough, Sydney Living Museums
Her innovative insights into a difficult area were of great value and helped in the further development of our approach to project funding.
Nonprofit partner
Genius. She is a natural leader, a wonderful communicator and beautifully organized.
Lisa Watts, Producer & Curator
So deft, so fluid — a powerful case for environmental history… luminous, liberating and beguiling.
Prof. Char Miller, environmental historian
A PhD in the galvanizing power of emotions and connection.
A landmark public humanities project exploring the ecological, cultural, and human life of the Los Angeles River. Developed through partnerships with California Humanities, CicLAvia, The Claremont College Library, Frogtown Arts, the LA Public Library, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Pomona College, USC, and more.
A year-long curated event series exploring difficult social, political, and environmental issues in beautiful and inspiring ways. Featured speakers including Mandy McElhinney and Costa Georgiadis. Funds raised seeded Two Good Co.
A curated online event series launched at the onset of COVID, offering stories and community as ballast against life's vicissitudes. Now a podcast. Loyal audiences across the US and Australia. "Thank you for sharpening our minds and warming our hearts."
Led teams of around 400 volunteers to deliver Australia's premier open building event in 2017 and 2018, giving more than 8,000 people the opportunity to explore Sydney's most intriguing architectural spaces.
I'm a Los Angeles–based strategist with a PhD and 25 years of experience generating real outcomes: millions in funding, transformed systems, and cultural projects that share, celebrate, and preserve community stories.
My research explores how people love complicated landscapes — particularly the LA River. I've been a guest speaker at the French Consulate's Night of Ideas, the Claremont Colleges, the LA Breakfast Club, and universities across the US, UK, New Zealand, and Australia. My work has been supported by California Humanities, the NEH, the University of the Sunshine Coast, the Commonwealth Government of Australia, the City of Sydney, the City of Santa Monica, Frogtown Arts, and Pomona College.
My consultancy services include facilitation, teaching, coaching, document and process reviews, system improvement, and strategic writing.
I am available as a keynote speaker about the Los Angeles River and the importance of nourishing connections between people and the rest of nature.