Katie Brass’s passion for fundraising started at the University of Dayton. When Phi Beta Chi, the professional fraternity for communication majors, which Katie was a member, wanted to take an educational trip to New York City to foster relationships in the professional community, they needed help to fund the 4-day program. Katie volunteered and raised enough funds to cover 90% of the cost, leaving a fee of only $80 for each participant. Early in her career, Katie held development positions focused on grant writing and special events with the Council on Child Abuse before moving on to the arts sector. In the early 2000s, Katie served as the Individual Giving Manager, before being promoted to the Director of Development, at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC). During her time at the CAC, Katie rebranded and relaunched the Annual Gala, increasing funds raised by 700% or $65,000 to $500,000; finalized the New Building Capital Campaign ($48 million) and launched the Future Now Endowment Campaign ($20 million). Following the Contemporary Arts Center, Brass served as the Executive Director of The Carnegie through June 2017, a position she has held since November 2008 following two years as The Carnegie's Development Director. In her capacity as Executive Director Brass oversaw programming, outreach, operations and fundraising at The Carnegie, Northern Kentucky's largest and only multidisciplinary arts organization. In her time as Executive Director, she stabilized the organizations fiscal health, executed a strategic plan for growth, doubled the operating budget and increased attendance by almost 200%. Most notably, under Katie’s leadership, The Carnegie’s education programs received national attention by being accepted into the Kennedy Center Arts Integration Network. Making The Carnegie one of only 110 organizations in the country to have this honor. In 2017, The Carnegie provided over 51,000 hours of arts education and was recognized as a model of arts integration in public schools by the Kentucky Arts Council. Prior to joining The Yunker Group, she served as President/CEO of Inter Parish Ministry, the largest Choice Food Pantry serving Eastern Hamilton and Clermont Counites. This 18-month, transitional leadership position was hired to transform the organization to meet current and future demands, which included relationship building, implementing an annual development plan, restructuring staff and creating program operations guidelines, and establishing audit and financial regulations.