Ashley Paulisick
I partner with philanthropic and cultural institutions to design, manage, and scale programs that directly benefit artists.
About
As a former program officer for one of the world’s largest art prizes, I specialize in the strategy and mechanics of major, direct-to-artist funding. Having managed the full lifecycle of unrestricted $250K awards—from curating a nationwide network of nominators to preparing concise dossiers that informed final jury and board decisions—I bring rare institutional expertise to high-impact, relationship-based philanthropy.Today, I leverage this background to help grantmakers, family offices, and cultural organizations design, launch, and evaluate prize models and related major gifts, such as acquisition funds. I partner with funders to cut through administrative friction, benchmark impact against the national landscape of awards, and leverage capital to accelerate artists’ trajectories.With an MA in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, 15+ years experience as an arts administrator, and an active studio practice, I have a distinct advantage. I navigate both worlds and understand both sides of the table, seamlessly aligning a funder's strategic vision with the lived realities of the artists they want to empower.
Services
Program Design: Translating specific philanthropic priorities, from championing artists on the precipice of national recognition to supporting institutional alumni, into bespoke, high-impact award programs that directly support working artists.
Prize Operations: Managing critical backend mechanics, from launching nomination cycles to jury selection, with expert care to safeguard the integrity of an award.
Benchmarking: Analyzing national funding trends and peer programs to determine need and potential impact.
Evaluation: Assessing the real-world outcomes of current funding initiatives to measure success, streamline operations, and build momentum for subsequent cycles.
Recipient Engagement: Designing valuable and sustained cohort experiences, professional development, and alumni networks and events.
Impact Storytelling: Translating the creative breakthroughs of funded artists into compelling narratives that showcase the transformative power of your philanthropy to boards, peers, and the public.
Partnerships & Complementary Support: Connecting funders with cultural partners to offer additional opportunities for artists, such as exhibitions, institutional acquisitions, public commissions, and monographs.
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