Katie Tilford is a nonprofit leader and fundraising professional dedicated to advancing environmental conservation and community engagement. She currently serves as the Director of Development & Communications at Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers & Native Plants, where she helps guide the organization’s mission to inspire appreciation and stewardship of California native flora. Since joining TPF in 2020, Katie has strengthened donor relationships, enhanced membership and development systems, and launched major and planned giving programs.
Her path into fundraising began in college, where she helped lead her campus radio station’s annual fund drive. A lifelong nature enthusiast, she found a meaningful alignment between her love of gardens and her commitment to service when she shifted into development work. Katie is known for her thoughtful, relationship-centered approach to philanthropy, drawing parallels between cultivating supporters and nurturing native plants—both requiring patience, care, and long-term vision.