About Julia Foster

Over her career in fundraising, Julia successfully ran a $72 million capital campaign for Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SCFTA) and met or exceeded annual fundraising goals at La Jolla Playhouse, Irvine Barclay Theatre, SCFTA and the Vail Valley Foundation (which operates the Vilar Center for the Arts and the Vail International Dance Festival), while leading teams of up to 18 people covering all fundraising channels. She has worked with boards of up to 50 people, guiding committees and providing volunteers with valuable fundraising tools.

Prior to fundraising, Julia was a "triple threat" performer in New York City. She was a soloist with the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, with whom she performed at the Joyce Theater, the American Dance Festival (ADF) and Jacob’s Pillow. She also danced for choreographers including Douglas Dunn, Mariko Tanabe, Gloria McLean, and Nancy Meehan and taught modern dance at the Hawkins studio, ADF, UNLV and Jacob’s Pillow. Julia has performed around the country in touring and regional musical theater productions and was a member of the Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus. She has also worked in television, film, industrials and voiceovers.

Julia earned an MBA from Chapman University, which further strengthened her strategic management and human resource development skills. While achieving her undergraduate degree in dance from Washington University in St. Louis, she gained insight into all aspects of artistic performance, production and management.

As a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Julia has demonstrated a level of excellence in fundraising knowledge, and a commitment to continuing education in the field. She is a proud member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and upholds the tenets and values of their Code of Ethics and Donor Bill of Rights, including confidentiality, empathy and care.