Julia Crane Dempsey is a strategic and relationship-driven fundraising leader with a passion for advancing the arts. As Director of Development for the Office of the Arts at Emerson College, she connects donors and partners with opportunities to support groundbreaking theatrical productions, innovative community engagement programs, and ArtsEmerson’s mission to bring global stories to Boston, helping to sustain and expand Emerson's artistic influence throughout the community.
With more than a decade of experience in fundraising and philanthropy, Julia specializes in building authentic, values-driven donor relationships that align generosity with impact. She previously served as Director of Individual Giving at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she led major gifts strategy and championed ethical, equity-centered philanthropy.
Julia holds an MBA in Nonprofit Management and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). She thrives on uncovering connections between institutional priorities and donors’ philanthropic goals, ensuring that giving is both meaningful and mission-driven. A strong believer in the power of storytelling, she is committed to making the arts more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable for all.
When not connecting donors with artistic opportunities, Julia enjoys stories in all forms—from mystery audiobooks with a comedic twist to the strategic gameplay of "Survivor". At home, she finds balance through hot yoga and lighthearted moments with her husband and their two mini dachshunds, Sophie and Daphne.