Natalie Thielen Helper oversees institutional giving at Civil Beat, working with foundations to maximize their impact on Hawaiʻi’s information needs.

Natalie began her fundraising career in the arts. She earned her master’s degree in arts management, with a focus on fundraising, at American University in Washington, D.C. 

She then went on to fundraise at the nonprofit Signature Theatre in New York City, where she secured grants for theatrical productions, playwright commissions, building repairs and general operating support. She stayed with the theatre throughout the difficult lockdown period of the pandemic, helping the institution make it through.

In 2022, Natalie shifted from the arts to work at THE CITY, a nonprofit newsroom in New York City. There she learned the unique joys and challenges of raising funds for nonprofit news, and came to love working in that industry.

In 2024, Natalie was thrilled to join the fundraising team at Civil Beat, fulfilling her dream to move back home to Hawaiʻi. As a longtime reader of Civil Beat, she is delighted to support its work and ensure the organization has abundant resources to serve the people of Hawaiʻi with quality, in-depth, independent journalism. She strongly believes in the power of local news to hold the powerful to account, amplify marginalized voices and provide people with the information they need to advocate for themselves and their communities.

Natalie was born and raised on Oʻahu, and now lives on the Big Island with her partner. In her spare time she loves reading, swimming and learning new arts and crafts skills.