Fresh Faces of Philanthropy 2026: Katy Dieckhaus

Profession: Community engagement coordinator

Nonprofit: Voices for a Safer Tennessee

In a city that knows both heartbreak and hope, Katy Dieckhaus is helping shape what comes next.

On any given day, you might find her gathered around a table with community leaders, standing in a church fellowship hall or listening — really listening — to someone whose perspective differs from her own. As community engagement coordinator for Voices for a Safer Tennessee, Katy’s work isn’t defined by volume or visibility. It’s defined by intention, presence and the quiet, steady belief that meaningful change begins with connection.

Katy’s path to this work is deeply personal. On March 27, 2023, her family lost their sweet daughter Evelyn in the Covenant School tragedy, a moment that forever changed the trajectory of her life. 

In the face of unimaginable grief, Katy made a choice. Instead of retreating, she leaned in — to her community, to conversations, and to the difficult, necessary work of ensuring other families might be spared that same loss.

Just weeks later, Katy and her husband stood among thousands at Linking Arms for Change, a peaceful gathering calling for thoughtful, productive solutions around firearm safety. In that crowd, she found something grounding: a shared commitment to do better, together.

What began as involvement quickly became purpose. Katy joined the board of Voices for a Safer Tennessee, and over time, she felt a pull she couldn’t ignore. After 17 years as a pediatric occupational therapist, a career rooted in care, patience and advocacy, she stepped into this work more fully, joining the staff in 2025.

It’s a natural evolution. Katy’s clinical background informs how she navigates complex, often emotional conversations, while her lived experience fuels her commitment to creating safer communities. 

Colleagues describe her as a bridge-builder and someone who seeks common ground, even in the most difficult spaces. And that’s where Katy’s impact is most felt. 

Voices for a Safer Tennessee has grown to reach tens of thousands across all 95 counties, grounded in a nonpartisan approach that prioritizes face-to-face dialogue over noise. Katy and her colleagues are at the heart of that effort, helping shift conversations from division to shared responsibility.

Guided by the words her daughter Evelyn once shared, that we should “love one another like birds making a nest,” and by the wisdom of her oldest daughter, Eleanor, who reminds her that “hope is a shining light that shines brighter in the darkness,” Katy carries grief, love and grace into every room she enters. 

It’s that hope that fuels her work and her belief that, together, we can protect our loved ones from firearm accidents and tragedies. And in doing so, she is helping Nashville move forward with purpose, compassion and determination to protect what matters most.