Rebecca Williams, director of development at the Tate, died earlier this month aged 44.

Williams had been at the Tate, where she had responsibility for fundraising at the gallery across all divisions, for ten years. She had previously worked as director of development with King’s College London, where she oversaw the college’s first ever capital campaign.

Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate, said: “Rebecca Williams was the most respected and successful director of development in the arts sector, matching her most successful peers in the fields of the universities or welfare charities. She was an inspiring person to work with, or for, and the incisive energy that she brought to every goal created astonishing results.

“For the capital campaigns alone, leading her team she raised £45m for the Tate Britain Campaign, £18m for the extension and renovation of Tate St Ives and a staggering £230m to date towards the Tate Modern extension.

“In every field of Tate activity she devised, planned and carried through a strategy and programme that raised continuing millions for the operating costs of exhibitions, acquisitions, research, learning and programmes with young and disadvantaged audiences.

“She is hugely missed by her colleagues at Tate but our memories of her laugh and her energy, her brilliance and her sense of fun will endure.”

Peter Lewis, chief executive of the Institute of Fundraising, said: “Becky was a true rising start in the fundraising community, respected way beyond the cultural sector. She was also generous with her time to the Institute, and a key influence in encouraging us to do more work supporting members in the cultural and University sectors. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her, and by the fundraising community as a whole.”

The funeral took place earlier this week. The Tate did not reveal how Williams died.