Lesley Walker

Lesley Walker is an experienced nonprofit fundraiser and passionate advocate for the arts. Her achievements in grant funding, donations, major gifts, and sponsorships for arts organizations has been built over the years, both as a nonprofit administrator and volunteer. Prior to joining the Texas Cultural Trust, Lesley was the Development and Grants Coordinator for Preservation Austin, where she fundraised for historic preservation initiatives throughout the city of Austin, developed and implemented fundraising strategies, secured grants from state and national foundations to support programs and projects, increased membership, and established major gifts for the organization. Her work also included managing the grants program, where she conducted a feasibility study, worked with staff and leadership to create solutions that would better serve the Austin community, and increased organizational giving to underserved applicants.

Previously, she worked in the Directors Office at the Blanton Museum of Art, supporting fundraising campaigns and cross-functional initiatives across campus departments, including other campus cultural institutions, university stakeholders, and university leadership. For six years, she was a Fine Art Specialist in the auction industry, working with institutions and individuals to build their collections. Lesley received a B.A. in Art History from Webster University and a M.A. in Art History from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.