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Marion Lee, CRFE, co-founded Bacon Lee & Associates in 2000.  She has more than 27 years of experience in capital and major gift campaigns, recruitment and non-profit management, strategic planning, development assessments, board and staff education, and philanthropic fund management. Building strong development processes and preparing organizations for sustainable growth is Marion’s passion and fuels her goal to keep our consulting services relevant to contemporary nonprofit needs.

Marion began her nonprofit career as special assistant to the Director of the Witte Museum, facilitating fundraising endeavors and developing the Witte’s adventure travel group, the Texas Camel Corps.  She then became a Development Associate at the University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures where she developed the fund raising skills that are the core of her nonprofit career. 

Marion also served as Capital Campaign Director and Assistant Executive Director for the San Antonio Public Library Foundation to support the $175 million campaign to build the new Central Library.  The Library Foundation raised more than $32 million to provide technology and other enhancements for the new Central Library and System.

She later became the CEO of the San Antonio Area Foundation, where she led the Board in its first strategic plan, reorganized the grant and scholarships programs, assisted the Board in developing policies and procedures for donor relations and investment management and increased the Foundation’s assets to more than $102 million. 

She currently serves on the Board of YWCA of San Antonio and is a past member of the Boards of Any Baby Can, Humane Society of San Antonio and San Antonio 100.  Marion received AFP San Antonio’s 2004 Fundraising Professional of the Year award and is a member of the Leadership Texas class of 2007.

Marion and her husband, Cameron, enjoy the country life with their two German Shepherds and Leopard Catahoula Heeler, scuba diving and planning the next great trip.

1) Why have you decided to serve as a Trailblazer for the JLSA?

The JLSA provided a safe learning environment for me to begin the path toward professional success. My experience with JLSA gave me confidence, demonstrated good sound leadership, and provided information and experiences within this community that have lasted my lifetime.

I owe much of my success in my career to JLSA. JLSA has embarked on an exciting and valuable program that deserves to be supported, and I am honored to have the opportunity to support this through the Trailblazers initiative. Pay it forward.

2) Who and/or what inspires you to pave a path in our community?

Many people along the way have inspired me in my path in our community. Marie Smith and Jeanie Travis are among the first role models that truly demonstrated what a professional woman can achieve.

I work for nonprofit organizations. Almost every day, I am blessed to meet people with vision, who have the courage to create and who make our community a better place. I am very very lucky to be able to use my talents to help them.