M. Anne Murphy

Anne, a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), began her fundraising career as a student intern at Stephens College, and then went on to New York to earn a master’s degree in fundraising management at the New School. Upon graduation, she worked as a staff consultant for Girl Scouts USA and on the campaign staff for the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Centennial campaign.

Eventually, Anne’s career led her back home to Houston, where she worked for the University of Houston Foundation, the March of Dimes, University of Houston Downtown and Dini Spheris before becoming vice president of development for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.

Anne has served in several leadership roles in the philanthropic sector, including the national foundation and local board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), where the M. Anne Murphy Award for Outstanding Professional Advancement is given out each year in her honor at National Philanthropy Day.

In 2015, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from AFP. She has spent over 30 years teaching fundraising courses and serves on the advisory board at Rice University, Center for Philanthropy and Leadership. She also serves on the executive committee of Giving USA Foundation and the fund development committee of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council.

While at Stephens, Anne served as president of the 1978 senior class and her sorority. She was on the committee that initiated the student annual fund campaign in 1977 and the tradition of presenting the president with a gift at graduation; the first gift was marbles in 1978. Anne previously served as president of the Alumnae Association Board and received the 2016 Stephens Alumnae Achievement Award.