Leigh Ann Cardenas

Leigh Ann Cardenas, CFRE, currently serves as the Vice President of Strategic Gifts at Special Olympics since September 2023. Prior to this role, Leigh Ann held various positions at the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., including Senior Vice President of Development & Fundraising, where leadership of the Individual and Corporate Giving team led to exceeding revenue targets for two consecutive years, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional experience includes Vice President of Prospect Development & Philanthropy Operations at the National Park Foundation, where support for a $500M comprehensive fundraising campaign was provided, and key leadership roles at The ALS Association, where management of a national direct response program was a focus. Leigh Ann’s early career includes positions at Occidental College, culminating in significant contributions to development operations and prospect research. Leigh Ann holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from Whittier College.