With 70 years of cumulative experience, Bob Corder and Karen Waller have been helping nonprofit clients develop leadership and raise funds in Texas and the Southwestern region. Corder & Waller Consulting will continue their service to nonprofit institutions in the healthcare, education, cultural arts, environmental and social service sectors.

Corder & Waller Consulting’s mission is to help clients achieve success by thinking boldly and strategically, listening to their constituencies, maintaining their noble sense of purpose and creating a sustainable culture of major gifts philanthropy.

About Karen Waller

For most of her adult life, Karen has been energized by opportunities to work with lay and professional leadership who look beyond their own self-interest. People who care deeply about the communities in which they live and work, and commit to enhance the quality of life for others. Whether working with health care systems, independent schools, museums, performing arts institutions, parks or social service organizations, her deepest satisfaction lies in seeing them rise beyond levels they could have ever imagined.

Relationships are at the heart of Karen’s consulting practice. She has spent her entire 35-year career working with respected, highly accomplished business, civic and philanthropic leadership that, again and again, are called upon to make big things happen in Texas.  Highly attuned to the factors that position institutional leaders for success, Karen brings a disciplined, yet patient, energy to her work.

As a coach, Karen has high expectations of herself, is intensely goal-driven and a quick study.  She sizes up the challenges in reaching aspirational goals for organizations new to major gifts philanthropy as well as those with a robust giving culture.

As a volunteer, Karen has served these North Texas institutions:

  • Center for Nonprofit Management Board of Directors
  • Entrepreneur’s Foundation of North Texas Advisory Board
  • Westwood Trust Advisory Board
  • Association of Fundraising Professionals, Dallas Chapter Board of Directors

As the daughter of a World War II D-Day veteran, Karen can be found spending her free time reading military history as well as biographies of American presidents – preferably at the beach. She also is the proud mom of two adult daughters and two lovable lapdogs.

About Bob Corder

Bob Corder learned the art of major gifts philanthropy through career-long experiences with exceptional leaders motivated by nothing more than selfless service to others. During an early life in journalism, Bob saw opportunity in the world of philanthropy and major gifts fundraising. His writing and public presentation skills, personable demeanor with people, tireless work ethic and a general sense of calm and confidence, serve his clients well and help them achieve success.

Bob’s repertoire of clients includes children’s hospitals, private schools in the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest and Association of Colorado Independent Schools, healthcare systems, performing arts centers, private colleges and universities, and human service organizations.

In addition to his client work, Bob’s community service includes:

  • Greater Houston Community Foundation, Board of Directors
  • Houston Public Television, Board of Directors
  • Colorado Public Radio, Board of Directors
  • AFP Foundation for Philanthropy, Chair, Board of Directors
  • Haven for Hope, Advisory Board
  • American Leadership Forum, Senior Fellow

In 2009, the Houston Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) awarded Bob the Byron Welch Award for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of his service to the nonprofit sector, both as a coach and as a volunteer. He also received the AFP Houston Chapter’s Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award in 1998.

Bob is a proud father of three adult kids and grandfather to three grandchildren. In his spare time you catch him kayaking, fly fishing, quail hunting, spending time with friends and family, reading American history and a good who-dunnit.