A leader in arts and cultural advancement, Katherine Trumble, Head of Development at the Briscoe Western Art Museum has built a career out of her passion for the arts. Focused on creating comprehensive development strategies, Trumble is a pillar of strength at each non-profit arts organization she has been a part of. Throughout the San Antonio community, she can be seen volunteering at her daughters’ schools, church and with the Junior League of San Antonio. Trumble shares on the foundation that led her to arts and culture, the impact her mother made in her life, and her passion to create a life that fosters confidence in her young daughters.
On her career journey:
My first “real” job was a fellowship at El Pomar Foundation, a general purpose Foundation in Colorado Springs, Colorado. El Pomar’s Fellowship program is designed to bring together young professionals with diverse backgrounds and interests and develop them into effective leaders. In this environment, I was encouraged to explore my passions and found my niche in Arts & Culture nonprofit advancement.
My husband is former Air Force, which meant that early in our marriage we moved quite a bit. This experience helped me learn to adapt my skillset to best serve whichever community we were living in at the time.
On what makes her unique in her industry:
I am fierce, tenacious, and despite working in fundraising, I like to pretend I have never heard the word “no.” Also, I love to laugh. These things all help me on the job.
On her passions outside of work:
My passion is to teach my girls, Sarah Beth (5) and Grace (3), to become well-rounded young women that give back. This involves exposure to things that enrich their souls so they can grow to become confident young women. That is why I work in arts and culture. That is why I engage my daughters in cultural experiences. That is why I volunteer at their schools and at our church. That is why I vote. And, that is why I am a sustainer in the Junior League.
On her personal female hero:
My hero is my mother. I have a vivid memory from childhood of driving down the road and seeing a woman who appeared to be homeless with no shoes. My mother pulled over the car, took the shoes from her feet, and gave them to the woman. She was, and still is, a dedicated volunteer, fully invested in bettering her community. Growing up she did everything from drag my sister and me to the soup kitchen, to serving as a docent at her local museum and president of the PTA. Mary K Walrod embraces the philanthropic spirit our great country is built on, and raised my sister and me to do the same.
Connect with Katherine Trumble on LinkedIn, and on Instagram @ketrumble.
This profile was (Em)Powered by the Briscoe Western Art Museum.
Edited from an interview by Eleanora Morrison.