Lesly helps clients analyze their philanthropic "footprint," align their values with their giving, and implement strategies to achieve their goals. A very important part of her work involves succession planning for intergenerational wealth transfer. In conjunction with other professionals, Lesly helps clients transfer the values and guiding principles of those who created the wealth into future generations.
She frequently acts as an advisor to clients and professionals who serve the client for efficient coordination and implementation. Lesly began her career in public higher education and has worked with women's funds, community foundations, education foundations, private foundations, and families with multiple giving instruments.
Lesly holds the Certified Fund Raiser Executive® (CFRE) professional credential and in 2012 was recognized as the Outstanding Fundraising Executive for the Greater Dallas Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is also a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP), through The American College, and sits on the boards of two private family foundations.
Her professional memberships include Philanthropy Southwest; the National Center for Family Philanthropy; Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE); the Amarillo Area Estate Planning Council; the Dallas Estate Planning Council; and the Texas Plains and Greater Dallas Chapters of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Lesly currently serves as president-elect and treasurer of the board of the Texas Plains Chapter of AFP and on the board of the Amarillo Area Estate Planning Council. She is a member of the 2021 class of Leadership Women Texas, and The Dallas Foundation and the Communities Foundation of Texas Advisory Councils.
In addition to professional involvement, Lesly is an active volunteer. She serves on the Future of Nazareth Fund and has held leadership roles on the Holy Family Catholic Church Parish Council, Nazareth Hall Committee, Home Merc, Buyers' Club and Booster Club. Lesly is a lifetime Girl Scout and a Gold Award recipient.
Lesly has a bachelor of science degree in Animal Science with a minor in Agricultural Business from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, and a master of Agriculture degree with an emphasis in Public Relations from Texas Tech University, Lubbock.
She lives in Nazareth, Texas, with her husband, J. Mac Annen. They have two children: Garrett Hans, a senior at Texas Tech University, and Shelby Ray, a freshman at The University of Oklahoma. Together with their children, they are restoring the original Annen family homestead, and own and operate A4 Cattle Co., a cow-calf operation.
2012-2014
Bachelor's Degree
Lesly Bosch Annen
CAP, CFRE
Independent Philanthropic Advisor
Lesly assists individuals and families, businesses, and foundations develop and refine their philanthropic impact. With more than twenty-five years of broad-based experience in philanthropy, strategic planning and communications, she has spent her career as a nonprofit executive, foundation officer, volunteer leader, and consultant. Lesly is a sought after speaker and advisor.
WHAT I DO
Maximize Impact
An important part of my work is designing a client’s strategy of giving which results in the creation of a philanthropic plan governed by the family’s values and goals. The process includes, determining the client’s current philanthropic “footprint”, analyzing impact, engaging family members, identifying and clarifying the family members’ individual and shared values, affirming and developing consensus around shared values and goals, and creating an actionable roadmap for more efficient and impactful individual and family philanthropy. Once a plan has been created, how I assist in implementing the plan depends upon the needs and desires of the family. I am able to identify giving opportunities, provide due diligence, coordinate proposal invitations, conduct site visits, and evaluate the impact of a client’s gifts.
Trusted Advisor
Navigating the world of philanthropy can be challenging at times, I act as an advisor to both the family and to the professionals who serve the family. I often assist clients by coordinating with other advisors, staff and community partners to create efficiency, clarity, and to keep projects moving forward.
Support and Facilitate Communication
By the nature of my work, I support and facilitate a variety of family discussions. I encourage and assist families to employ effective communication and coordination skills. Through a number of exercises, family members examine their individual and shared values, interests, and their affinity to work together. By working with family members individually and as a family unit, I am able to facilitate meaningful value-based discussions, maintain efficient progress toward goals, and enable decision making.
Building the Family Legacy
An incredibly meaningful part of my work is assisting families with succession planning for intergenerational wealth and leadership transfer. By working with other professional advisors, I help multi-generational families develop, understand, and put into practice their core values and guiding principles. I assist clients with the creation of their personal legacy statements to pass on to future generations along with their wealth. While I am less focused on tax and financial planning, I am uniquely positioned to ensure that the family’s planning is aligned with their core values and integrates their charitable giving goals. Additionally, I am able to facilitate conversations, experiences and opportunities for family members to build their human and social capital.
EDUCATION, LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS
1994-1996
Master's Degree
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Master of Agriculture
1987-1993
Bachelor's Degree
CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY-POMONA
Bachelors of Science (B.S.), Animal Science, Minor in Agricultural Business
JAN 2012
CHARTERED ADVISOR IN PHILANTHROPY (CAP)
The American College of Financial Services
Issued January 2012
JUL 2013
CERTIFIED FUND RAISING EXECUTIVE (CFRE)
CFRE International
Issued July 2013
SERVICES
In addition to working with individuals and families, I also assist businesses, foundations, and organizations by providing the following menu of services.
Philanthropy Education Programs
Employee Giving & Engagement
Meeting Facilitation
Fundraising Audit
Board & Staff Training
Strategic Planning
Campaign Readiness Assessment
Fundraising Counsel
TESTIMONIALS
The majority of work I do comes from client and advisor referrals. I do not release the names of my clients as the work I do can be highly confidential. Below are testimonials written by some of whom I have worked closely with over the years.