Laura Wheless

Laura Wheless is a seasoned development professional with extensive experience in grant management and fundraising. Since April 2021, Laura has served as the Director of Development at the Houston Botanic Garden, following a role as Associate Director of Development. Prior to this, Laura held various positions at the Hope and Healing Center & Institute from May 2015 to April 2021, culminating in the role of Development Director, Institutional Giving. In this capacity, Laura managed the grants program, developed support cases, and cultivated foundation relations. Additional roles include grant writing positions at Aurora Grants & Consulting and ChildBuilders, as well as account management and business development in earlier career stages. Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from The University of Texas at Austin and a Fund Development Certificate from Rice University.