Stephanie Muller-Simpson

As Development Director for Animal Legal Defense Fund, Stephanie Muller-Simpson is responsible for the creation and implementation of the organization’s strategic fundraising plan to help protect and advance the interests of animals. She leads an experienced team of development professionals working collaboratively to meet the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s fundraising goals.

Before joining the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Stephanie served as the Chief of Philanthropy at Austin Pets Alive! where she led a team of development professionals in garnering nationwide support to end the killing of healthy, treatable pets in shelters while also directing the organization’s $45-million multi-year capital campaign.

Stephanie has been a dedicated advocate for animal welfare since 2005, when she began her journey as a part-time animal care attendant at a municipal shelter. Her experience ignited a passion that evolved into a lifelong commitment to saving animals and working to address the root causes of the broken animal sheltering system.

Over the last 20 years, Stephanie gained comprehensive experience by working in every department within animal shelters before becoming the Executive Director of a Chicago-area nonprofit. There, she used her unique and well-rounded perspective to set new standards for shelter operations and animal care and implemented strategic and sustainable solutions for long-term success. Her extensive expertise made her a sought-after animal shelter consultant, advising organizations nationwide on best practices and innovative solutions for lifesaving.

Stephanie is passionate about guiding growing nonprofits on how to increase their impact through advocacy and philanthropy and has been a speaker at national conferences such as the American Pets Alive! Conference, Best Friends National Conference, and HSUS Animal Care Expo. She was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, but now lives in Austin with her husband and their adopted cats. In the city she now calls home, she joined the Austin Farm Sanctuary Board of Directors and spends her free time volunteering with community and sheltered cats, farmed animals, and wildlife.