David Walker

Chief Philanthropy Officer

David Walker is a seasoned fundraising executive with proven skills in strategies that have secured transformational support, including seven- and six-figure leadership gifts with more than $50 million in cumulative career-attained contributions. Partnering closely with boards, donors, and senior leadership, Mr. Walker designs and implements donor-centered strategies emphasizing long-term capacity building, innovative engagement, and a compelling institutional vision, while consistently exceeding revenue goals while diversifying funding sources and strengthening organizational impact.

Before joining Opera Philadelphia, he has was first the Managing Director, and then promoted to be the General & Artistic Director of Palm Beach Opera, was the Managing Director of Apollo’s Fire Baroque Orchestra & Chorus, and also held senior executive positions in development with companies such as Sarasota Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, and North Carolina Opera.

Prior to his arts administration career, Walker had an 18-year international singing career—performing mostly Baroque, Early Classical, and Contemporary repertoire—throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Russia, with some of the most prestigious opera houses and orchestras in the world, including the Metropolitan Opera. He appears on both audio and video recordings.

Walker is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE), holds a BA, an MM, and both an MA and MBA in Arts Administration. He has also completed the highly regarded Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program 'Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management,' and is currently completing professional certifications in Profile and Wealth Management with the NY Institute of Finance.