June 19, 2008
Contributed by Thomas Yoshida
In her new role, Stern will be responsible for leading and managing Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation's 13 million dollar endowment, which includes over 100 donor driven scholarships, corporate partnerships and a staff of five. Stern brings a vast array of expertise in the areas of fund development and cultivating strong donor relationships with individuals, families, corporations and community groups.
According to Stern, "the key to building strong donor relationships and partnerships with community groups is the ability to create long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships – finding common missions and helping people to fulfill their desires to contribute to someone else's welfare. Corporations or foundations have the resources and the ability to help; I look forward to working with my staff at KAPF to guide these potential partners to leverage their funding in communities in which we both have vested interests."
Stern currently serves as director of Philanthropic Services for Hawai'i Community Foundation (HCF) a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire the spirit of giving and by investing in people and solutions to benefit every island community. Throughout her eight years with HCF Stern has also served as their director of Donor Services, and senior scholarship officer.
"Much of my experience at the Hawai'i Community Foundation was around scholarships – both overseeing the application and award process and working with our donors, she said. "More recently, I have been responsible for building new and existing donor relationships. This has been very rewarding. I have found the people of Hawai'i to be very generous – our kuleana at KAPF will be to find ways to help people express that aloha, furthering educational opportunities for Hawaiians."
Born and raised in Kailua and Hau'ula and after graduating from Kamehameha Schools in 1989 Stern received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California in International Relations, with a minor in French and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa Stern is also a committee member for Envision Hawai'i, scholarship steering committee member for Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) and a member of Hālau o ke 'A'ali'i Kū Makani. She is also a grant reviewer for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and has formerly served on Kamehameha Schools' Financial Aid Advisory committee and Kamehameha Schools' Alumni Association's O'ahu region as a board member.
"I am truly honored to be at a place where I can help to support and further Pauahi's vision," added Stern. "I'm eager and excited to work with Kamehameha Schools' alumni, campuses and statewide programs and those who are touched by Kamehameha Schools' broad network of support."
Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation is a Hawai'i nonprofit corporation recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable support organization of Kamehameha Schools. The Foundation's mission is to perpetuate the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop by seeking and developing new and diverse sources of income to support the ever-increasing educational needs and goals of people of Hawaiian ancestry.
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
