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Biography: Paulette V. Maehara, CFRE, CAE, President and CEO, AFP

Paulette V. Maehara, CFRE, CAE, is president and chief executive officer of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the professional association of individuals responsible for generating philanthropic support for nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining AFP, Ms. Maehara served as chief executive officer of the Epilepsy Foundation. She has also held executive positions with Project HOPE, the American Red Cross (both at its National Headquarters and at the National Capital Chapter), the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation (Hawaii Chapter) and the University of Hawaii Foundation.

Ms. Maehara’s background combines extensive fundraising knowledge with strong association management experience. Her leadership abilities were underscored in 1994 when The NonProfit Times named Project HOPE (where she served as vice president of development) as the fastest growing not-for-profit organization in the country. At both the Epilepsy Foundation and the American Red Cross, she has successfully completed initiatives which unified and consolidated the organizations and their affiliates, leading to significantly streamlined services and activities.

Ms. Maehara’s work has led to a number of honors. In 1994, her work for Project HOPE led to a Best Direct Mail Program award from the Direct Marketing Association of America. She has won the American Red Cross Distinguished Service Award twice for her work at both the National Headquarters and the National Capital Chapter. The March of Dimes has also awarded her the Distinguished Volunteer Fund Raising Award for her work there. Maehara has been selected by The NonProfit Times as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in Philanthropy for the last nine years, 1999-2008, and she was one of just 100 women chosen to participate in the 2000 Leadership America Program.

Ms. Maehara served as chair of the board of directors of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) from August 2005-2006 and is currently serving as immediate past-chair. She has also served on the ASAE board as Treasurer in 2003. She is also past chair of the Executive Management Council of ASAE. In addition, Ms. Maehara has served on the Executive Committee of the International Bureau for Epilepsy, as well as the board of directors of the National Health Council. She has also been a member of the Executive Committee of International Service Agencies and chaired its Membership Committee.

Ms. Maehara has been a member of AFP since 1987 and has been a speaker at the AFP International Conference on fundraising.

Ms. Maehara was born in Happy, Texas, holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Hawaii, and is married with two children. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Certified Association Executive (CAE).

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