Resume

Education

Master of Arts, Major in Social Entrepreneurship & Change • 2012 • Pepperdine University

Bachelor of Arts, Major in English Creative Writing • 2005 • University of Southern California

Experience

Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles, California • October 2020 – present

Grants Manager (August 2022 – present)

• Research and identify grant opportunities and key foundation players. Analyze the fit for JANM and our collaborators/partners, and  work with the Executive Team, Program Directors, and Finance to develop, strategize, and write compelling grant proposals in support of existing programs as well as new or larger-scale grant proposals around museum initiatives. As a result, we increased grant income for this fiscal year by 230%;

• Supervise the workflow of the Assistant Grants Manager, who is responsible for completing reports required by awarding foundations, institutions or government agencies. Provide support and assistance in cultivating partnership with program and finance staff to ensure compliance with requirements from awards and contracts;

• Led a cross-functional, cross-departmental team of colleagues to develop a Corporate Giving Strategy that resulted in the creation of a cultivation road map that gave corporate supporters more opportunities to engage with the Museum and increased venues for their philanthropy to be acknowledged;

• Utilize project management best practices to increase the portfolio of qualified institutional prospects, including government contracts, foundations, and corporations, and effectively manage more than 56 active grants.

Grants Administrator & Accounts Payable (February 2022 – July 2022)

• Responsible for foundation identification, cultivation, solicitation, and ongoing engagement, including personal engagement with prospective grantors, and working closely with Museum CEO, CFO, contractors and program staff to create grant proposals that required immediate attention for quickly approaching deadlines.

Community Literature Initiative, Los Angeles, California • February 2021 – June 2021

Consulting Grants Manager

• Responsible for the development of work scope, budget, schedule and resources for all grant writing initiatives;

• Directed, controlled, monitored and assisted team members in the completion of their work;

• Raised $53,000 in grant funds from private and governmental funding sources to support the Initiative’s programs. 

Kona Historical Society, Kealakekua, Hawaii • March 2016 – October 2020

Interim Executive Director (March 2019 – October 2020)

• Oversaw all operations of a small museum, including preparation and review of organizational budget and schedule, management of up to 23 employees, administration of all operational, IT systems, communication systems, and a donor database, and strengthened the organization through fundraising and sound financial and safety practices; 

• Communicated with legal and financial consultants in order to restore the organization’s 501(c)3 status within three months of starting the position. Once reinstated, immediately raised $92,000 in awarded grant funds, and managed the funds using the PastPerfect Donor Database, QuickBooks and the Fluxx.io Grantseeker Platform;

• Read and reviewed architectural plans and blueprints and land development documents in the planning of and fundraising for the construction of a future gallery building on the Museum’s historic site;

• Responsible for developing contracts and contract revisions for building contractors, consultants and vendors on multiple projects simultaneously, including land resource management projects, cultural heritage projects, and public programs. Additionally, negotiated contract changes and approved invoices for release of funds for these projects;

• In March, 2020, retained and led a team of team of museum professionals through the economic shutdown related to the coronavirus pandemic, continuing to maintain two historic sites on the Hawaii State and National Registers of Historic Places, a living collection of plants and animals, and a rare collection of archival objects and photos.

Development Director (February 2018 – March 2019)

• Raised $32,000 by successfully planning and executing an Online Auction fundraiser, requiring interdepartmental collaboration as well as fast-paced independent work in order to meet deadlines and project milestones;

• Led the planning and execution of website migration from an Expression Engine platform to a Squarespace platform.

Development Associate (March 2017 – March 2018)

• Significantly increased publicity coverage of Kona Historical Society’s programs and events by building relationships with media professionals, composing press releases, accepting public speaking engagements at outreach events;

• Managed a constituent database using the PastPerfect software, provided reports and analysis, and interpreted information provided by these reports to set fundraising priorities based on constituent behavior and preferences.

Executive Assistant (March 2016 - February 2017)

• Coordinated registration processes and logistics for tours, Membership Meetings, as well as community workshops and lectures with a team of program leaders, lecturers, cultural practitioners, and community stakeholders;

• Provided customer service to patrons, prioritizing their needs and concerns, and accommodated requests.

• Facilitated administrative and office assistance to the organization’s Executive Director, preparing informational packets and presentation materials for meetings with the Board of Directors, major donors, and elected officials.

Pacific Daily News, Hagatna, Guam • December 2012 – February 2016

Freelance Media Professional

• Researched articles, scheduled photo shoots, maintained a network of sources and conducted interviews to meet publication deadlines.

• Analyzed financial data extracted from public documents and federal grants to illustrate the impact of decisions being made by political and community leaders.

Guam Daily Post, Hagatna, Guam • August 2014 – February 2016

Freelance Media Professional

• Researched articles, scheduled photo shoots, maintained a network of sources and conducted interviews simultaneously to meet publication deadlines.

Marianas Business Journal, Hagatna, Guam • August 2014 – February 2016

Freelance Media Professional

• Researched articles, analyzed business and financial trends, scheduled photo shoots, maintained a network of sources and conducted interviews for different clients simultaneously to meet publication deadlines.

Public Radio Guam KPRG, Mangilao, Guam • January 2014 – February 2016

Part Time Production Assistant

• Researched articles, assisted producers and hosts, maintained a network of sources, recorded and edited interviews to meet broadcast deadlines for a weekly news radio show, “Beyond the Fence.”

• Created playlists and researched musicians and music trends for a weekly live music show, “Soul Sessions.”

Humanities Guahan, Hagatna, Guam • August 2014 – January 2015

Part Time Communications Assistant

• Created a social media strategy and maintained a social media presence for Humanities Guahan, formerly known as Guam Humanities Council; maintained relationships with journalists, organized press conferences, and created publicity for the organization’s programs.

Skills

Writing, Marketing, Project Management, Project Planning, Customer Service & Donor Relations, Public Relations, Graphic Design, Budget Preparation, Financial Analysis, Strategic Planning, Program Coordination, Fund Development, Fundraising Campaigns, Data Analysis, Digital Fundraising, Digital Content Creation, Photography, Nonprofit Management, Program Evaluation, Social Media Engagement, Community Engagement, Volunteer Coordination, familiar with computer software, e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel and Data Base.

List of Plays

“The Keepsakes” • In Development. Excerpt performed as a staged reading as part of New Works from East West Players Writer Institute at the Santa Monica Playhouse’s Binge Fringe Festival, October, 2021.

“Broken Shells” • Performed as part of the Plays Across the Walls virtual festival at the SUNY Potsdam Department of Theatre and Dance, November, 2020.

"Nmarijima Nu Kutuba Wasshii Nee Kuni N Wasshiin" • Performed as part of the One-Minute Play Festival in Honolulu, May, 2017.

"Purple Haze" • Performed as part of the One-Minute Play Festival in Honolulu, May, 2017.

“Sympathy for the Women” • Performed as a staged reading part of Festival of the Pacific Arts and Culture, November, 2015.

“Runny Nose Boy” • Performed as part of Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s “Tiny Tails,” May, 2002.

“Hollywood & Vine” • Performed as part of Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s Theatrefest, November, 2000.

“Fat Boy” • Performed as part of Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s Theatrefest, November, 1999. Performed as part of The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival, July, 2000.

“Butterfly Girl” • Performed as part of Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s Theatrefest, November, 1998.

“Angels in the Sand” • Performed as part of Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s Theatrefest, November, 1997.