Paulette Maehara, president and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 1998, will retire in March 2011, The Non Profit Times has learned. It was not immediately known if she would be on the job through AFP's annual conference, slated for next March 20-23 in Chicago.

According to a memo obtained by The NonProfit Times , an announcement is planned for next week. There is no word on a successor, although sources have said that a search committee and executive recruitment firm are both in the process of being developed. A call to an AFP spokesperson was not immediately returned.

Evolutions during her tenure include: a name change from the National Society of Fundraising Executives (NSFRE) to AFP in 2000, as well as a move to new offices in Arlington, Va., in 2007; a 10,000 increase in membership to more than 30,000 along with 50 new chapters; changes in the organization's governance structure and establishing an more robust international presence.

It has been a challenging few years in the Arlington, Va.-based association. AFP's conferences have been down significantly in attendance and the organization did go through layoffs to close a budget gap, as did many organizations in a recessionary economy.

Prior to joining AFP, Maehara was chief executive officer of the Epilepsy Foundation. She has also held executive positions with Project HOPE in Millwood, Va., 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.

The NonProfit Times selected Project HOPE where she served as vice president of development as the fastest growing not-for-profit organization in the country in 1994. Maehara has been selected by The NonProfit Times as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in Philanthropy for the past 10 years, 1999-2009, and she was one of just 100 women chosen to participate in the 2000 Leadership America Program.

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.

Born in Happy, Texas, (which is also the name of her dog) she 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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