Pro Mujer (For Women in Spanish) is a $70M social enterprise serving low-income women across Latin America with relevant and transformational resources, including financial services (e.g. microfinance), health care, and education.  As Director, Major Gifts, Deborah built a new major gifts strategy focused on individual and family philanthropists supporting Pro Mujer with gifts of $10K+.  She increased philanthropic revenues by 43% cumulatively in 2014-15, and developed a $2M impact investment from a family office, serving as lead relationship manager working collaboratively with Pro Mujer Investment Manager.

SAFE was a 501c3 organization created in 1993 at the request of Nelson Mandela, by Mr. Theodore Sorenson, Anthony O’Reilly, and other philanthropic leaders to assure financing of non-partisan voter education and participation in preparation for South Africa’s first democratic elections in April 1994. Deborah Stern was the first staff and campaign director, leading the start-up philanthropic campaign that raised $7.5 million from 300 corporations, individuals, and foundations within 10 months, working closely with influential Board of CEOs, civic leaders, and celebrities, with strategic counsel from Robert H. Forrester.  Funds were directed to 53 voter readiness initiatives, serving some 19 million new voters, the majority illiterate.

(now, division of Constellation Energy) New York, NY

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Early stage firm at vanguard of the Demand Response Energy Efficiency Industry.  Created and implemented business development/sales strategy leveraging C-suite leader engagement in multi-stakeholder and corporate social responsibility initiatives and events.  Successfully achieved distinguished market and brand positioning, secured multiple $100K+ institutional sales and key influencer relationships.  Firm purchased by Constellation Energy.

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Business Development Lead 

2003 – 2007

Created first strategic development plan for new museum. 

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with Payne Forrester & Assoc. (now division of The Alford Group)

Institutional Giving Consultant: Wrote $1M grant proposal for new environmental education program

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with Payne Forrester & Assoc. (now division of The Alford Group)

Development audit and initiation of campaign.  Development lead on  solicitation of initial $1M gift from Oprah Winfrey, that was followed by a $10M gift. 

with Payne Forrester & Assoc. (now division of The Alford Group)

Created first-ever major gift fundraising program for national affordable housing/community development organization. Designed, launched, and coached local Richmond VA program staff to complete breakthrough $3M fundraising campaign, tripling prior results and engaging community’s leading philanthropists.  

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with Payne Forrester & Assoc. (now division of The Alford Group)

Managed development of the foundation’s inaugural Polio Eradication Campaign, serving as major gifts director on lead commitments from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UN Foundation, totaling $50M ​

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with Payne Forrester & Assoc. (now division of The Alford Group)

National Trust for Historic Preservation

Fountain House

Calvary Hospital

Hospital of Special Surgery

CT Center for Science and Exploration

Kwazulu Natal Nature Conservation Service

Ms. Foundation for Women

The Lakota Fund

92nd St Y

Local Development Corporation of East New York

Levi Strauss Foundation and Community Affairs Department