Biography
As the principal of Projects in Philanthropy, Marian Stern works with a wide variety of organizations in the regional New York area, providing management and fundraising services, with particular emphasis on fundraising planning, board development and training, strategic planning, meeting facilitation, and professional coaching. She also works with foundations and funders to define and implement charitable giving policies as well as conduct their grantmaking.
She was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising at New York University for ten years, with administrative and teaching responsibilities in the master’s program, and also served on the faculty of the Master’s in Non-Profit Management program at Columbia University. Additionally, she previously was an Adjunct Professor in the American Studies Department at Rutgers University. She has also presented at conferences and meetings sponsored by such institutions as Wells Fargo, Wilmington Trust, Alliance Bernstein, United Way, Leading Edge, Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, Dress for Success, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has been quoted widely in the press in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times,Los Angeles Times, Daily Beast, Bloomberg News, Crain’s New York Business, and WNYC’s The Takeaway.
Prior to starting her own firm, she was the Manager of Community Programming at Chemical Bank where she formulated the Bank’s philanthropic policies, directed millions in contributions annually, and provided technical assistance to New York City organizations.
As a volunteer in the community, she has served on a variety of boards including Philanthropy New York, Ensemble Studio Theater, Arts Council of Essex, Jewish Community Foundation of MetroWest, and Jewish Family Service of MetroWest.
Ms. Stern graduated magna cum laude from Rutgers University and has a master’s in public administration from New York University’s Wagner School for Public Service.