Mary Leong Saunders is the Vice President of Philanthropy at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF), which she joined in January 2023. She leads HCF’s development, donor relations, and planned giving teams, partnering with donors and advisors to advance community impact across the islands.
Before HCF, Saunders served as Vice President of Philanthropy at Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, providing leadership for development, marketing/communications, and community engagement. Her previous roles include Executive Director of Family Promise of Hawai‘i, State Supervisor for the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and Executive Director of the Rotary Club of Honolulu.
An active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, she previously served on the board of the Junior League of Honolulu. A Maryknoll School alumna, Saunders earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Rooted in Hawai‘i and committed to equity, collaboration, and measurable results, Saunders works alongside HCF partners to help generosity go further for Hawai‘i’s people and places.