Mary Kellett kaleikaumana Tam | Biography

Pronouns: she/her

Mary was born and raised in Hawaiʻi and was taught to leave beach houses (and places, in general) in better condition than when she arrived. In 2003, she moved to the Bay Area to explore nonprofit work. She attended evening classes at San Francisco State University to obtain an MBA degree while continuing to move her career forward.

Beyond formal education, Mary has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit field, having worked for various organizations in fundraising, programmatic, and grantmaking capacities. Previous employers include Amnesty International USA, Edgewood Center for Children and Families, Mercy Corps, Net Impact, Growth & Learning Opportunities, and the State Bar of California. Through her consulting practice, Mary now works with organizations to achieve outcomes as they relate to goals, impact, and connection. With a stakeholder engagement lens, she helps clients arrive at fully-informed decisions, ensuring those decisions also translate into action. Her work has assisted clients in shaping new programs, strategic planning, and operations.

In the simplest terms, Mary is dedicated to the reduction of suffering and exploitation. She values integrity, open communication, community, cultural context, and authenticity, and integrates these values into her approach with nonprofit partners. Drumming, dancing, and ocean recharge her and feed her soul. She’s an island girl at heart, but also thrived in an urban environment that allowed her to work with a diverse range of groups and organizations committed to justice, equity, and opportunity. Mary draws inspiration from her roots and the dedicated people and communities she has connected with along her path.