Alma Marie Chu

Alma brings more than two decades of fundraising, marketing, and community-building experience to MarAlliance.

Alma’s career has been all about people and purpose. Before joining MarAlliance, Alma served as Interim Vice President and Senior Director of Philanthropy at Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC), where she led development and marketing efforts from annual campaigns, direct mail and membership to corporate sponsorships, grant writing, social media and event planning. 

Before joining PMMC in 2021, she served as Individual Giving Coordinator at Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire, where she managed large donor portfolios, expanded giving circles and handled special projects such as 3rd party peer-to-peer social campaigns. She’s also led development for at-risk youth at Boys Town, managed marketing for AvalonBay Communities across Southern California and the Pacific Northwest, and even owned and operated her own custom apparel business, Lil Cute Adventures, for 11 years.

A UC Irvine graduate, Alma is known for her strategic thinking, detail-oriented approach, and exceptional communication — plus her genuine talent for donor stewardship. 

When she’s not connecting with others or planning our next fundraiser, you’ll find her spending time with her husband and extended family, traveling as much as possible and rooting for University of Notre Dame football where her son is currently an undergraduate.