DREF Welcomes New Director of Charitable Engagement
Starlet Hunter, M.A., PMP is a strategic philanthropy and corporate social responsibility executive with more than 25 years of experience advancing community investment, building cross-sector partnerships, and developing initiatives that drive measurable impact.
Throughout her career, Starlet has worked at the intersection of philanthropy, business, and community, bringing a relationship-centered approach to identifying opportunities, cultivating alliances, and translating organizational priorities into meaningful community outcomes. Her extensive background spans grantmaking, fundraising, corporate philanthropy, stakeholder engagement, workforce development, government relations, donor engagement, and strategic leadership.
Most recently, as the inaugural Director of Community Engagement at MGM National Harbor, Starlet provided strategic leadership for the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives. She directed $1.7 million in annual financial and in-kind investments to community-based organizations and expanded the company’s footprint by building meaningful partnerships with elected officials, educational and workforce development leaders, and diverse suppliers and vendors. Under her leadership, Starlet curated volunteer experiences for the entire 3,200-employee base, resulting in over 35,000 volunteer hours during her tenure. She also successfully launched the property’s first Employee Resource Groups, creating essential educational and networking resource hubs for the workforce.
Earlier in her career with the Greater Washington Community Foundation, Starlet developed customized philanthropic strategies for a $150 million portfolio of corporate, individual, and scholarship funds, overseeing the annual distribution of $55–$60 million in grants to more than 3,000 organizations.
A trusted relationship builder and strategic connector, Starlet is passionate about bringing diverse stakeholders together around shared goals and creating opportunities for organizations and communities to thrive. She brings a thoughtful combination of strategic vision, philanthropic expertise, business acumen, and authentic community engagement to every initiative she leads.
Starlet holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Urban Leadership. Notably, she is a graduate of Leadership Maryland’s Class of 2024, and holds professional certifications in Corporate Social Responsibility, Event Management, and Project Management. Dedicated to service, she is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and serves as Vice Chair of the Prince George’s County Advisory Board for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington.
Ms. Hunter is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Federal City Alumnae Chapter.
