Melissa is passionate about resourcing movements for social change, racial justice, self-determination, and collective liberation. She knows that organizing takes as many forms as there are people and believes that each is ultimately about a more liberatory future. As our program and grantmaking lead, Melissa joined HFJ to take part in a different kind of philanthropy – one that centers community, trust, collaboration, and justice.  

 Melissa started organizing, unofficially, in third grade. She brings a big heart and deep love for community and people to her role. She knows from direct experience that community groups are often overlooked, underestimated, and under-resourced by funders. Melissa uses this awareness to fuel her team's strategies and practices.  

Melissa lives in Minneapolis with her family and loves visiting people and places throughout Minnesota. She is a white Jew, shaped by Jewish traditions and culture, and deeply committed to a rigorous anti-racist practice; one that centers humility, accountability, action, hope, and love.   

Connect with Melissa about funding social change and organizing; movement-building; honoring community wisdom and participatory grantmaking; facilitation; and practicing social justice philanthropy.