The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth announced that Jennifer Melson will join the organization as association director of donor experience. In this newly created role, Melson will lead donor engagement, cultivation and stewardship activities, focusing on enhancing relationships and supporting the organization’s mission to empower youth, improve health and inspire social responsibility.
Melson will direct an essential function that ensures the YMCA develops and sustains the donor support it needs to serve youth in Tarrant, Hood and Johnson counties, while leading the YMCA’s annual campaign and major gifts process, and coordinating other donor activities.
Melson brings more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit development and leadership to her new role. For the past 15 years, she served as a development consultant for numerous North Texas organizations. Her applied expertise includes event planning, formulating development and capital improvement campaigns, and building relationships among nonprofits’ staff, volunteers and donors to achieve common goals.
Prior to that, Melson served as executive director for the American Heart Association of Greater Tarrant County and in nonprofit leadership roles with organizations in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University.
“The role of building and maintaining relationships with donors is vital to the YMCA as we continue to focus on our strategic priorities in youth development, healthy living and social responsibility,” said Mike Brown, president and CEO. “We needed someone with considerable depth and range of nonprofit experience. Jennifer more than meets our expectations, and we are excited to have her on board.”
source: press release
