Melanie Griffin Pugh

About Melanie Griffin Pugh

I turn relationships into results — and results into impact.With 20+ years leading fundraising and business development for nonprofits and corporate organizations, I specialize in building the kind of partnerships that move missions forward and grow revenue at scale. I\'ve led six- and seven-figure campaigns, closed multimillion-dollar corporate deals, and cultivated C-level relationships across sectors — but what quietly powers all of it is something harder to put on a resume.I\'m a natural catalyst.I have an instinct for seeing who needs to meet whom — and making that introduction at exactly the right moment. I regularly connect donors with organizations, executives with causes, and collaborators with each other in ways that create opportunities none of them saw coming. People often tell me the right introduction from me changed the trajectory of their work. That\'s the part I take most seriously.My core expertise spans business development, major gifts, donor stewardship, brand-aligned corporate sponsorships, strategic planning, and integrated fundraising strategy. I thrive at the intersection of mission and metrics — helping organizations deepen relationships while scaling revenue.Whether partnering with Fortune 500 companies or grassroots changemakers, I lead with emotionally intelligent leadership, data-informed strategy, and an entrepreneurial bias toward action.Career Highlights Drove up to 50% YoY revenue growth through strategic fundraising and partnership development🤝 Scaled alliances with Fortune 500 brands, national foundations, and high-impact boards Closed multimillion-dollar corporate deals advancing both revenue and mission Led cross-functional teams across fundraising, marketing, and operations to execute scalable campaigns🧭 Cultivated C-level donor relationships, improving retention and engagement by 80% Implemented performance dashboards that increased partnership ROI by over 90% Represented organizations at national panels and events, elevating visibility and influence Raised $1M+ annually in unrestricted support through major donor cultivation and strategic outreachI\'m exploring senior-level roles in fundraising, development, and strategic partnerships within nonprofit or corporate environments committed to equity, access, and meaningful social change.If you\'re looking for a results-driven leader who connects people to purpose and to each other — let\'s talk.#Fundraising #StrategicPartnerships #MajorGifts #BusinessDevelopment #Nonprofit #Leadership #SocialImpact #RevenueGrowth #Entrepreneur

Experience

1. Senior Director of Development

   North Lawndale Employment Network

   Jun 2025 — Present · Chicago, IL, US

Education

• Benedictine University

  Master of Science (MS), Business Leadership

  2010 — 2012

• University of Dayton

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Communication Management/Marketing

  1991

Skills

• Blogging
• Lead Generation
• Social Media
• Digital Media
• Online Advertising
• Sales
• Digital Strategy
• Salesforce.com
• Sem
• Event Planning
• New Business Development
• Email Marketing
• Web Analytics
• Integrated Marketing
• Strategic Partnerships
• Crm
• Mobile Marketing
• Sales Operations
• Enterprise Software
• Online Marketing
• Sales Management
• Social Networking
• Brand Development
• Account Management
• Interactive Marketing
• Creative Direction
• Strategy
• E-Commerce
• Social Media Marketing
• Google Analytics
• Analytics
• Public Relations
• Business Development
• Digital Marketing
• Relationship Marketing
• Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Interactive Advertising
• Content Strategy
• Marketing Strategy