One of the Mississippi Delta’s primary sources for nonprofit organizations — the Community Foundation of Washington County — recently announced Melanie Powell as its new executive director.
Powell succeeds Terri Lane and brings to the role more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management.
The Crystal Springs native and Mississippi Valley State University alumna said it felt good to be back in her second home, the Delta region, after returning in 2014 from Cleveland, Ohio.
“My transition is going well and I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be able to work at the foundation and lead the work,” Powell said. “I want the opportunity to be able to grow the funds for the foundation.”
Powell’s responsibilities will include the oversight of all aspects of the CFWC’s operations, including helping new donors set up funds to realize their charitable dreams, working with existing fund advisors, and administering the foundation’s grant-making process.
Lisa Percy, Chairman of the CFWC’s Board of Trustees stated, “Melanie’s educational background, paired with her vast experience in the nonprofit arena, made her an excellent choice to lead our Community Foundation into the future. We firmly believe that Melanie will elevate our Foundation to higher levels of service to our fund advisors, our donors, our partner nonprofit organizations and to our entire community.”
Powell is described as a “proven leader” and one whose skills and abilities encompass a range of highly significant areas including asset development, marketing and communications, community advocacy and grant management.
According to the CFWC’s press release, she most recently served as executive director at the Tutwiler Community Education Center.
“In that position, she was responsible for fundraising, program management and staff oversight as well as managing a large facility,” the release stated further.
Powell’s devotion to community service and the overall improvement of communities is both personal and professional.
She spent 22 years in Cleveland, Ohio working in the field of education and social services.
As stated in the CFWC’s press release, Powell played an active role as a volunteer for many community initiatives that focused on education enhancement and mental health awareness.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from MVSU, a Master of Arts in nonprofit organization from Case Western Reserve University, and a graduate certification in sociology from Baypath University.
Since 1989, Powell has been a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and currently serves as treasurer for the Greenwood-Itta Bena Alumnae Chapter.
In addition, she serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Families USA, a national non-partisan voice for health care consumers.
The CFWC’s press release also highlighted that Powell was awarded the Mandel School Alumni Association Louis Stokes Community Service Leadership Award.
Among her several productive endeavors, it was her work assisting young people with transition out of residential treatment she found to be most rewarding.
“I am still involved with the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy and being involved in fundraising is just another avenue for me to utilize those skills and the skills that I have learned while pursuing a master’s in nonprofit organization, so it seemed like the perfect fit at the right time,” she responded when asked what drew her to the executive director role. “The other part was just the mission and the work and the opportunity to be able to award dollars as well as solicit funding to help the community. It’s an awesome opportunity to be able to explain what the foundation does and all the opportunities the foundation can offer as well.”
